Jump to content

  • You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

Celiac Or Just Gluten Intolerance?

Chelsea-Lynne

Recommended Posts

Chelsea-Lynne Rookie
Chelsea-Lynne
Posted

I have been seeing a gastroenterologist since the summer because I wanted to get an actual diagnosis. I have been eating gluten free for about 6 years because I thought it made me feel better. I used to get stomach cramps and diarrhea all the time. 

 

I had bloodwork done when I was younger, and the "Tissue Transglutam AB IGA" and "Gliadin AB IGA" were negative. My total IGA was 233, which was in range. The only thing that was positive was "Gliadin AB IGG, and it was 53 (Strong Positive). Those were the only tests I had done when I was younger, and my doctor didn't think I needed further testing. 

 

I had a Celiac Disease Complete Panel several months ago, even though I have been eating gluten-free for around 5 years. My gastroenterologist ordered it just to see I guess. My total IGA was 226, which is in range. The "Deamidated Gliadin Abs IgA" was 6, which is negative. The "Deamidated Gliadin Abs, IgG" was 2, which is negative. The "tTG IgA" and "tTG IgG" were negative as well. I also had the genetic testing done. It says negative for DQ2, but it says positive, one copy also for the alpha subunit I'm guessing. It said positive overall for DQ8, and positive, one copy for both the alpha and beta subunits. So I have one copy of the alpha subunit of DQ2 (overall negative) and one copy of each of the alpha and beta subunits of DQ8 (overall positive). 

 

I then did a gluten challenge and ate gluten for around 6 weeks before having an endoscopy done. My gastro took a lot of biopsies in different areas. I also had the Celiac Panel blood work done again after eating gluten for about 7 weeks. I got all of the results today, and everything was negative. I had no damage at all in my intestines.

 

When I was eating gluten during my gluten challenge, I noticed a lot of bloating and gas, slight headaches, fatigue, and an increase in my anxiety. Could I still have symptoms like that even though I don't have Celiac?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Marilyn R Community Regular
Marilyn R
Posted

Test results can be "iffy" when it comes to celiac disease or gluten intolerance.  If you feel better on a gluten-free diet, it kinda makes sense to stick with it.

NoGlutenCooties Contributor
NoGlutenCooties
Posted

Could I still have symptoms like that even though I don't have Celiac?

 

In a word - yes.  Gluten intolerance can give you all of the various symptoms of Celiac, but without the villi damage.  I agree with Marilyn... if you feel better on a gluten-free diet then stick with the gluten-free diet.  It is your body's way of telling you it isn't happy with gluten.  Just make sure that you're getting enough fiber - which can be a bit more difficult if you aren't eating gluten-containing grains.

Chelsea-Lynne Rookie
Chelsea-Lynne
Posted
  • Author

I probably will eat a gluten free diet for the most part, but I like the idea that I could eat gluten if I wanted to if I don't actually have Celiac since it won't cause damage.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      134,079
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      10,442
    jchamp080
    Newest Member
    jchamp080
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.7k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      Sigh. I posted this yesterday based on the Safeway website. I went back again today to their website to double check. On the page where they are selling Vanilla Bean flavor, it has a distinct Certified Gluten Free label. Other flavors on the Safeway website didn't have the gluten-free statement. Today I went into the store. None of the flavors I looked at, including Vanilla Bean, have a Gluten Free statement. Is it safe? Who knows. The ingredients are either safe or nearly safe (some have "natural flavor"). There are warnings about "contains milk and soy" but not about wheat - this implies they are safe, but again, who knows. On the other hand, every flavor I checked of their Slow Churn line of ice creams has wheat as an ingredient. 100% not safe.
    • knitty kitty
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Do keep in mind that many of the newly diagnosed have lactose intolerance.  This is because the villi lining the intestinal tract are damaged, and can no longer make the enzyme lactAse which breaks down the milk sugar lactOse.  When the villi grow back (six months to two years), they can again produce the enzyme lactAse, and lactose intolerance is resolved.  However, some people (both those with and without Celiac Disease) are genetically programmed to stop producing lactase as they age.   Do be aware that many processed foods, including ice cream, use Microbial Transglutaminase, a food additive commonly called "meat glue," used to enhance texture and flavor.  This microbial transglutaminase has the same immunogenicity as tissue transglutaminase which the body produces in response to gluten in people with Celiac Disease.  Tissue Transglutaminase (tTg IgA) is measured to diagnose Celiac Disease in blood tests.  Microbial Transglutaminase acts the same as Tissue Transglutaminase, causing increased intestinal permeability and inflammation.   New findings show that microbial transglutaminase may be able to trigger Celiac Disease and other autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.   Microbial Transglutaminase is not required to be listed on ingredients labels as it's considered a processing aid, not an ingredient in the U.S.  Microbial Transglutaminase has been GRAS for many years, but that GRAS standing is being questioned more and more as the immunogenicity of microbial transglutaminase is being discovered. Interesting Reading:  Microbial Transglutaminase Is a Very Frequently Used Food Additive and Is a Potential Inducer of Autoimmune/Neurodegenerative Diseases https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8537092/
    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      There is a 10 year old post in this forum on Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream. The information is somewhat outdated and the thread is closed to further comment, so here is a new one. Edy's And Dreyer's Grand Vanilla Bean Ice Cream - 1.5 Quart is labeled "Gluten Free". This is a different answer than years gone by. I don't know the answer for any other flavor at this moment. On 1 May, 2026, Edy's website says: "As a general rule, the gluten in Edy's and Dreyer's® frozen dessert products is present only in the added bakery products, such as cookies, cake or brownies. We always label the eight major food allergens on our package by their common name. We recommend to always check the label for the most current information before purchasing and/or consuming a product. The exception to this rule is our Slow Churned French Silk frozen dairy dessert, which contains gluten in the natural flavors." https://www.icecream.com/us/en/brands/edys-and-dreyers/faq It seems that Edy's and Dreyer's are more celiac-friendly than they were 10 years ago. Once I found enough information to make today's buying decision, I stopped researching.
    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      EDG 3 years ago fine, now it shows focal villous blunting,

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      probably not your situation @Mimiof2, but allow me to add one more to @trents list of celiac-mimics: "olmesartan-induced sprue-like enteropathy"  
    • knitty kitty
      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      My dad had an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.  Fortunately, it was discovered during an exam.  The doctor could feel my dad's heart beating in his stomach/abdomen.  The aneurysm burst when the doctor first touched it in surgery.  Since he was already hooked up to the bypass machine, my dad survived ten more years.  Close call! Triple A's can press on the nerves in the spinal cord causing leg pain.  I'm wondering if bowing the head might have increased the pressure on an aneurysm and then the nerves.   https://gulfcoastsurgeons.com/understanding-abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-symptoms-and-causes/ Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Presenting as a Claudication https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4040638/
×
×
  • Create New...