Could Gluten Be The Problem

[MChase]

Hi.  I am new here and new to Gluten-free.  I am at my wits end with things.  My Dr says that I either have Celiac or Ulcerative Colitis (or both).  But the more I read, the more it seems to point to Celiac or at least a Gluten Intolerance.

 

Last month, I was in the ER with severe pain.  Felt like active labor.  They did Xrays, CT scan, Ultrasound.  They said I had Diverticulitis and to follow up with my dr in 24-48 hours.  My primary says I do not have that, but with my symptoms, she said it is either Celiac or UC.   Since being in the hospital on Aug 27th, I can barely eat anything.  I have lost 8lbs.  I can barely get out of bed.  My dr told me that I have to eat my normal diet to get accurate results.  I did a 72 hour trial run of a gluten free diet and felt better by day 2.  I didn't have a headache and I actually fell asleep at night.  Usually after a severe episode (every other month), I put myself on a liquid diet for a few days then go back to normal diet.  This time , I can barely eat "normal" without severe pain and D.  

 

 I am not even 40 and I have been on every allergy and asthma medicine known to man (some with severe reactions), depression medicine, prescription sleep medicine, arthritis medicine, bladder medication (since I was only 25), diflucan (I have a running RX for that for chronic yeast infections).  I get sinus infections at least 6 times a year, bronchitis, asthma attacks, yeast infections (on a regular basis), bladder infections, missed up periods (so much so that I had to have my uterine lining removed at 34), leg pain, back pain (pinched nerve was the diagnosis), shoulder pain (soft muscle damage was the diagnosis), chronic D (almost immediately after eating),  I can't sleep, but am always dragging.  I always feel like I am under the weather.  I've been through multiple CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds (regular and transvaginal), etc and they can never find any reason for my problems so they just give me another medication.  If I took all the medicine I am supposed to, I would be on 9 different pills a day (not counting when I am on antibiotics- which most of those I break out in hives).  The last time I had a sinus infection, I was on antibiotics for over 4 weeks trying to get rid of it, plus predisone (which I hate).   

 

I just want answers and feel good.  I don't know what is like to feel good.  This has been going on all my life and I just can't take it anymore.  Could gluten be at the bottom of all my problems?  And if so, why haven't I ever been told that this could be a problem?  

 

* Forgot to mention, I have psorasis (topical ointment for that).  I also had carpal tunnel surgery on both of my hands this past Spring.  

[GF Lover]

Hi MChase.  It is always possible that gluten may be an issue for you.  You said your Dr. Mentioned Celiac.  Are you going to be tested? So many times people go years with a bunch of diagnoses except the correct one.  I would definitely pursue testing for celiac.  You need to continue eating gluten for an accurate test.

 

Hope you get some answers. 

 

Colleen 

[MChase]

Hi MChase.  It is always possible that gluten may be an issue for you.  You said your Dr. Mentioned Celiac.  Are you going to be tested? So many times people go years with a bunch of diagnoses except the correct one.  I would definitely pursue testing for celiac.  You need to continue eating gluten for an accurate test.

 

Hope you get some answers. 

 

Colleen 

Thank you Colleen.  Yes, I am going to be tested for Celiac and for UC.  I go for my consultation with a GI next week.  In the meantime, I am trying to eat "normal" even though I pay for it.  

[eers03]

I would want a liver panel, and a celiac panel.  Go from there.  Keep eating normal food (including gluten) or it can skew your results (giving you a false negative.)