Embarrassing Symptoms. Is This Celiac?

[JonnyFinale]

Hey all.

 

So, I'm in my late twenties, and never had a single stomach problem until just over a year ago.

 

My symptoms are as follows:

• Lots of stomach rumbling throughout the day, particularly between 10:00AM - 1:00PM.
• Gas in the evening and when I wake up in the morning.
• Burping throughout the day. Usually relieves pressure and noises.
• Sometimes can hear what seems to be gas moving in the evening.
• Occasionally in the morning get gastritis type pains in the upper abdomen that feels like a mild burning sensation with violent rumbling noises.

This came out of nowhere, and the symptoms are all very embarrassing as someone who is in university. I don't get pain very often, and if so it's very short-lived. I haven't really had any bowel problems. If anything I'm constipated. 

 

I have no family members with stomach problems other than my grandma on my Mom's side who has Crohn's disease.

 

I took an H. Pylori and stool test which both came back negative. A month ago, I took a Celiac Blood Test which came back positive with the following results:

• Tissue Transglutamine - 22
• Immunoglobulin A - 308
• Endomysial Antibody - Positive
• Endomysial Antibody Titer - 1:20

I've been on a gluten free diet for 6 weeks with no results. I'm eating carefully and am taking things like Slippery Elm, Aloe Vera Juice, and a probiotic to help.

 

My next step is to get a scope but I need to save up a couple more months before I get that performed. I'm hoping others on here can offer some invaluable feedback, or maybe some supplement ideas.

 

I greatly appreciate it!

 

[kareng]

If you are eating gluten free for very long, an endoscopy would not detect celiac Disease. An endo or Colonoscopy might be useful to make sure there are no other issues.

You might find this thread helpful:

https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/91878-newbie-info-101/

[GottaSki]

Welcome!

 

Constipation is a major symptom of Celiac Disease.  Many of us have C, rather than D - despite what many doctors and celiac symptom lists stubbornly indicate.

 

Here is a good list of the over 300 symptoms that can be associated with Celiac Disease:

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

Six weeks often is not long enough for the gut to heal.  Your positive tTG and EMA indicate that there is intestinal damage -- but the titer is low -- which means this should improve given longer gluten-free.

 

Make sure you have removed all sources of gluten - review the link Karen provided - and give it more time.

 

It certainly can't hurt to have both a colonoscopy and endoscopy with biopsy of the small intestine -- to check for evidence of Celiac Disease, Crohn's or any other digestive inflammation/issues.

 

Hang in there

[kareng]

Sorry, Lisa, I'm going to disagree a little bit. He has been gluten-free for 6 weeks and is saving for a few months to get the endo. After several months gluten-free, it should be negative for Celiac.

Open Original Shared Link

"How much gluten should be consumed prior to being screened for celiac disease?

It’s best to continue a normal, gluten-containing diet before being screened and diagnosed. If a gluten-free diet has been followed for more than a few weeks, then we recommend eating at least 1 serving of gluten (1/2 slice of bread or a cracker, for example) every day for 12 weeks prior to a blood test and 2 weeks prior to a biopsy. This is often referred to as a “gluten challenge” and should be done under the care of a medical professional."

[GottaSki]

I agree that after several months the biopsies will likely be negative.

 

sorry I wasn't clear...was thinking more along the line that the positive endomysial antibodies is enough to diagnose celiac and that both the endo and colonoscopy would be looking for other issues in addition to celiac.

 

If you are wanting to confirm it is celiac via endoscopy...you need to return to eating gluten for at least two weeks before the endo...six to twelve weeks if you want additional blood work done.

[JonnyFinale]

Thank you so much for the replies.

 

I'm going to stick to the plan of remaining gluten free and doing a biopsy soon. 

 

Is there hope in sight for a cure for Celiac? Something that can at least help us heal faster or not take significant damage from even minor contamination?

[GottaSki]

Hope - yes - always

 

Soon - no

 

There is ongoing research on many fronts.

 

For now...the only way to heal from celiac damage is to remove all sources of gluten.