Too Many Factors

[miles2go]

Hi from Maine! I'm new to the forum but have been reading this wonderful resource for a short while now and I think I came in through the side door. I was having serious medical issues with the building where I worked and ended up at the allergist, who tested me for food and got positive results for wheat, corn and soy, among other things, in September 2004. In March of 2005 I had some blood tests, the AGA (negative), immunoglobulins (high IgE and low IgM) and was prescribed Xolair and allergy shots and a whole slew of oral meds for my allergies and asthma. At the time I was very sick and had all of the classic symptoms of celiac disease and so I started a gluten-free diet right away - a few weeks before seeing a wonderful nutritionist, who was the first professional to actually mention celiac disease. I have a new workplace, have been taking my meds faithfully and am doing pretty well with staying gluten-free, except for the occasional CC with eating out which manifests itself pretty dramatically. I feel much better than I did last year, but I'd really like to know for sure. From what I've read, it seems like Enterolab might be my best option at this point, but I'd appreciate any feedback. Also, I'd dearly love to get off of at least some of the meds because they are so expensive and I'm not into the pharmaceutical drug culture in any way. The Xolair alone is costing my health insurance ungodly amounts.

Any advice for what my next step should be, if any?

Many thanks!

Margaret

[Mia H]

Hi from Maine! I'm new to the forum but have been reading this wonderful resource for a short while now and I think I came in through the side door. I was having serious medical issues with the building where I worked and ended up at the allergist, who tested me for food and got positive results for wheat, corn and soy, among other things, in September 2004. In March of 2005 I had some blood tests, the AGA (negative), immunoglobulins (high IgE and low IgM) and was prescribed Xolair and allergy shots and a whole slew of oral meds for my allergies and asthma. At the time I was very sick and had all of the classic symptoms of celiac disease and so I started a gluten-free diet right away - a few weeks before seeing a wonderful nutritionist, who was the first professional to actually mention celiac disease. I have a new workplace, have been taking my meds faithfully and am doing pretty well with staying gluten-free, except for the occasional CC with eating out which manifests itself pretty dramatically. I feel much better than I did last year, but I'd really like to know for sure. From what I've read, it seems like Enterolab might be my best option at this point, but I'd appreciate any feedback. Also, I'd dearly love to get off of at least some of the meds because they are so expensive and I'm not into the pharmaceutical drug culture in any way. The Xolair alone is costing my health insurance ungodly amounts.

Any advice for what my next step should be, if any?

Many thanks!

Margaret

I am very new here too. I have a lot of symptoms of celiac but my blood work came back negative but I was off gluten almost a year and then did a 3 week challange but it didn't help. I too was thinking of going to enterolab for some comfirmation, but it is my understanding that they won't be able to tell you if you are celiac, just if you are sensitive to gluten.

Please, anyone else here correct me if I am wrong! The full panel at enterolab is $369 and I don't think it would be covered by insurance. At this point I know that I have had about 15+ symptoms of celiac when I eat gluten, when I stopped for 3 months they slowly got better, when I ate it again, they came back. For me personally that is all I need to know. I have been to so many dr over the years and they have always treated me like nothing was wrong with me and it was all in my head.

About the medications, do you think any of the symptoms that you are taking the medications for may be due to celiac? Do you think the medications are helping you? Now Xolair is for asthma and that's not something you want to mess with. You really need to talk to your Dr about that one. But let them know how you feel and maybe they could help you do a safe trial without meds or prescribe some less expensive meds.

Mia