I am wondering if my symptoms are Celiac Disease related..

[NightRaven92]

Hey so on June 18th next month,I made an appointment next month with my doctor,because I think what could be causing my symptoms,is related to Celiac Disease. Here is my symptoms & stuff..so anyway autoimmune disease runs on my mom's side of the family. My grandma has an autoimmune disease related to her thyroid,& my aunt has Celiac Disease. I have been having my symptoms for almost 6 weeks now,from what I have noticed anyway. My symptoms are:Stomach pain/cramping,chronic diarrhea,I will feel feverish out of nowhere,I get alot of headaches & pain in my joints,& I noticed that literally after I consume anything with gluten in it,I will get nausea,sick to my stomach,pain in my abdomen & around my stomach,& not to mention the diarrhea that can often come out as very painful afterwards,if I consume gluten foods. I have not felt well in what feels like forever & that's of course why I made a dr appointment. Anyway I could really use some advice on this & how I could maybe bring my symptoms up with my dr without confusing her too much..thanks in advance..

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, @NightRaven92!

The symptoms you describe definitely align with celiac disease or at least NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity). That, and the family history of celiac disease, certainly warrant being tested for it. The first stage of diagnosis involves blood tests looking for antibodies that are more or less specific to celiac disease. If the blood antibody testing is positive, there is usually a second level diagnostic procedure for confirmation involving an endoscopy/biopsy of the small bowel lining, looking for the damage caused by celiac disease.

So, when you go to your appointment, I would suggest approaching your doctor this way to simplify the experience:

1. For six weeks I have been experiencing stomach cramps, diarrhea, feverishness, headaches and joint pain when I consume wheat products.

2. I have relatives with celiac disease and other autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto's thyroid disease.

3. I would like to be tested for celiac disease. Would you be willing to order the TTG-IGA antibody test and a total IGA test? TTG-IGA stands for "Tissue Transglutaminase Immunoglobulin A". Total IGA is also known as "Immunoglobulin A (IgA) test" (Note: the TTG-IGA is the "centerpiece" of celiac antibody testing. There are others but this one is the most important and the most popular one with physicians. But is also very important to have total IGA checked since if you are IGA deficient, it will produce artificially lower TTG-IGA scores and possible false negatives for this one and other IGA antibody tests as well.)

It's very important that you not begin cutting back on gluten consumption before the antibody test blood draw.

[Scott Adams]

It’s great that you’ve scheduled a doctor’s appointment to address your symptoms, especially given your family history of autoimmune diseases, including celiac disease. Your symptoms—such as stomach pain, chronic diarrhea, nausea after gluten consumption, joint pain, and headaches—do align with common signs of celiac disease, so it’s definitely worth discussing with your doctor. To help your doctor understand your concerns clearly, consider writing down a detailed list of your symptoms, including when they started, how often they occur, and any patterns you’ve noticed (like symptoms worsening after eating gluten). Mentioning your family history of autoimmune conditions will also be helpful, as celiac disease has a genetic component. You might also ask about getting tested for celiac disease, which typically involves blood tests and possibly an endoscopy. Avoid cutting gluten out of your diet before testing, as this can affect the accuracy of the results. Hopefully, your doctor can provide clarity and guide you toward the right next steps—hang in there, and good luck with your appointment!

[NightRaven92]

Thank you both so much,for the helpful advice on this topic & I am happy that it's not in my head,on my body telling me that something is up with my symptoms & needs a doctor's input on. I have a strong feeling in my gut,that my symptoms are either related to a gluten sensitivity,or even Celiac Disease itself. I am keeping a detailed track of my symptoms,& what foods I ate that triggered them to happen, because I know this will help me to better answer my doctor's questions on my symptoms. I am gonna ask for the blood test,& I am a little nervous lol about maybe having to get the Endoscopy but honestly if the blood test & Endoscopy helps diagnose whatever issues going on with my digestive system & the rest of my body,& why I haven't felt good in what feels like forever,then I will gladly get whatever diagnostic procedure needed. I will keep everyone updated on the doctor appointment & if there ends up being a diagnosis😊

[trents]

In the U.S. endoscopies are typically done under light sedation. You wouldn't even be aware of what's going on or remember it.

[Scott Adams]

This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.