Blood Test Normal - Where To Go From Here?

[jvdb]

So after a lot of trouble to get my blood test results I have learned that they are negative and I have mixed feelings.  Likely not celiac - great I don't have to worry about every single crumb of gluten.  But now I am back to square one, what is causing all of this for me?  I still feel strongly that it is food related considering I have a flat stomach in the morning and slowly thoughout the day inflate.

 

Other symptoms:

-chronic (almost daily) diarhhea

-periods of constipation

-undigested food in stool

-HUGE bloating (flat stomach to a few months pregnant by end of day)

-Trapped air feeling and air cramping

-daily mild headaches (no migraines)

-daily fatigue despite 8 hours of sleep every night

-mild adult cystic acne

-lactose intolerance

 

 

I am waiting to see the gastro and will in two months.  I know it is possible to have celiac with a "normal" blood test and be diagnosed with an endoscopy but now I am having my doubts that it is celiac at all.  What would you suggest I do in these two months while I wait?  Should I try go gluten free and see if I feel better?  I have a feeling if my doctor DID want to do an endoscopy that I would have enough time to do a gluten challenge before the test date (and that is assuming he even decideds to).  I have tried keeping a food & symptom diary but there were no obvious triggers since the symptoms occured daily.  So what would you do?

[GottaSki]

I would make sure you had a complete celiac antibody panel to include both IgA and IgG versions of tTG and DGP along with Total Serum IgA; nutrient testing of minimally B12, D, Iron along with recent CBC and CMP so that all the results are available for your gastro appt.

Do not remove gluten until the GI appt is completed in case you decide to have an endoscopy with biopsy of the small intestine.

Once you are certain you are done with testing remove ALL gluten for at least three months.

[Porcelina]

I'm not sure if you've tried this yet or not, but keep a food journal and record how you feel after every meal.

This is how I found out that wheat was my issue, amongst fructose and 'sugar free' foods. Wouldn't hurt to try. Then look up the FODMAPS diet. But I'd also keep the gluten in the diet for now, at least until you find out your endo date.