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Celiac without GI issues?

amandauher

By amandauher
in Doctors

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amandauher Newbie
amandauher
Posted

Hello! I have no idea if I have celiac disease, but I have scheduled an appointment to be tested for it. Honestly, I'm grasping at straws here -- desperate for some sort of answer to what is wrong with me. I don't have the GI/digestive issues most people describe (aside from being bloated). I had blood work done at my physical about 6 months ago, and my protein was on the very low end of "standard" as was my globulin number (and a/g ratio is actually above the normal range), which my medical training tells me (just kidding -- I googled it) MIGHT indicate celiac. I never even considered that before, because, like I said, I don't have lots of digestive issues or diarrhea, etc. But according to celiac.org (again, I know, I am practically a doctor), only 1/3 of adults have digestive issues as their symptoms. More commonly (they say), adults will have depression/anxiety, skin issues, and other symptoms. (Depression + plaque psoriasis on my hands are the current issues I'm facing.) Soooooo, that info + the elevated a/g ratio has led me to, "Hey, why not get tested for celiac?" 

**So, here are my 2 questions for all of you who, unlike me, actually know what you're talking about:

1. Do you really think it's possible that I could have celiac and that bloating would be the worst of my digestive "issues?"

2. I tried cutting out gluten as an experiment to see if it would calm down the psoriasis flare-up I've been experiencing. My diet has been gluten-free for the past 3 weeks (with NO change in my symptoms, for whatever that's worth), and my doctor's appointment is in 10 days. I understand that I need to actually have gluten in my system to have an accurate test result. Seeing as I only cut it out for 3 weeks, do you think that re-introducing it now until my appointment will be enough for an accurate result? Or do you think I need to wait the whole 6-8 weeks I've seen others talk about?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read all of this -- any insight or advice from your experience would be really helpful for me.

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artistsl Enthusiast
artistsl
Posted
2 hours ago, amandauher said:

Hello! I have no idea if I have celiac disease, but I have scheduled an appointment to be tested for it. Honestly, I'm grasping at straws here -- desperate for some sort of answer to what is wrong with me. I don't have the GI/digestive issues most people describe (aside from being bloated). I had blood work done at my physical about 6 months ago, and my a/g ratio is above the normal range, which my medical training tells me (just kidding -- I googled it) MIGHT indicate celiac. I never even considered that before, because, like I said, I don't have lots of digestive issues or diarrhea, etc. But according to celiac.org (again, I know, I am practically a doctor), only 1/3 of adults have digestive issues as their symptoms. More commonly (they say), adults will have depression/anxiety, skin issues, and other symptoms. (Depression + plaque psoriasis on my hands are the current issues I'm facing.) Soooooo, that info + the elevated a/g ratio has led me to, "Hey, why not get tested for celiac?" 

**So, here are my 2 questions for all of you who, unlike me, actually know what you're talking about:

1. Do you really think it's possible that I could have celiac and that bloating would be the worst of my digestive "issues?"

2. I tried cutting out gluten as an experiment to see if it would calm down the psoriasis flare-up I've been experiencing. My diet has been gluten-free for the past 3 weeks (with NO change in my symptoms, for whatever that's worth), and my doctor's appointment is in 10 days. I understand that I need to actually have gluten in my system to have an accurate test result. Seeing as I only cut it out for 3 weeks, do you think that re-introducing it now until my appointment will be enough for an accurate result? Or do you think I need to wait the whole 6-8 weeks I've seen others talk about?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read all of this -- any insight or advice from your experience would be really helpful for me.

I have yet to be diagnosed, but have had psoriasis on my hands and it took about 6 months gluten free for it to get better. 

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

You could very well have celiac disease, but the only way to know is to get tested.  celiac disease symptoms overlap with so many other illnesses.  There is no way to tell by symptoms alone.  

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Antibodies can go down to normal ranges in as little as two weeks.  But we do not know how fast you heal, so best to follow expert advice.  I would advise getting back on a gluten diet and put off the test until you have been back on it six to 8 weeks.  If you do not and your test results are negative, will your doctor order the test again, or will he refuse?    It is a decision you need to make according to your circumstances.  

A celiac can take months to years to heal.  That is the truth.  A three week dietary change is too short for most celiacs.  

