Just One Little Question.....

[danikali]

I just have a question about symptoms: If you HAVE Celiac Disease, not necesarily a sensitivity to gluten, but full blown Celiac, do you have symptoms all day long, with no break, where you feel AS SICK AS A DOG??

I have not been diagnosed yet. I'm getting blood tests next Wed. and enterolab should be in my mail any day now. But I've been eating A LOT of gluten and my symptoms come and go. Of course, there is something there every day, but it is always changing. Sometimes, it's something BIG, like bad leg cramps when I walk, or bad bad backaches, BAD constipation or diarrehha or lazy VERY HEAVEY feeling through out my body......but sometimes the symptoms are very small, like a little bit of a head ache when I touch my scalp, or a little bloating, or gas.

So my question really is, IF I HAVE CELIAC, WOULD I BE FEELING LIKE I HAVE THE FLU ALL OF THE TIME? AND FROM EATING SO MUCH GLUTEN (for my tests), WOULDN'T I BE GETTING A HUUUUGE FLARE UP RIGHT NOW? (Ex. body aches ALL OVER, constant back aches, "can't get out of bed-lieterally" kind of feelings?)

Any info. from those of you who were already diagnosed would be appreciated!

Thank you!

[VydorScope]

NO. If you never been gluten free, you body to a degree adapts to feeling bad, and it becomes eaiser to ingore. Plus there is a wide range in degree of SYMPTONS, but reguardless the damage is being done and will lead to future serious problems if your celiac disease is correct.

[lizzy]

hi i was eating gluten everyday too untill was told not to eat any and some days my legs muscles in my thigh was so painful all i could do was get out of bed and sit on the sofa for the rest of the day and no pain med would take it a way, but then somdays it wasnt there or not as bad, same with the bone pain some days would be intoreble then others i could deal with it, so its hard to say what your body will do but i found i suffered the day after not the same day of over eating gluten, but then my symptoms arent just gastro ones i have gluten ataxia too caused by the celiac diease, and if i get alot of gluten i have seizures so i am very careful what goes in my mouth. i wouldnt risk anything for how i used to feel. i was in a wheel chair a month ago now am out shopping with a smile on my face, and learning lots from the people on here who i thank dearly for all they help and insight, liz

[nettiebeads]

Vydor is right, the symptoms can change, which makes it even harder for drs to dx from symptoms. Even though I've been gluten-free for 9 yrs, my reactions to accidental glutening are different than they used to be. The D is gone, but the fatigue and irritablity live on. Good question though

[KaitiUSA]

Yep-I am pretty much backing up what was said in the previous posts.Some people get symptoms and some don't. You can't tell if it's celiac by symptoms. With or without symptoms, with celiac, you will still get the damage.

[danikali]

Wow!!!!!!!!

This is very interesting!!!! So it also probably makes sense that before, when I was (kinda gluten free, for the obvious things), and then I would eat something with very obvious and A LOT of gluten in it, I WOULD GET SOOOOOOOOOO SICK. But now that I am eating it everyday, my body is kind of getting used to it, so the symptoms aren't as bold as they once were. This probably makes sense too, am I right?

Thanks for the info. This is a very tricky disease. It could be a silent killer! That is so scary!!!

[VydorScope]

Wow!!!!!!!! 

This is very interesting!!!! So it also probably makes sense that before, when I was (kinda gluten free, for the obvious things), and then I would eat something with very obvious and A LOT of gluten in it, I WOULD GET SOOOOOOOOOO SICK. But now that I am eating it everyday, my body is kind of getting used to it, so the symptoms aren't as bold as they once were. This probably makes sense too, am I right?

Thanks for the info. This is a very tricky disease. It could be a silent killer! That is so scary!!! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, it does. But just cause you symptons vary does NOT mean the damage does. The damage continues reguarldess.

[Rachel--24]

So my question really is, IF I HAVE CELIAC, WOULD I BE FEELING LIKE I HAVE THE FLU ALL OF THE TIME? AND FROM EATING SO MUCH GLUTEN (for my tests), WOULDN'T I BE GETTING A HUUUUGE FLARE UP RIGHT NOW? (Ex. body aches ALL OVER, constant back aches, "can't get out of   bed-lieterally" kind of feelings?)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Having full blown celiac does not necessarily = lots of pain or symptoms. Some people with positive biopsies for celiac feel perfectly healthy and have no symptoms eating gluten while others with negative tests may be disabled by gluten. Reactions really do vary.

[danikali]

I also have a question regarding ANA testing:

.....what exactly is the connection with ANA test and Celiac, or is there any? My RA, looked at me like I was stupid when I asked her about Celiac disease, even though I did get a positive ANA.

I was also thinking, she said 10% of people who GET a positive ANA test have nothing. Maybe those 10% have Celiac, but doctors just don't test them for it. Because ANA is a test for any kind of autoimmune activity going on, am I right?

[Rachel--24]

I also have a question regarding ANA testing:

.....what exactly is the connection with ANA test and Celiac, or is there any? My RA, looked at me like I was stupid when I asked her about Celiac disease, even though I did get a positive ANA.

I was also thinking, she said 10% of people who GET a positive ANA test have nothing. Maybe those 10% have Celiac, but doctors just don't test them for it. Because ANA is a test for any kind of autoimmune activity going on, am I right?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have read that positive ANA doesnt always mean much...dont really know though.

[darlindeb25]

When I was my sickest, before going gluten-free--I would have terrible days, bad days and not so bad days--I never really had good days. There would be nights I was up all night with diarrhea, sometimes never leaving the bathroom. When there was nothing left--my tummy would relax a little and then I would have a not so bad day--sometimes even 3 not so bad days. Ironically, when my tummy would settle, a piece of toast would be good. I didnt know I was feeding the fire. Once you are gluten free and the good days outweigh the not so bad days--soon they are mostly good days. Then if you get glutened by accident, its a really bad day usually. Aim for the good days, your life will be so much better. Deb

[kelliac]

Ironically, when my tummy would settle, a piece of toast would be good. I didnt know I was feeding the fire.  Once you are gluten free and the good days outweigh the not so bad days--soon they are mostly good days.  Then if you get glutened by accident, its a really bad day usually.  Aim for the good days, your life will be so much better.  Deb

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That toast statement reminds me, hospitals used to give a "BRAT" diet to patients with chronic diarrhea. It stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast". Talk about feeding the fire. Toast? for diarrhea. How many of those patients actually had celiac/gluten sensitivity?

[Guest gfinnebraska]

Before I knew about the celiac disease, I would just get the occasional D. Couldn't figure out why... I had bloating, gas, etc., but not every day or really bad. AFTER going gluten free and being that way for quite some time, a crumb will knock me on my bottom! It is usually that way ~ the "cleaner" you get your system, the more sensitive it is. Not a bad thing, I guess! Now I know exactly when I ate something that was NOT gluten-free ~ instead of having to guess days later.

[ravenwoodglass]

That toast statement reminds me, hospitals used to give a "BRAT" diet to patients with chronic diarrhea.  It stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast".  Talk about feeding the fire.  Toast? for diarrhea.  How many of those patients actually had celiac/gluten sensitivity?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They still do reccomend the brat diet, I am active on an IBS board also and always reccomend the BRA diet instead. I also tell them that if they get relief and then feel sick again after the BRA is over and they are consuming regular food (gluten) they really need to evaluate gluten. Kind of a sneaky way to get people to rule it out but it seems to be effective.