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Pernicious Anemia And Intestinal Metaplasia: Symptoms Of celiac disease?

0range

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0range Apprentice
0range
Posted

Hi everyone. Here's my story. It's a long one, so please bear with me!

 

I really want to encourage my dad to get tested for celiac. I don't know why he has never been tested before (he has visited several gastroenterologists and has had good medical care), so I feel like a wise-ass almost! by encouraging him to get tested.

 

He has had Hashimoto's thyroiditis for 15 years (dx at age 40). 5 years ago, he developed pernicious anemia (autoimmune disease against Vitamin B12) and gets monthly injections in order to get the vitamin. Last year he had an endoscopy done that looked at his stomach, and it turns out he has intestinal metaplasia, which is a big risk factor for stomach cancer. They did not biopsy his small intestine specifically, so am not sure if it would be visible if he had any villi damage. His entire life he has had chronic cankersores; 5 in his mouth at all times, and they bleed and scar. He's also had terrible acid reflux/overall terrible gut and cannot seem to digest a whole range of things. The only thing he loves is rice, because it's easy on his stomach. I always wondered how 'normal' this was, for someone to have such a bad gut? Are some of us just born this way, or is there really something else going on? I would be interested in hearing from those that had pernicious anemia/intestinal metaplasia (as it doesn't seem to be common?) as one of their celiac disease symptoms.

 

Also, I feel like I'm going down the same path. Last year, at the age of 22, I was dx with Hashimoto's (yay genetics!) after a period of immense stress. Two years prior, I had caught measles that compromised my immune system: I would get monthly yeast infections despite not ever having them my entire life, and chronic rectal bleeding when I went to the washroom.. and everytime I would bleed, I would get a mild fever and joint pain the next day. My brother, who caught measles from me (great sister I am!) didn't have any of these complications from contracting measles. Fast forward to the present, I am doing ok. I still bleed time to time and get mild joint pain despite trying to incorporate more fibre into diet. I did not get a colonoscopy done but that is in the works. In February 2013, I was overmedicated on thyroid medication Eltroxin while taking a round of antibiotics. Very terribly, in fact. I had classic "hyper" symptoms. Eventually, most of these symptoms went away as I was put on a lower dose. Quite randomly, in April (despite being on a much lower dose) I developed a rare neurological symptom called "visual snow". I started getting random bouts of vertigo - my doctor said it was "benign paroxysmal positional vertigo" - I've never been dizzy so have no idea what was causing this; a wonky thyroid perhaps? I also started getting weird stools (they have a grey colour look like they have corn pieces in them) which my doctor dismissed. I told her I was having chronic bloating and random diarrhea. She said that as long as the diarrhea is not happening all day every day, I should be ok. And it wasn't. Phew. But the bloating? oh. every. single. day. I cannot remember what it is like to have a 'normal' stomach. I look 5 months pregnant all the time. Eventually, my doctor diagnosed me with IBS after this had been going on for nearly 6 months. I tried eating my brother's tasty "Bavarian bread" that I had had several times over the winter term, and just a short while later, I started getting stabbing pains in my stomach. Out of nowhere! This was stuff I could eat like a champ before. I tried eating it again a few days later, same story. But it's not consistent enough for me to think 'bread' is really the bad guy here. The stabbing pains are on/off, the bloating is there all the time. I am already lactose-intolerant like my dad so avoid dairy, but am nervous that the food I am eating is causing the bloating. The only way I know this is because when I tried fasting with my family during the holy month of Ramadan, where we fast from dawn till dusk, my bloating was considerably reduced/non-existent.

 

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts about all of this, and what could be going on :( thanks.

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powerofpositivethinking Community Regular
powerofpositivethinking
Posted

welcome!

 

I've read on this forum that IBS really stands for I Be Stumped :lol:

 

I would definitely try to get tested based on what you've shared above.  It's possible you and your father could have it since both of you already have an autoimmune disease with Hashimotos, and AI diseases like a buddy.  You can go to your GP or a GI and request a complete celiac blood panel.  You MUST be currently consuming gluten for these tests, and do not stop eating gluten including until ALL testing is complete including the upper endoscopy if you get one.

 

Comprehensive Celiac Blood 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

 

here is another link on common nutritional deficieincies linked to celiac:

Open Original Shared Link

 

nvsmom has a lot of knowledge about thyroid and celiac, so hopefully she will be able to give you more information soon

0range Apprentice
0range
Posted
  • Author

welcome!

 

I've read on this forum that IBS really stands for I Be Stumped :lol:

 

I would definitely try to get tested based on what you've shared above.  It's possible you and your father could have it since both of you already have an autoimmune disease with Hashimotos, and AI diseases like a buddy.  You can go to your GP or a GI and request a complete celiac blood panel.  You MUST be currently consuming gluten for these tests, and do not stop eating gluten including until ALL testing is complete including the upper endoscopy if you get one.

 

Comprehensive Celiac Blood 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

 

here is another link on common nutritional deficieincies linked to celiac:

Open Original Shared Link

 

nvsmom has a lot of knowledge about thyroid and celiac, so hopefully she will be able to give you more information soon

 

Thank you so much for the detailed reply! My dad lives abroad in the Middle East, and I am flying to see him in a few days, so I will be sure to bring this sheet with me when we go his doctor there. Hopefully we can both get tested.

powerofpositivethinking Community Regular
powerofpositivethinking
Posted

Hope you get some answers!

0range Apprentice
0range
Posted
  • Author

Hope you get some answers!

 

Thanks! Me too! If I find out anything while I'm there I'll definitely post an update =) 

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