Barrett's Esophagus

[cap6]

Is anyone familiar with or know if Barrett's Esophagus is related to Celiac/gluten intolerance. The reason I ask is because my partner had bad diarrhea for a year, starting in May 2014. We maintain a gluten free home for me but she would eat gluten when out and about. Finally after two scopes, in January 2015 she finally was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus and as gluten intolerant. She was told to be rescoped in June to check on the progress of the Barrett's. (ok, so we are a little late with the rescope!). She has been gluten free since January and in May the diarrhea stopped. !! (we're older so our bodies prob take longer to heal???!)

To make a long story short ~ we moved and the new doctor wants to rescope to check the Barretts & the gluten intolerance, no problem there, but the doctor wants her to eat gluten for the week before the scope. That I don't get. One week of eating gluten is going to show what? Irritate the esophagus? It certainly won't damage the gut enough to show anything. Any thoughts?

The scope is on Tuesday. A couple of days ago she has a Baskin brownie bites ice cream and surprise! Back came the diarrhea. She is refusing to eat any more gluten, she doesn't care what the doctor wants as says she is no way going back to all of that agony. I pretty much support that but still don't understand the doctor wanting a week of gluten eating.

Any thoughts or imput? Thanks.

[cyclinglady]

I probably sound like a broken record (from telling my story so much) but my hubby went gluten-free 14 years ago per the poor advice of my allergist and his GP.  It worked though.  He will be the the first to tell you that I have received way more support from family, friends and medical with my formal diagnosis.  But will he do a gluten challenge?  No way and I can not blame him.  

 

Based on my research (University of Chicago and American GI org), one week is not enough to detect damage from celiac disease.  I believe it is four weeks. 

 

I hope she figures it out!  

[mommida]

If gluten is suspected to be a trigger for Eosinophilic Esophagitis, one week prior exposure might give a positive result.  Once acitivated, Eosinophils can remain active for 12 days destroying normal tissue.  Samples will have to be tested specifically for eosinophils with red dye by a pathologist.  Most cases of EE are diagnosed during late summer early fall because airborne allergies also play a part in EE.

 

Please discuss this with the doctor if this is what the gluten challenge was for.  (As adults require a higher count of eosinophils for diagnoses than children do and there was very limited gluten exposure.)

[cap6]

Thank you for your responses. I knew 1 week was not near enough for Celiac but it is good to know about the Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Thank you. The test is tomorrow so we will see what happens as she won't do the gluten test. The main complaint was the almost year long diarrhea so we will see what happens. I am not happy with the high dose of acid reflux med they have her on....sigh. Thanks for the feedback. It really helps!

[mommida]

I should also add that eosinophilic disorders can be anywhere along the GI tract. Eosinophilic Gastro intestinal Disorders (EGID)  As I watched my daughter suffer before diagnoses, "D" is also a symptom for Eosinphilic Esophagitis.

I hope recovery is going well.  Were any Schatzi rings, furrowing, or eosinophils found during the scope?