General Symptoms Question

[zip2play]

OK I have various symptoms and have been labeled IBS! I have extreme fatigue, I am constantly hungry, I have recently lost 5 pounds although eating more or normal. Some days my stomach causes me horrible doubled over pain. Others it rumbles and rolls and causes mild pain. Before I went on Zelnorm, I would have either be constipated or have diahrea. Now that I am on the meds, I typically have a BM daily.

Now for the gross part, I have had poop that strings out of my bottom and dangles to the water. It is like stretchy and disgusting! It doesn't happen always, but my stools vary in color, consistency and texture. My husband freaked when I described the stringyness and was like, THAT is not normal!

When I eat pancakes, I am in horrible pain. I seem to be able to eat high fiber bread and my stomach just rumbles.

If I have celiac disease wouldn't I be in MAJOR pain each and everytime I eat gluten? Or does it vary! Like now, I had bread with breakfast and my stomach is rolling away!

I am to see a GI on November 28th, I have no faith in Doctors anymore. I have more trouble with getting them to care enough to diagnose. I want to go in there with specific requests to get to the bottom of this. From what I am reading, I possibly may not have celiac disease but more of a gluten intolerance or wheat intolerance. How does a dr test to figure out which I may have?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Monica

[jrom987]

Monica,

Being newly diagnosed, I do not have all the answers but I do know that symptoms change and there are hundreds of them! I have so many of them myself. I would ask for the blood tests but you have to make sure that you are consuming gluten for the tests to be accurate. Someone will post the ones they think you should have. I am not experienced enough to do that.

Good luck!

Jo Ann

[zip2play]

Thanks Jo Ann! How are you doing? Are you now Gluten Free?

[jenvan]

Monica--There is a long list of Celiac symptoms and they can each vary from person to person. Go here to see some symptoms: Open Original Shared Link

Go here to see how one gets tested: Open Original Shared Link

You definitely have some symptoms that could be Celiac related. IBS should be a diagnosis of elimination--meaning all other potential diseases and disorders have been ruled out. I was misdiagnosed with IBS for years! Getting the blood test is simple and would quickly help you figure out if Celiac is a possible diagnosis for you. Most any doctor can request the test.

[darkangel]

The message I've gotten from vets of this forum is yes, you can have a problem with gluten, be damaging your guts, and experience no symptoms or mild symptoms.

[jrom987]

Monica,

Thanks for asking how I feel! I have to knock on wood as I say this. Yesterday and today are the first days in a very long time that I have gotten out of bed without a raging backache and headache. I can actually stand up straight without holding my back and whimpering. I can't tell you how much I am hoping this is real and not a dream! Ha ha. This is the first sign of hope that I have seen so far!

Who needs pasta and bread that causes so many problems?

I just ordered a bread machine from Target. com and can't wait to get it! I already bought some bread mix so I am hoping it tastes better than the frozen breads we have to buy.

I have one more suggestion for you. Keep reading as much as you can on this site. The people here are so knowledgable and the information you gather could help when you see the doctor. I forgot to say that IBS is one of the diagnosises that I had gotten from my doctors too. I have heard and been thought to have any illnesses in the past 10-15 years. I think I have heard everything and until last month, celiac disease was not one of them.

Jo Ann

[zip2play]

I just read the symptoms link, Feet issues. About 1 year ago, I thought I injured my left food. I have to be real particular on what shoes I wear now b/c the bottom of my left foot causes me problems! This could be celiac disease too?

[jrom987]

I just read the symptoms link, Feet issues.  About 1 year ago, I thought I injured my left food.  I have to be real particular on what shoes I wear now b/c the bottom of my left foot causes me problems!  This could be celiac disease too?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't know for sure but it could be. My right foot has been swollen for over 4 years and no one knows why. I have seen every specialist my primary doctor could think of sending me to. I have had every test imaginable also. I stopped looking for a reason about 2 years ago and just deal with two different sized feet. I also have edema in the right leg. Maybe this is caused by celiac disease too? Guess it if goes away, I will have my answer.

