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Does It Sound Like Celiac Or Could It Be A Gluten Intolerance?

cindyb1

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cindyb1 Rookie
cindyb1
Posted

Im waiting to get into the Celiac/Gasto specialist but the waiting is giving me anxiety! 

 

Long story short- Ive always had stomach issues. I thought I had IBS because the cramping, bloating and constipation was horrible. Ive also been extremely fatigued  and sometimes cant get through the day without laying down. I have Interstitial Cystitis too which flares up occasionally.

 

I went through a stressful year and since then, my stomach aches were worse. Id get stomach cramps and pains that were terrible. I stopped eating gluten to see if the pain would go away and it seemed to help.

 

My question is this - my reaction to gluten has gotten worse and worse. Now the tiniest bit of gluten makes me very sick. If I accidentally have so much as a crumb of it, I get ill. 

 

For example, I ate french fries from Carls Jr and got sick, I only had four! I later learned they fry their breaded items in the same oil as the fries. Or I touched dog food and got sick. I ate soup where my daughter had dipped her bread into her soup and got really sick. 

 

My husband thinks Im crazy and this is all in my head which makes this all so much worse. 

 

So if I had a gluten intolerance, would I be reacting in such a serious way? 

 

 

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1desperateladysaved Proficient
1desperateladysaved
Posted

I don't think it is all in your head.  My husband use to feel that way too, but now asks for me to find more answers to my health struggles.  Hang in there.  It sounds like you are already gluten free and absolutely convinced it is necessary.  A very tiny bit of gluten can cause extreme symptoms.  YOU are right about that!  My major symptoms were as yours bloating, and extreme fatigue. I also experienced cystisis.

 

.  If you were tested for celiac a positive result might help convince your family that your diet is necessary.  In order to test, you would have to be eating gluten regularly.  Family may realize the diet helps  later when they see that you improve noticeably in health.

 

Best wishes on your recovery,

 

D

cindyb1 Rookie
cindyb1
Posted
  • Author

I don't think it is all in your head.  My husband use to feel that way too, but now asks for me to find more answers to my health struggles.  Hang in there.  It sounds like you are already gluten free and absolutely convinced it is necessary.  A very tiny bit of gluten can cause extreme symptoms.  YOU are right about that!  My major symptoms were as yours bloating, and extreme fatigue. I also experienced cystisis.

 

.  If you were tested for celiac a positive result might help convince your family that your diet is necessary.  In order to test, you would have to be eating gluten regularly.  Family may realize the diet helps  later when they see that you improve noticeably in health.

 

Best wishes on your recovery,

 

D

thank you so much for your reply! I swear my husband thinks Im crazy. Cant wait to prove that Im not! xo 

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

thank you so much for your reply! I swear my husband thinks Im crazy. Cant wait to prove that Im not! xo

We can have celiac and be crazy, too! :)

FYI- You need to be eating a regular gluten containing diet to get a positive Celiac blood test or endoscopy.

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Hi Cindy,

 

The symptoms fo rceliac disease adn NCGI  (noon-celaic gluten intolerance) are teh same.  So the answer to your question is, yes, it sounds like both of them!

 

Ask your doctor about celiac testing.  But usually you have to be eating gluten for 6 weeks or so to get accurate results.  There is no standard medical testing for NCGI yet.  But a positive response to the gluten-free diet is a real good indicator that something about gluten is causing a problem.

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