Gluten free before testing

[KatG18]

Hi All,

Background:

I'm 54 years old and have been having major digestive, as well as many other symptoms, for at least 10 years. Back in 2010 I had my gallbladder removed and was told (after removal) that it was so severely scared they were surprised it was working at all, which it barely was, but no stones. The digestive symptoms worsened from there rather than improving. When I talked to a new GP a couple of years later after moving to a new state, she said simply,  "It's just IBS. There's nothing you can do about it." 

After tons of research over the past few years I suspect celiac disease, but I've become so disillusioned with doctors I decided to just cut to the chase and go gluten free without testing. I did it for two weeks, but cheated twice. However, I did feel A LOT better. Then I realized I shouldn't have done it without testing first so I went back to eating gluten, and made a doctor's appointment, which is one week away.

Summary:

Two weeks MOSTLY gluten-free. Now one week heavily back on gluten. Initial PCP appointment one week away (she says she'll be referring me to a GI - so she may not even be doing the blood test).

Questions: 

Have I totally screwed up the tests already or should it be OK if I just keep eating lots of gluten until all the tests have been done? 

What if my PCP does a blood test next week? Will that be too soon after my little "experiment"?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Kat

 

 

[squirmingitch]

Can't really say for sure dear. You're supposed to be eating gluten everyday for the prior 12 weeks. The thing is, when you get into situations like this, is that when/if you turn up negative, the doctors tend to take that negative as gospel & refuse to re-test after you've been eating gluten for 12 weeks solid. I mean, I can guess & say that if you NOW ate gluten every day for a month, then you should be good to go so if you can put off the bloods for a month..... but I can't guarantee that will be the magic number. On the other hand, you may be fine doing the tests next week but we just don't KNOW nor does the doc. 

I wish I had a solid, pat answer for you. Boy do I ever wish that!

I will say that you don't have to eat a ton of gluten ---- just 1 slice of bread per day will do it. 

Best of luck & let us know what happens Kat.