"Probable Celiac" Diagnosis

[KimHarder]

Hi everyone! I've just been given a diagnosis of "Probable Celiac". I have been gluten free for over a year and refuse to take it up again just to get an "accurate" test result. I was hoping that giving a run down of my symptoms to people who have been diagnosed with it might help give me some more clarity. I am 34 and have suffered from GI distress in one way or another my whole life. I do have an aunt and cousin with Celiac and I suspect my father has it as well. I've had 3 main triggers, processed fast food, deep fried food, and beer. Eating these would more often than not send me into what I call an "acute attack" where I would spend hours in the bathroom wracked with cramping and nausea while my body purged everything as quickly as it could. I've also linked feeling unwell to factory farmed meat and eggs. About 3 years ago I lost the ability to eat dairy. Now I cannot eat it at all without multiple trips to the bathroom. I have had several "flare ups" as well. Some that last just a day or two, and some that last weeks to months where I was unable to eat solid food without feeling nauseated. During these times I also get bloating, GI inflammation, diarrhea, fatigue and brain fog. I get migraines once or twice a month. Not severe, but when I was younger I would get really scary Aural Migraines. I also have generalized anxiety, and tend to get itchy rashes on my elbows, abdomen and backs of my hands. I also have really poor teeth, and had my appendix removed when I was 25. I did eliminate gluten from my diet for 3 months a year ago and about a week after I reintroduced it my torso broke out in hives which then changed to an itchy rash that lasted for over a month, as well as full systemic inflammation and massive brain fog. 

I am just at the tail-end of my latest flare up which has lasted over two weeks. GI inflammation, brain fog, unable to eat solid foods, diarrhea...this latest flare up is what has prompted the probable diagnosis. There is still gluten in my house as I make bread for my kids, and they still eat gluten. My ND says that even if I am not ingesting gluten, if I am exposed to it, it can still build up in my system and that this is most likely the cause of this recent flare up. 

I've been battling this my whole life, with GP after GP saying I'm too skinny, or it must be my hormones, or my gallbladder, or my kids probably brought home a rash....I would just really, really like some clarity on all of this...and this seems like a really good place to find some.

[trents]

I think you have your answer. And if you are still preparing wheat four containing foods for other family members you are likely getting exposed through inhalation of wheat four dust or cross contamination. Realize also that if you have active celiac disease there is a 44% chance that your first degree relatives have or will also develop active celiac disease. So I am suggesting you encourage your children to get tested. The first stage of testing is a simple blood draw to check for antibodies.

[Scott Adams]

Welcome to the forum!

Your symptoms certainly could be caused by celiac disease and/or gluten sensitivity. 

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