Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Has Anyone Ever Done A Gluten Challenge...

stephk

Recommended Posts

stephk Newbie
stephk
Posted

Hi,

my name is Stephanie and I'm 27 years old. About 2 years ago I was told that I probably had Celiac Disease and started a gluten free diet (not realizing how stupid that was at the time). I am still having problems to this day and am considering doing the gluten challenge under the care of my doctor, so that I can have the biopsy and blood test done and know forsureif I have celiac disease. I was wondreing if anyone has done this and how bad it is.

I have also been reading about this enterolab test and was wondering how/where I would get it. It sounds like it would be helpful as well. I really would like to get some answers either way so that I don't have to guess anymore.

If anyone has any advice, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Megan Rookie
Megan
Posted

I only did the gluten free diet for a weekish before they decided to do testing and now I need to eat gluten. Just be prepared. Don't do it the big week of ANYTHING! pick a calm week...

other than that I think it depends on which symptoms you have when you are glutened!?! and how well you can handle them and go on with daily life!

Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted

I did a gluten challenge last summer and got violently ill. It took me almost two months until I was starting to feel somewhat normal again. Of course, they had me do the gluten challenge for over a month, so that may have played a part in it. I don't think you need to be eating gluten for quite that long. If you're still having problems and they can't figure out what else it could be, I'd say go for it. You'll probably want to make sure that you can take vacation from work on short notice if it gets too bad though. Good luck! I hope you get some answers soon.

par18 Apprentice
par18
Posted
Hi,

my name is Stephanie and I'm 27 years old. About 2 years ago I was told that I probably had Celiac Disease and started a gluten free diet (not realizing how stupid that was at the time). I am still having problems to this day and am considering doing the gluten challenge under the care of my doctor, so that I can have the biopsy and blood test done and know forsureif I have celiac disease. I was wondreing if anyone has done this and how bad it is.

I have also been reading about this enterolab test and was wondering how/where I would get it. It sounds like it would be helpful as well. I really would like to get some answers either way so that I don't have to guess anymore.

If anyone has any advice, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

Stephanie

Who told you to go on gluten-free diet?

Tom

plantime Contributor
plantime
Posted

If you decide to do the challenge, choose a time when you have a couple of weeks free to be sick. If your problem is not gluten, then you might not get sick. However, for some, being without gluten for a couple of years then eating it again leads to severe illness. I believe that if you become ill after eating gluten, since you have been off of it for so long, is a positive reaction. Are you sure that you cut out all sources of gluten, including malt flavoring and cross contamination? You could also be intolerant to something else that you are eating. Good luck with your testing!

par18 Apprentice
par18
Posted
Hi,

my name is Stephanie and I'm 27 years old. About 2 years ago I was told that I probably had Celiac Disease and started a gluten free diet (not realizing how stupid that was at the time). I am still having problems to this day and am considering doing the gluten challenge under the care of my doctor, so that I can have the biopsy and blood test done and know forsureif I have celiac disease. I was wondreing if anyone has done this and how bad it is.

I have also been reading about this enterolab test and was wondering how/where I would get it. It sounds like it would be helpful as well. I really would like to get some answers either way so that I don't have to guess anymore.

If anyone has any advice, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

Stephanie,

Did you respond to the gluten-free diet in a positive way? Are you saying you have been gluten free for the past 2 years and still have problems?

Tom

Felidae Enthusiast
Felidae
Posted

I know what you mean about wanting it on paper. I went gluten-free because I was sick of being sick. My doctor saw me about three months after being gluten-free and she said it was not worth it to do a gluten challenge because of how sick I would be again. And what if the results came back negative anyways, then what. The gluten-free diet itself has told me what I need to know in the way that my body has responded.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


flagbabyds Collaborator
flagbabyds
Posted

If you really need an official diagnosis of celiac, then I would say go for it. But if you think that maybe other foods might be bothering you, then you might want to try the elimination diet and slowly add foods back in one at a time, and then if they don't make you sick, then you know that you can have that food, but if it makes you sick, then you know to aviod it. My mom would never put me on gluten when I was a baby, and they wanted to do the challenge, now they don't do that anymore because it makes people so sick.

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

Stephanie, if you have been gluten free for two years, it could possibly be at least a year of eating gluten for enough damage to show up again for a positive test result. It is very likely you would get a false negative unless you eat gluten for a long time. Is it really worth it?

Did you initially feel better when you went gluten free? If yes, once your intestines healed and absorbed nutrients again, they would also have absorbed other things again that you are intolerant to. That is what happened to me. When I started feeling worse again after three months, I had to figure out my other food intolerances. So now, being gluten-free and having eliminated the million other things I am intolerant to, I feel much better again.

