New To This - Maybe Celiac?

[Alisandra]

Hi all,

 

I'm not sure if I have Celiac disease, but I'm beginning to strongly suspect that I have some kind of gluten intolerance. I don't have the debilitating gastrointestinal issues that many describe, although I have always had a sensitive stomach. From the age of about 13 onward I had very severe anxiety and depression, and developed a panic disorder when I was about 20. This year I finally got that mostly under control, only to unmask terrible PMS/PMDD - I've noticed major improvement since cutting back caffeine and taking a whole bunch of supplements - calcium, magnesium, D, B6, Omega 3, along with the iron and B12 I was already taking, plus cutting way back on processed foods.

 

A few years ago I found out I was vitamin D deficient, VERY vitamin B12 deficient, and anemic. After a while my doctor told me I could stop taking iron because my levels were normal, but I felt terrible when I went off the pills, so I started taking them again and felt much better. My B12 is still low even after getting a shot every month for a long time now.

 

I also have chronic, year-round sinus congestion, and shortness of breath which makes it hard to exercise. I've have multiple EKGs and my heart is fine, so I believe this is related to anemia. My doctor doesn't seem interested in testing for any underlying issues that could be causing the anemia/deficiencies... I'm also tired a lot, and experience brain fog and other such neurological annoyances.

 

I ordered the Biocard test and am just waiting for it to arrive. Whatever the result is, I plan to stop eating gluten and see what happens.

 

 

[nvsmom]

Welcome to the forum. . It sounds like you belong.

Keep eating gluten until you are done your testing. The Biocard test is a tTG IgA and total serum IgA test. I think thetTG IgA is the most common blood test doctors give, but be aware that it misses up to 25% of celiacs. It is often a good idea to have a few types of tests runti ensure accuracy. Other tests include tTG IgG, DGP IgA and IgG, EMA IgA, and the older and less reliable AGA IgA and IgG tests.

Good luck!

[emilykay405]

Hi all,

 

I'm not sure if I have Celiac disease, but I'm beginning to strongly suspect that I have some kind of gluten intolerance. I don't have the debilitating gastrointestinal issues that many describe, although I have always had a sensitive stomach. From the age of about 13 onward I had very severe anxiety and depression, and developed a panic disorder when I was about 20. This year I finally got that mostly under control, only to unmask terrible PMS/PMDD - I've noticed major improvement since cutting back caffeine and taking a whole bunch of supplements - calcium, magnesium, D, B6, Omega 3, along with the iron and B12 I was already taking, plus cutting way back on processed foods.

 

A few years ago I found out I was vitamin D deficient, VERY vitamin B12 deficient, and anemic. After a while my doctor told me I could stop taking iron because my levels were normal, but I felt terrible when I went off the pills, so I started taking them again and felt much better. My B12 is still low even after getting a shot every month for a long time now.

 

I also have chronic, year-round sinus congestion, and shortness of breath which makes it hard to exercise. I've have multiple EKGs and my heart is fine, so I believe this is related to anemia. My doctor doesn't seem interested in testing for any underlying issues that could be causing the anemia/deficiencies... I'm also tired a lot, and experience brain fog and other such neurological annoyances.

 

I ordered the Biocard test and am just waiting for it to arrive. Whatever the result is, I plan to stop eating gluten and see what happens.

 

You sound a lot like me. =c) I've been vitamin D deficient even taking 1,000 IUs daily for months. The assumption is that my anemia comes from thalassemia (small red blood cells). I haven't had my B12 tested, that I remember. I can, however, take mega doses of B vitamins without feeling any energy increase.

 

Some people do have chronic sinus infections with celiac/gluten intolerance. I have them, but I also have a deviated septum causing blockage (get that fixed in a couple of days).

 

You should really get an appointment with a specialist. Everything you've said could point toward an autoimmune disease like Celiac. If you do see a GI doc you need to stay on gluten until all the testing is complete...if you stop gluten it will cause false negatives. it sucks to  have to keep eating something but there's no way to know for sure if it's Celiac without testing. If you're OK just saying, "I'm Gluten Intolerant," then it's no big deal to be tested.