Is It Celiacs?

[RMay]

Hi,

 

I have been having abdominal issues for awhile now, and I am so tired of it, and nobody can figure out what's wrong with me.  It's so frustrating

 

I am wondering if it could be celiacs? My doctor says the blood test is really expensive, so its better to just "try not eating gluten and see how you feel" - which Ill do but still...

 

Abdominal wise

 

I keep getting pain in my upper abdomen on the right and left side, usually takes turns.  It often feels like there is a knot or something in my intestines.  It hurts but its not terribly painful, more really uncomfortable, especially when i sleep or bend a certain way.

 

I always feel dehydrated.

 

I am always constipated

 

Those are the biggest ones I guess.  Just wondering if the abdomen thing is familiar to anyone else

[notme]

have you been tested for anything else?  

 

i heard "ibs" for 25 years before i found out it was a *symptom* - i feel ya 

[RMay]

have you been tested for anything else?  

 

i heard "ibs" for 25 years before i found out it was a *symptom* - i feel ya 

No, everyone is just like "sorry - we dont know what this is"  Im starting to feel like some crazy hypochondriac

[KristinIrwin]

RMay,

I know what you mean by feeling like there is a knot in your intestines! Before I was diagnosed I almost always felt discomfort in my intestines like that. I also had constipation as well as a first symptom. I had a lot of pressure and pain my upper abdomen.

All those symptoms are gone now that I am gluten free.

I know I can't say whether you have Celiac or not, but I just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone in those symptoms!

Have you considered getting the blood test despite what your doc says? If you do want to get the blood test, don't go gluten free until you get it because it can mess with the results

Good luck with your health and I hope you get to feeling better! Digestive issues can be so frustrating. Hang in there!

Kristin

[RMay]

RMay,

I know what you mean by feeling like there is a knot in your intestines! Before I was diagnosed I almost always felt discomfort in my intestines like that. I also had constipation as well as a first symptom. I had a lot of pressure and pain my upper abdomen.

All those symptoms are gone now that I am gluten free.

I know I can't say whether you have Celiac or not, but I just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone in those symptoms!

Have you considered getting the blood test despite what your doc says? If you do want to get the blood test, don't go gluten free until you get it because it can mess with the results

Good luck with your health and I hope you get to feeling better! Digestive issues can be so frustrating. Hang in there!

Kristin

 

Thanks for the insights!

 

I am seeing a GI doctor on Fri - hopefully I can get a test or other answers.

 

Does the blood test require any fasting before hand?  How long does it take to analyze the results?

[powerofpositivethinking]

the blood tests do not require any fasting, but you must be consuming gluten.  The big "C" was a big problem for me too before going gluten free, but now it's gotten so much better.  Analysis depends on the lab.  I have to use Labcorp and would get blood taken on a Friday and results through my online portal on Monday.  

 

Here is a list of tests to request:

Comprehensive Celiac Panel:

DGP iga/igg

ttg iga/igg

EMA

Total iga serum-this is a control test to make sure you make enough iga to validate the other testing

check out page 12 in this report for testing information:

Open Original Shared Link

[notme]

No, everyone is just like "sorry - we dont know what this is"  Im starting to feel like some crazy hypochondriac

yes, we all have crazy hypochondriac syndrome lolz - i had so many seemingly random health problems that nobody connected the dots. i had never even heard of celiac before i was diagnosed.  ("hey.  you have celiac.  don't eat gluten.  see ya!")  

 

the abdomen thing - you could actually *see* my (whatever - food?  gas pockets?) moving around - felt <from the outside) and looked like a baby moving - freaked my husband out LOLZ but if anything made a 'believer' out of him, it was *seeing* my discomfort.   i hope you find your answers (and welcome to the forum  )

[KristinIrwin]

Notme! The same thing happened to me! So freaky

[notme]

Notme! The same thing happened to me! So freaky

 

i know - gives whole new meaning to the phrase:  'food baby' lolz