Diverticulitis

[JulieRose]

I have a question, might sound strange but here goes.

Is it possible that not know about being allergic to gluten, most of my life, that it could have helped create my diverticulitis? 

Or is there any correlation between the two at all? 

Trying to convince other siblings to get tested, they have diverticulitis as well. 

Thank You for any input You may have. 

 

[trents]

Welcome to the forum community, JulieRose.

First of all, you speak of being allergic to gluten. You do not say you have Celiac Disease but know that if you do, Celiac Disease is a gluten-related condition but it is not an allergy. It is an autoimmune disease whose inflammatory episodes are triggered by the ingestion of gluten. With Celiac Disease, the inflammation happens in the small intestine and it damages the lining of the small intestine which is where the nutrition in our food is absorbed.

So do you have a gluten allergy or do you have Celiac Disease?

Second, diverticular disease usually develops in the large intestine, not the small intestine, and specifically in the lower end of the large intestine called the colon. So it is not likely that your diverticular disease has been caused by Celiac Disease. 

According to the Mayo Clinic website, factors for Diverticulitis include:

Aging. The incidence of diverticulitis increases with age.

Obesity. Being seriously overweight increases your odds of developing diverticulitis.

Smoking. People who smoke cigarettes are more likely than nonsmokers to experience diverticulitis.

Lack of exercise. Vigorous exercise appears to lower your risk of diverticulitis.

Diet high in animal fat and low in fiber. A low-fiber diet in combination with a high intake of animal fat seems to increase risk, although the role of low fiber alone isn't clear.

Certain medications. Several drugs are associated with an increased risk of diverticulitis, including steroids, opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve).

[ravenwoodglass]

I can only speak from my own experience of course it may not apply to yourself. I had celiac since childhood and had extremely violent D for about 15 years before I was diagnosed in my 40's. About 2 years before diagnosis I had a colonoscopy done. The doctor said that I had extensive diverticulosis throughout my entire large intestine. To bad he didn't do an upper scope as I would have had a celiac diagnosis sooner instead I was told to get more fiber from foods like whole wheat. Anyway I had both scopes redone about 5 or 6 years after I was diagnosed and had well healed. The doctor found my diverticulosis had resolved.

Have you been diagnosed celiac? If you have not but are wanting to be tested do be sure to keep eating gluten even if it is only a couple pieces of bread until the testing is finished. Again I stress that my experience was only my personal experience and I don't know if the same has occured with anyone else.

[JulieRose]

I have been sickly most of my life. My biological father(he's dead now) had many allergies, and sicknesses. I have not been diagnosed with Celiac's disease yet, hard to get to see an actual doctor in person right now.

I have been consulting with a doctor though, he says if I don't have Celiac's disease, which he really thinks I do, then I certainly do have a gluten problem, anyway. He says that it could have caused a lot of my health issues, and maybe missed diagnosises. Doctors don't usually check for Celiacs, so they could have not known what is wrong with me, and thought it was something else. He says when things settle down, he wants to run tests on me, before he can make an actual diagnosis, and go from there. 

I guess what I should have asked if Celiacs could be miss diagnosed as Diverticulitis?

 

[trents]

JulieRose,

Have you had either an endoscopy (upper GI scoping) or a colonoscopy (lower GI scoping)? Those would be necessary to confirm either disease, though blood work can often spot probable Celiac Disease because Celiac Disease generally produces certain enzymes that show up in blood tests. At least get the blood work done that checks for Celiac Disease and go from there. It is possible you could have both diseases. 

[cyclinglady]

8 hours ago, JulieRose said:

I have been sickly most of my life. My biological father(he's dead now) had many allergies, and sicknesses. I have not been diagnosed with Celiac's disease yet, hard to get to see an actual doctor in person right now.

I have been consulting with a doctor though, he says if I don't have Celiac's disease, which he really thinks I do, then I certainly do have a gluten problem, anyway. He says that it could have caused a lot of my health issues, and maybe missed diagnosises. Doctors don't usually check for Celiacs, so they could have not known what is wrong with me, and thought it was something else. He says when things settle down, he wants to run tests on me, before he can make an actual diagnosis, and go from there. 

I guess what I should have asked if Celiacs could be miss diagnosed as Diverticulitis?

 

We are doing teleconference calls with our doctors.  We did have to go into a lab for blood draws.  If you think you might have celiac disease, ask for a simple blood test.  Some labs even are walk-in if your doctor refuses to order it.  You probably would have to pay cash though. But I think it is less than $100 for the screening TTG test.  
 

This is important!  All celiac disease testing requires you to be on a full gluten diet.  So, do not go gluten free if you want want a diagnosis (which is handy for many reasons, but mostly your chances of staying on the diet are better and you get way more family and medical support).  

[JulieRose]

The problem with staying on gluten, is the side effects. When I eat gluten, it's like eating a handfull of sedatives. And for a couple days after, I'm pretty much useless. I have no energy to do anything.

There are other things too, diarrhea, gas, feeling like I'm going to throw up, and/or throwing up. 

But the worst part about it, is the pain. It gives me such bad adominal pain, if my appendix weren't gone, I'd swear, they were ready to go. 

I get the only way to get a diagnosis is to eat gluten, but, until, I'm sure I can get into the doctor's office, I would rather not.

How long do I have to be back on gluten for it to show up, for the blood test? Does anyone know?