Trying To Figure Out What's Wrong With Me

[herman81 0]

Starting about three months ago, I've had diarrhea almost daily. Sometimes every day. I get horrible lower cramps before each episode. Sometimes I even get the cramping before doing a normal bowel movement. I went gluten free, and paleo, for a few months and I felt great. But this was before all of my symptoms started. As soon as I stopped the diet, which was almost immediately, I went back to eating whatever I wanted. This is when I started getting the horrible diarrhea.

 

Is there a gold standard test that I could ask for from my GI doctor? I also have bleeding sometimes . I believe that's due to some hemorrhoids that I was diagnosed with a few years ago. Not sure if I should get another colonsoscopy because of the bleeding, or not. Just wish I knew what was going on. I'm scared for my health. It's so uncomfortable. Any suggestions? Does this sound like a wheat allergy?

 

Thanks,

C.A.

[herman81 0]

OH, I also have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and GERD.

[GF Lover 202]

Hi Herman.

 

If you wish to get tested for Celiac, this link will provide the information of the tests that are needed for diagnosis.

 

http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/diagnosingceliacdisease/a/Celiac-Blood-Tests.htm

 

This is usually followed up with an endoscope procedure to look for damage.  Your doctor can also test you for a wheat allergy.

 

It is impossible to know if your symptoms are related to gluten ingestion or a wheat allergy without further testing.

 

Colleen

[w8in4dave 77]

Yes it sounds like Celiac to me. But going on Gluten for weeks and being tested would be the best thing. Good luck to you!! 

[IrishHeart 1,641]

First of all, any number of health problems (and medications and viruses and food intolerances) will cause diarrhea and GERD, so I would not leap to celiac right away, Herman.

 

Celiac is NOT a wheat allergy.

Celiac is an autoimmune disease of the small intestine that can cause a myriad of

 symptoms and it is diagnosed by blood tests and/or endoscopy with a biopsy.

 

A colonoscopy examines the large intestine. 

It  is not used to diagnose celiac.

or a wheat allergy (those tests are done by an allergist and have nothing to do with celiac disease)

 

You could have diarrhea and hemorrhoids because of any number of reasons.

While thyroid disease and GERD are associated with gluten intolerance and celiac, they are not necessarily an indicator of celiac.

(I know many people --some in my family--with thyroid disease and/or GERD

 and they are not celiacs)

 

Start from the beginning and do as Colleen suggests, have a celiac panel done.

[herman81 0]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond. I'll get the proper testing done and go from there. Although I know that I've some type of celiac panels done a few yrs ago. They were negetive. Whatever is going on is really putting a damper on my life right now. Very hard. Thanks again.