Layman's Terms, Please!

[tigger-babies1]

I am admittedly very new to the celiac arena. My sister's crew is all gluten sensitive along with 20 or 30 food allergies thrown in for good measure!

The problem I have is living in a medical college town, I have seen the head of the G.I. dept. and he is ten years behind on testing methods. He said he doesn't collect fecals because "they take so long and his office really doesn't like working on them." Instead, he wants a sigmoidoscopy, and a flex sig, along with a myriad of blood work.

The dilemma comes along in the factor that my husband is a fireman/EMT and he thinks we should just do what the Dr. wants. I say it's MY body and I am unsure how comfortable I am with a guy going that far up and down and not buying me dinner afterwards!

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

SB

[Lisa]

SB:

I am glad that you have found this site to seek information. But in order be of help to you, your have so give us some more information. Informations such as: what are your symptoms, how long, why do you think that this is celiac, and what information do you need. There are specific testing that can be done for Celiac.

What is your diet now and do you have the intent on changing your diet. If you do prefer to be tested. You must retain a full gluten diet for a period of time for the results to the accurate.

We are not doctors here, but many people with a vast amount of knowledge. We can be helpful.

If you would like some help, please give us some more detailed backround as to your questions.

Lisa

[Rachel--24]

Are you trying to get tested for Celiac? First no GI will test fecals for Celiac...thats not how they diagnose....they do bloodwork or biopsy. Isnt a sigmoidoscopy something like a colonoscopy but less complete? Thats not how they test for Celiac either. You would need bloodwork done and there are specific tests that should be ordered as far as that goes. Usually bloodwork is ordered first and if Celiac is suspected an Endoscopy is the next step. When they do the Endoscopy they will take several samples and biopsy them. If you're bloodwork is positive you really dont need this test but lots of doctors wont diagnose unless they see a positive biospy. The biopsies often give false negatives. Sometimes bloodwork is positive but biosy is negative even though the person is truelly Celiac.

Judging from your post it doesnt sound like this doctor knows what he's doing at all...I would look for a more informed doctor. Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy will not identify Celiac. You need an Endoscopy.

[tigger-babies1]

Sorry about not including a name, my family and I have a habit of signing our initials to everything.

My name is Sarah. My family has the gluten gene and possibly the celiac one as well. We just don't know if mine is activated. I have experienced a large variety of problems that seem to stem from allergies, but what allerigies no one has realy been able to pinpoint.

We know the gene is in the family because my sister's children all were having extreme food allergies and she payed out of pocket to get them all tested along with herself. That's when they found the genes.

I have had severe reactions including anaphalactic shock and multiple hospital visits. I was diagnosed with cutaneous mastocytosis in October last year, and one month after they put me on extreme antihystamine meds, I started having chronic diarrhea. Each time after I eat, I have stomach cramps and within about 30 min to an hour, I am running for a bathroom. Quite frankly, my bottom is very sore!

I was originally set to get a bone marrow biopsy to see if I had Systemic Mastocytosis, but my symptoms calmed down and they said it could wait.

I am quite frankly confused about it all. Add to the mixture my husband and I have been experienceing some marital rough times, and you have quite a cocktail!

The Fecal test shows malabsorption, I think. The sigmoidoscopy is a half of a colonoscopy. The flex sig is supposed to go down the throat to the upper intestines and grab a sample.

As for changing the diet, I have done all sorts of things to help out my nieces and nephew, so I am aware of what it entails. The time length of my problems in general is about 10 years now, with many things seeming to progress to a more severe symptom.

Hope this helps describe things a little better.

Sarah