Biopsy In, Blood Tests Tomorrow

[Lirren]

After two months of adominal/stomach pain and increased lack of appetite, nausea, anxiety, panic attacks, I had a colonoscopy/upper endoscopy last week with biopsies. They came back showing inflammation of both upper and lower GI. I'm going in tomorrow for blood tests for Crohn's, IBD, colitis, celiac...   I am hoping for celiac at this point honestly!  It is far preferable to the other options.

 

I'm wondering if my symptoms sound like celiac to others "in the know." My abdominal pain came on quite suddenly after a bout of stomach flu but I'd had a couple of "twinges" in months prior, like it was just getting ready for something to set it off. Since then it's been pretty constant, sometimes better, sometimes worse. My doctor's first diagnosis was diveritculitis, and the cipro and flagyl made me feel oh, so much worse! My ovaries got an A+ at the GYN's office so I went to a gastro specialist. CT scans all clear - colonoscopy looked perfectly fine - it took the biopsies to find something definitively wrong.

 

I haven't had much diarrhea - more constipated than anything else - except this past week when I've found it particularly hard to eat, so I drink a lot of my calories. A few times, though, I have noticed my stool (sorry, but it's that kind of forum!) has smelled oddly, strongly sweet. Does this ring any bells with anyone?

 

I'm sure it's strange to have someone in this forum hoping for a diagnosis of celiac, but please tell me I could be one of you. I'll give up bread. I can drink wine and sorghum beers. Just say it ain't IBD...

[NoGlutenCooties]

The problem with diagnosing Celiac based on symptoms is that every symptom has other potential causes and then there are those of us who have no symptoms at all.  That said, what you experienced is not outside the realm of Celiac.  It could be that your bout of stomach flu triggered the Celiac symptoms.  It is good that you're getting tested.  Then you'll know.  And I understand what you mean about hoping that it's Celiac.  As far as big bad diseases go... Celiac aint half bad.  I think the the worst part is having all sorts of ailments and not knowing what's causing them.  But it's a relatively simple fix - just stop eating all gluten.  No meds.  No surgery.  No kemo.  Just no gluten.  I consider myself very lucky to have caught my Celiac early and that (knock on wood) that is all that I have.