This Would Make Sense

[Momma Shelley]

Well, I have been sick for the last 4 years, and think I have finally found the answer. Going through everyones descriptions of celiac has given me hope that I am not dying, just wondering if anyone has suggestions. Well, I have had intestinal problems, extreme fatigue, chronic pain, my gall bladder quit working (no stones), my teeth rot, even though I floss and brush 2-3 times a day, and I do mean rot, I am always anemic, no matter how much extra iron I take. I have tried doctors, accupunture, and am now going to a Gastroentinologist, and of course, I think I have found the answer to my own problem. I guess I am to the point that I am actually hopeing what I have is celiac. I have been pretty sick, and even hospitalized, and no one ever mentioned this as a possibility. I think it all started when I found out I was pregnant with my 3rd baby. Seeing as I had an IUD birth control device in, I was a little confused. It turned out that the IUD was not where it was supposed to be, and my doctor found it in my small intestine when they delivered my daughter. They had to remove some small intestine, and ever since, things have only gotton worse. Has anyone had a similar reaction to a small bowel resection? I think I have always been sensitive to gluten, but only resently has it become so severe.

[Guest Robbin]

First of all, welcome. Wow, you have sure had an awful time of things. It sure sounds like a good possibility. The most important thing right now (and it is hard when you suspect) is to keep eating gluten until you have had any bloodwork done. Make sure that the doctor does a complete celiac panel --maybe someone can list the tests--I am not remembering them all--?? I hope your doctor takes this seriously and is a good one. Take care and keep us posted.

[AndreaB]

You may have been sensitive to gluten for awhile by the sounds of it. Any of your pregnancies could have triggered it. I don't know the blood work that needs to be done, just the celiac blood panel, it's 5 different tests.

Wait, this is something I copied over from this forum a few months back. This poster was responding to someones questions.

In a nutshell, though, allergy testing is very different from gluten sensitivity/celiac disease testing.

Allergy testing is IgE-based. There are FIVE tests that need to be done for gluten sensitivity/celiac disease, and ALL FIVE must be done to get a complete picture. They are:

AGA IgA

AGA IgG

EMA

tTG

Total serum IgA

Without all five, you don't know the complete picture. And when you say your husband tested negative, I'm not sure if that's for allergies, or one/all of the tests above.

The short answer is that you can test negative and still have a gluten sensitivity or even celiac disease. AND, because it's a genetic condition (a very COMMON one), it's not surprising that your kids may have it, too (and behavioral issues are common with gluten sensitivity/celiac disease). I'd advise proper testing -- but remember, to be properly tested, you have to be eating gluten!

I didn't have blood work done since I had been gluten lite for 1 1/2 months. I went through enterolab due to that.

Hope this helps.

[Matilda]

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[eleep]

I want to say "welcome" as well -- and to 2nd the suggestion that you get tested! Autoimmune disorders, like celiac, can often get triggered by a stressful bodily event like a surgery or major illness, so it's possible that your operation might have had that effect as well!

eleep