5143Betty Rookie
5143Betty
Posted

Your story is so similar to mine, except my doctor won't test me for Celiac.  I have had bad psoriasis for years and paralyzing anxiety. I've been off gluten for 6 months and haven't had a single issue with my skin and anxiety is down about 80%.  Sorry I have no answers, but I wanted you to know you're not alone in your symptoms. I hope you get the answers you need.

amandauher Newbie
amandauher
Posted
  • Author
38 minutes ago, cyclinglady said:

You could very well have celiac disease, but the only way to know is to get tested.  celiac disease symptoms overlap with so many other illnesses.  There is no way to tell by symptoms alone.  

Open Original Shared Link

Antibodies can go down to normal ranges in as little as two weeks.  But we do not know how fast you heal, so best to follow expert advice.  I would advise getting back on a gluten diet and put off the test until you have been back on it six to 8 weeks.  If you do not and your test results are negative, will your doctor order the test again, or will he refuse?    It is a decision you need to make according to your circumstances.  

A celiac can take months to years to heal.  That is the truth.  A three week dietary change is too short for most celiacs.  

Thank you for your response -- I think my doctor would re-run the test, but I would hate to waste the time and money on testing too early just because I'm in a hurry anxious for some answers. :/ Also, I misstated which blood test result indicated possible celiac -- my a/g ratio WAS high, but my protein was low and my globulin was low -- those are the things that *possibly* pointed to celiac according to the almighty google search. ;) Thanks again for your response.

amandauher Newbie
amandauher
Posted
  • Author
12 minutes ago, 5143Betty said:

Your story is so similar to mine, except my doctor won't test me for Celiac.  I have had bad psoriasis for years and paralyzing anxiety. I've been off gluten for 6 months and haven't had a single issue with my skin and anxiety is down about 80%.  Sorry I have no answers, but I wanted you to know you're not alone in your symptoms. I hope you get the answers you need.

I'm so sorry to hear that about your doctor (maybe time to find a new one!?!) -- but I am so glad to hear that you're finding relief! I feel like celiac is a long shot, but I'm just so tired of dealing with this, whatever it is. I mean, I'm sure it's ultimately a combination of things, and MAYBE celiac is part of the equation. But I promise, I am NOT the person who is always scouring WebMD -- I never do that kind of stuff. But I just feel like something isn't right. I just feel like my brain and my body are fighting against themselves and something just isn't right. Anyway, your response is super encouraging -- thank you!!

TexasJen Collaborator
TexasJen
Posted

I had no GI symptoms at all. I had some restless leg syndrome and palpitations from iron deficiency anemia. In retrospect, I had worsening migraines and worse PMS which are notably better on a gluten-free Diet. I didn't even think celiac when I was struggling with those 3-4 years ago. 

And, still today, I can't tell if I've been glutened!

so, yes, you can have celiac with no GI symptoms

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Courtney33 Rookie
Courtney33
Posted
On 5/12/2017 at 5:16 PM, 5143Betty said:

Your story is so similar to mine, except my doctor won't test me for Celiac.  I have had bad psoriasis for years and paralyzing anxiety. I've been off gluten for 6 months and haven't had a single issue with my skin and anxiety is down about 80%.  Sorry I have no answers, but I wanted you to know you're not alone in your symptoms. I hope you get the answers you need.

 

Courtney33 Rookie
Courtney33
Posted

yes! Horrible anxiety and psoriasis. Generally my symptoms were a wham to the inside of my head. Call it a type of quick and concentrated brain fog. Sometimes it felt like being whoozie and other times like my head was spinning but in a half spin. If i get accidentally glutenized i will get the head thing. Later from 30 mins to 3 hrs my heart will skip. 3 to 9 hrs later i will getting random stabbing bone pain which i perceive to be the calcium being leeched from my bones from the gluten. My stomach probs at this time seem to be from eating soy products instead of dairy and thus destroying the enzymes i had left. Long road back. I got dna testing done with 23andme and there it was. Celiac. Couldnt used that info couple decades ago. 

  • 4 weeks later...
artistsl Enthusiast
artistsl
Posted

Oh, and yes to question #1. Infact, I've been told by my dermatologist that it's common for those who test positive for dermatitis herpetiformis to have no GI symptoms at all.

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