Getting An Upper Gi Xray And A Colonoscopy

[mythreesuns]

He got me questioning myself.....for about 5 minutes! LOL

Anyway, when he pressed down on my abdomen I almost lept off the table because it hurt so bad.

So what do you think I should expect from these tests? I know about the prep but I'm wondering what sort of results I could get. Just what could they find?

I'm still having diarrhea on the gluten-free diet...been about 2 mos now. He's looking for colitis and Chrone's.

[CarlaB]

Has anything changed on the gluten-free diet? Are you still consuming dairy/casein? I didn't get completely better until eliminating casein as I have the same reaction to it as to gluten.

Have any of your test results indicated celiac at all (sorry, 11k members, I can't remember!)? If you are having no dietary response and no test showed it, then it might just be something else.

[mythreesuns]

Has anything changed on the gluten-free diet? Are you still consuming dairy/casein? I didn't get completely better until eliminating casein as I have the same reaction to it as to gluten.

Have any of your test results indicated celiac at all (sorry, 11k members, I can't remember!)? If you are having no dietary response and no test showed it, then it might just be something else.

Well, I've been off casein since before I went off gluten (see sig... ) so it can't be that. I suspected that soy was giving me trouble so I stopped using soy milk (every morning in my cereal and in my coffee) and a couple of days ago, I suspected I may have been glutened by one of those pre-cooked chickens from Sam's.

As of this date, no test has indicated celiac for me. I'm still waiting for my Enterolab results. Again, see sig... If EnteroLab comes up with nothing, I'm gonna be majorly stumped!

I have had some improvement with the diet. First of all, I have NO reflux/ heartburn anymore, and I've been off Prevacid for more than a week now. Previously, I couldn't go 2 days without it. Also, the diarrhea is less severe. I don't have the horrible stomach pains that I used to have, and bloating only comes with suspected milk or gluten contaminations. I'm back to diarrhea every day right now, but it's still not as bad as before. It's more soupy than watery. Sorry for the TMI

[jayhawkmom]

Granted, this is just my OWN experience.... but when my GI pushed down on my stomach, I had massive pain. When he did the biopsy, he found that my LES is weakened - and believes that is what was causing the pain. That was part of my reflux issues.

Honestly, I was dx with "severe" GERD, but I never get heartburn. Had no idea that I had reflux issues. Perhaps you need to continue taking Prevacid for healing purposes, for a while longer?

Again.... I really have no idea what I'm talking about, other than identifying to my own specific issues. SO, I could be 1000 miles off the mark on that one.

[mythreesuns]

Again.... I really have no idea what I'm talking about, other than identifying to my own specific issues. SO, I could be 1000 miles off the mark on that one.

LOL How's that for a disclaimer?

Anyway, where he pushed was on my lower left abdomen, right where he said my decending colon was. He was ok with me not taking the Prevacid if I wasn't having reflux or heartburn.

[jayhawkmom]

Ohh, ok! I really hope that I can get to that point.

I have no idea how to know if it's better, since I don't seem to have (or notice) the issues. Hmmm.

[CarlaB]

Kris, sorry, I don't know other than to wait for Enterolab and to see what your doc finds. I seem to be at the bottom of my own problems ... gluten, casein, and adrenal fatigue. One of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue is diarrhea, so you can google it and see if it may be a problem.

It could be that (according to your sig ) you've only been truly gluten-free for a few days. Give it some time. Many people need at least a few months.

[ravenwoodglass]

He got me questioning myself.....for about 5 minutes! LOL

Anyway, when he pressed down on my abdomen I almost lept off the table because it hurt so bad.

So what do you think I should expect from these tests? I know about the prep but I'm wondering what sort of results I could get. Just what could they find?

I'm still having diarrhea on the gluten-free diet...been about 2 mos now. He's looking for colitis and Chrone's.

I think the tests are a good idea but I would ask if he could do an endoscopy at the same time he does the colonoscopy. That way he can do some biopsies for celiac while he is in there. As far as what they may find there is no telling. I was extrememly ill when they did my colo and all they found was divericuli, lots of them. They couldn't understand why I almost burst into tears from a good result. Of course they also thought I was exagerating when I said I was up for at least 3 agonizing hours every night. They should be taking biopsies to look for colitis and for the Chrones and they will also be looking for any signs of inflammation and polyps or structural changes or abnormalities. A bit of a warning about the upper GI, not all barium is gluten free so make sure you stress that they check.

Hopefully by the time you have the tests you will have heard back from Enterolab and at least have a start on some answers.

I hope you start to feel better soon.

[AndreaB]

Toni,

I don't have anything to add. Please keep us posted on both enterolab and your other tests.

[jayhawkmom]

Kris, sorry, I don't know other than to wait for Enterolab and to see what your doc finds. I seem to be at the bottom of my own problems ... gluten, casein, and adrenal fatigue. One of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue is diarrhea, so you can google it and see if it may be a problem.

It could be that (according to your sig ) you've only been truly gluten-free for a few days. Give it some time. Many people need at least a few months.

Yep. I went back and forth... in a state of denial I guess. However, since attending the Celiac Conference in Stanford... I've been 100% gluten-free, to the best of my ability.

I definitely feel MUCH better gluten free.... my issue is reflux more than anything. I'm taking Prevacid, as my GI noted "severe" GERD. However, I never have heartburn or any classic reflux symptoms. I'm wondering how long I'll have to take the Prevacid. Since I have no symptoms, I have no way of knowing if I'm better.

Sorry I wasn't clear with my actual response there!!! =)

[mythreesuns]

I think the tests are a good idea but I would ask if he could do an endoscopy at the same time he does the colonoscopy.

I've already had the endoscopy (doesn't anyone read the signatures?! LOL) and the biopsies for celiac were negative. He's not even doing them for the colonoscopy because he's positive I don't have it.