Do I Have celiac disease?

[Guest Cherryl]

This is my 1st time on a message board. Myself, like a lot of you have been to several Dr's. I 1st went to GP with abdominal pains, diarrhea and fatigue, he sent me to a GI. Was diagnosed with an Ulcer and put me on several meds for 2 months. The diarrhea continued. Went to my GP again tried several meds and a stool sample for parasites it was negative and they said we don't know what to tell you. That was a year and 1/2 ago, I gave up and decided to live with it.

Decided to do research on my own and came across celiac disease, I'm still not sure this is what I have but my symptoms are the bid "D" (sometimes I will go right after eating) at least 3 times a day even up to 8, lower back pain, stomach pain, fatigue, gas, bloating, rash in my armpit, I get cracks in the corners of my mouth. I also went to donate blood when they put the drop of blood in solution to test for iron it floated (supposed to sink).

Also my son (21 years old) has heartburn and indigestion daily, said he always feels tired and has headaches a lot. His son is 6 months old and was diagnosed with acid reflux at 1 month old when he could not keep anything down. When I babysit him I notice he will start crying and I pick him up and he passes gas. And my dad had stomach problems all his life before he died, they said he had ulcers.

I'm just wondering if I should try the Gluten free diet on my own or try and find a Dr the will do the blood test and biopsy. I really want to know if it is celiac disease if not for myself for the sake of my son and grandson, so they will not have to suffer for years being misdiagnosed.

[jerseyangel]

Hi--welcome in! Your symptoms could very well indicate Celiac, in my opinion. In fact, I had many of the same issues you do. If the diagnosis is important to you, I would suggest NOT stopping gluten and make an appt. with your doctor. List your symptoms and tell him/her that you want to have a celiac panel (blood work) done. Then, you can make a decision on whether you feel the biopsy is necessary. Although the biopsy is considered the "gold standard" in Dx Celiac by most doctors, it can rule it in, but not rule it out. Good luck

[Rachel--24]

I would recommend finding a doctor who is knowledgeable about Celiac and get the bloodtests done. Make sure they give you the full "celiac panel"...it consists of 5 tests. If the bloodtest is negative or inconclusive I would then try the diet. The tests aren't foolproof so even if negative you may find your symptoms imrove on the diet.

[Canadian Karen]

Hi Cherryl!

Welcome to the board! I am glad that you have taken matters into your own hands and done some researc on your own, since the medical establishment in general is years behind in educating doctors about celiac disease.

It certainly does sound like you could have celiac disease. Your question about whether to just try the gluten-free diet or go through all the testing, well, I guess that depends. Some people require an "official" diagnosis either for insurance purposes, disability, etc. Others, a positive response to the gluten-free diet is proof enough that they have it. Whichever avenue you decide, I strongly suggest you pursue this further because you have alot of the classic symptoms.....

Again, welcome to the board!

Karen

[Guest Cherryl]

Thanks for the reply's and support. I think I will try a find a doctor that will do the blood test and biopsy.

I have another question, when I saw my GI he did a colonoscopy and EGD that's when I was diagnosed with an ulcer and he said part of my stomach was inflammed. Would the EGD have shown celiac disease or do you have to have a biopsy to get an accurate diagnosis?

[Canadian Karen]

A biopsy taken during a endoscopy (down the throat) is how they test the villi to confirm celiac disease.....

Karen