Do I Possibly Have Celiac?

[fuzzymonkey]

Hi All

About a month or so ago I suddenly began experiencing serious abdominal cramps, fatigue, and yellowish very liquid diarrhea. I thought it was food poisoning and would pass. After two weeks of the symptoms, I figured it couldn't be food poisoning, so I began researching my symptoms online. I found a few sites that seemed to suggest that I had celiac, or at least the symptoms of it. I don't have health insurance and didn't want to spend a lot of money on tests just to find out that I didn't have celiac, so I decided to cut out gluten and see what happened. Within two days, my stools were back to normal, the cramps were gone (they still come every so often, but are much milder than before), and my energy returned. I haven't eaten gluten since (no wheat, oats, rye, or barley). If I remain symptom free, is it safe to assume gluten was the culprit? Also, I'm 37 and have eaten gluten all my life (I'd eaten 1/2 lb of pasta a day for years, lots of bread, pastries, crackers, etc). Is it possible for this to crop up now, seemingly out of the blue? Any comments/advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[mmaccartney]

A food challenge can be very telling. If you cut out gluten and you feel better, that is an indication that you may have celiac or gluten intolerance.

Yes, it can just pop up out of nowhere. I was 32 when my celiac triggered, surprised the heck out of all of us.

[jerseyangel]

Hi Fuzzymonkey--welcome

Since you are unable to be tested, and are willing to accept the positive response to the gluten-free diet, I would say you have your answer right here! If gluten is making you sick, and you feel better off of it--don't eat it. Simple Actually, a positive response to the diet is a valid diagnostic tool--there are doctors who will accept it to diagnose gluten sensitivity.

One thing comes to mind--once you are committed to the gluten-free diet, make sure that you are 100 percent. Watch out for your personal care products, meds, vitamins, cross contamination issues in your kitchen, and while eating out (not recommended at first, if possible).

Keep reading here--tons of great info! Feel free to ask any questions you have!

[eKatherine]

Also, I'm 37 and have eaten gluten all my life (I'd eaten 1/2 lb of pasta a day for years, lots of bread, pastries, crackers, etc). Is it possible for this to crop up now, seemingly out of the blue?

My feeling is that it didn't come out of the blue. It was a result of overeating gluten for many years, and during that time you probably had a number of annoying minor symptoms that you ignored, as they didn't seem related. That's how it was for me. It's amazing what clears up when you go gluten-free. I've been gluten-free for two years and I only realized since joining this board that since then I've been canker sore free, too, and I'd had them all my life. My foot swelling and pain improved, and I'd had that for ten years. My gum inflammation is gone, and I'd had that for at least 20 years.

[floridanative]

You could have triggered your Celiac gene. Having a child, going through a divorce or even stress at work can cause a person's Celiac gene to 'turn on' and all of a sudden the food they've eaten their whole life makes them sick. This certainly was the case with me. But some are sick all their lives and their gene is triggered as soon as gluten is introduced into their diets when they're infants.

[fuzzymonkey]

Thanks for your input, everyone. This site has been really helpful. I'm glad I stumbled across it. I've been looking at a lot of the posts and many people seem to have had parallel experiences to mine.

[Nic]

Hi, we have 6 known Celiacs in our family. My son and 1 distant cousin are the only ones diagnosed as children. My father was diagnosed at 50 and only had symptoms for 2 years and my my aunt 48.