Help!! How much Gluten??

[Rachelgoodall]

Hi,

 

I am really struggling at the moment. I have been on a Gluten free diet now for 6 months since my doctor suggested i may be coeliac! My blood tests came back negative and i am awaiting a biopsy at the hospital. I saw the specialist last week and he said i had to re-introduce gluten for 4-6 weeks in order for the biopsy to be done. The specialist wasnt very helpful at all. When i asked how much gluten do i need to re-introduce, he just told me 'everyone is different'. I have no idea how much i should be eating! Would one biscuit a week be enough? Or do i need to be including gluten in every meal? I have been trying to eat gluten (2 slices of toast)  the past few days and feel absolutely terrible, im tired, bloated, stomach ache, headache.... can anyone offer any help?

Thanks in advance

[cyclinglady]

Welcome!  

Experts have various opinions, but here is one from the University of Chicago:

Open Original Shared Link

I would go for the maximum 6 weeks before the biopsy since you tested negative on the blood tests.  By the way, which ones did you take?  I ask because I tested negative to the most commonly used TTG.

I am sorry that your GP is not knowledgeable about celiac disease.  Going back on gluten is, well, a challenge!  Hang in there!  

 

 

 

 

 

[Rachelgoodall]

Thanks, thats really helpful!

I dont think the UK is as far advanced as the USA with the whole celiac problem.

I just got told by the doctor my results 'from the celiac test' had come back negative, so i dont actually know what test i got?

Hopefully will get some answers from the endoscopy and biopsy!

It really is a challenge... 6 weeks and counting!

[squirmingitch]

I could be wrong but am pretty sure the UK only does the basic screening -- only 1 or 2 of the celiac blood tests instead of the 6 which comprise the full panel. 

You might find it easier to eat the gluten before you go to bed in an effort to go through the worst of the symptoms while you sleep. Eventually, it will all catch up to you though over a 6 week period & it won't matter what time of day you eat it.

Hang in there! 

[Rachelgoodall]

Well.. tonight I thought I might as well have something nice for dinner! And I wish I didn't, just had some pasta, within 30mins violently sick!! Is this normal? How can I eat the gluten and keep it in my system for my tests if I throw up? Are some gluten containing foods worse than others?

[squirmingitch]

It doesn't matter if you urp it up because the moment it goes into your system it starts the immune reaction. The pasta doesn't have to sit in your stomach for a given period of time in order to make your system react. There are no better or worse gluten containing foods but you don't have to eat a bowl of pasta every day. A 1/2 slice of bread or a cracker (cookie? to you Brits?) each day should do the trick. For that matter, you could have a cookie or a cracker or a biscuit. You don't have to include gluten in every meal -- just once a day is good enough.

Hang in there! {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{RACHEL}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}