[nettiebeads]

OK I have various symptoms and have been labeled IBS!  I have extreme fatigue, I am constantly hungry, I have recently lost 5 pounds although eating more or normal.  Some days my stomach causes me horrible doubled over pain.  Others it rumbles and rolls and causes mild pain.  Before I went on Zelnorm, I would have either be constipated or have diahrea.  Now that I am on the meds, I typically have a BM daily. 

Now for the gross part, I have had poop that strings out of my bottom and dangles to the water.  It is like stretchy and disgusting!  It doesn't happen always, but my stools vary in color, consistency and texture.  My husband freaked when I described the stringyness and was like, THAT is not normal! 

When I eat pancakes, I am in horrible pain.  I seem to be able to eat high fiber bread and my stomach just rumbles. 

If I have celiac disease wouldn't I be in MAJOR pain each and everytime I eat gluten?  Or does it vary!  Like now, I had bread with breakfast and my stomach is rolling away! 

I am to see a GI on November 28th, I have no faith in Doctors anymore.  I have more trouble with getting them to care enough to diagnose.  I want to go in there with specific requests to get to the bottom of this.  From what I am reading, I possibly may not have celiac disease but more of a gluten intolerance or wheat intolerance.  How does a dr test to figure out which I may have? 

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Monica

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The fatigue and weight loss to me are very good signs of celiac disease. Also if your poop is really foul smelling it's gotta be celiac disease. The poop problems are from the malabsorption caused by celiac disease. I don't think IBS has the malabsorption issues that celiac disease does. Ask for the celiac disease blood panel from your dr. If he won't order it, ask him why. Or if you want, go gluten-free anyway for two weeks and see if the symptoms start to abate. Then if you eat gluten again, and start in with the problems, there you go - positive diet challenge and still a legitimate test for celiac disease. That's how my dr dx'd me 9 years ago. Also, you may be having problems with milk if you do have celiac disease - the damage done to the villi is also where lactase is formed to digest milk products. After you heal you should be able to tolerate milk and milk products better, if you are having trouble with them now

[Guest DanceswithWolves]

I'm still not 100% convinced that I don't have celiac disease.

I know I burp like crazy when I eat anything with Gluten in it.

I had some Halloween cupcakes that really brought up the burps!

Ughh!

Fatigue is always there too.

My joints crack and I feel so stiff all the time....sucks...

[laurelfla]

i have celiac disease... and prior to diagnosis my symptoms were kind of inconsistent. my most attention-grabbing symptom was the big D... and it was not everyday. so i actually thought i was getting better there for a little bit but then it would come back eventually. then my dr. ordered the blood test and my Ttg count was high -- 72. so yes, i think that's one of the most frustrating things about this disease -- variable symptoms, and such a wide range of them, too.

good luck!!! hope you feel better soon!

[Rachel--24]

If I have celiac disease wouldn't I be in MAJOR pain each and everytime I eat gluten?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You can have celiac disease and feel perfectly fine after eating gluten. So...no you dont have to experience pain everytime you eat gluten and you could still have celiac disease.

[Rachel--24]

I'm still not 100% convinced that I don't have celiac disease.

I know I burp like crazy when I eat anything with Gluten in it.

I had some Halloween cupcakes that really brought up the burps!

Ughh!

Fatigue is always there too.

My joints crack and I feel so stiff all the time....sucks...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you read Dangerous Grains? If your celiac tests come back negative again why dont you just seriously go on the diet? Its definately not going to hurt you and you obviously have problems with gluten. I dont have a celiac diagnosis but like my GI told me....whatever kind of gluten sensitivity I have...whether its Celiac or not...it was still harming me and I need to be gluten-free. I'm not going to put myself through a gluten challenge when I can just continue with the diet and getting better. Why start all over? If you dont have celiac it doesnt mean gluten isnt the cause or at least part of what could be wrong with you.

[darkangel]

I had some Halloween cupcakes that really brought up the burps!

Ughh!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm proud to say I resisted the Halloween cupcakes at the office yesterday. It wasn't easy...