I agree with the elimination diet idea. That would be much better than going back on gluten. Or try having some and see if it makes you sick. If it does, you know that gluten is a problem, no testing needed there, just a need to hunt down the other problems.

Try cutting out all dairy for starters. And as somebody else said, have you eliminated ALL gluten? Did you buy a new toaster, new cutting board, replaced wooden cooking utensils, non-stick cookware, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, lipstick, lip balm? Did you avoid everything that says 'malt flavouring', natural flavours, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, soy sauce?

Its a jungle out there for us, you have to be vigilant and on your guard at all times! :ph34r:

I hope you figure it out, all the best.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

yes, but it was after about three weeks gluten free, was for a dietary result, and not of the magnitude that you would need to do. you can try it if you want to, but I would encourage you to play close attention to your body, and consider stopping the experiment short if it becomes apparent that your body is telling you the answer sooner than the tests need you to consume gluten for.

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

https://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodid=1281

Read the article above--helpful info on the pros and cons of doing a gluten challenge...isn't always accurate or effective unfortunately.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,130
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Tony White
    Newest Member
    Tony White
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Food and environmental allergies involve IgE antibodies.  IgE antibodies provoke histamine release from mast cells.   Celiac disease is not always visible to the naked eye during endoscopy.  Much of the damage is microscopic and patchy or out of reach of the scope.  Did they take any biopsies of your small intestine for a pathologist to examine?  Were you given a Marsh score? Why do you say you "don't have intestinal damage to correlate with lifelong undiagnosed celiac disease"?   Just curious.  
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      I was tested for food allergies and environmental allergies about 7 months before I started taking Naltrexone, so I don't think that is the cause for me, but that's interesting!  The main thing with the celiac thing that is throwing me off is these symptoms are lifelong, but I don't have intestinal damage to correlate with lifelong undiagnosed celiac disease.
    • trents
      Finding gluten free ingredients

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @Kara S! Warrior bread is a grain free bread product. Google it. There are commercial mixes available, I believe, Youtube videos and many recipes. 
    • knitty kitty
      Gluten related ??

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Colleen H, I have had similar reactions and symptoms like yours.  I started following the low histamine Autoimmune Protocol diet developed by a doctor with Celiac Disease herself, Dr. Sarah Ballantyne.  Her book, The Paleo Approach, is very helpful in understanding what's going on in the body.   Not only do you have antibodies attacking the body, there are mast cells spreading histamine which causes inflammation.  Foods also contain histamine or act as histamine releasers.  Our bodies have difficulty clearing histamine if there's too much.  Following the low histamine AIP diet allows your body time to clear the excess histamine we're making as part of the autoimmune response, without adding in extra histamine from foods.  High histamine foods include eggs, processed foods and some citrus fruits.  The AIP diet allows meat and vegetables.  No processed meats like sausage, luncheon meats, ham, chicken nuggets, etc. No night shades (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant).  No dairy.  No grains.  No rice.  No eggs.  No gluten-free processed foods like gluten free breads and cookies.  No nuts.  No expensive processed gluten-free foods.  Meat and vegetables.  Some fruit. Some fruit, like applesauce, contains high levels of fructose which can cause digestive upsets.  Fructose gets fermented by yeasts in the gastrointestinal tract.  This fermentation can cause gas, bloating and abdominal pain.   The AIP diet changes your microbiome.  Change what you eat and that changes which bacteria live in your gut.  By cutting out carbohydrates from grains and starchy veggies like potatoes, SIBO bacteria get starved out.  Fermenting yeasts get starved out, too.  Healthy bacteria repopulate the gut.   Thiamine Vitamin B 1 helps regulate gut bacteria.  Low thiamine can lead to SIBO and yeast infestation.  Mast cells release histamine more easily when they are low in Thiamine.  Anxiety, depression, and irritability are early symptoms of thiamine insufficiency.  A form of thiamine called Benfotiamine has been shown to promote intestinal healing.   Thiamine works with the seven other B vitamins.  They all need each other to function properly.   Other vitamins and minerals are needed, too.  Vitamin D helps calm and regulate the immune system. Thiamine is needed to turn Vitamin D into an active form.  Thiamine needs magnesium to make life sustaining enzymes.  Taking a B Complex and additional Benfotiamine is beneficial.  The B vitamins are water soluble, easily lost if we're not absorbing nutrients properly as with Celiac Disease.  Since blood tests for B vitamins are notoriously inaccurate, taking a B Complex, Benfotiamine, and magnesium Threonate, and looking for health improvements is a better way to see if you're insufficient.   I do hope you will give the low histamine AIP diet a try.  It really works.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.