Could I Have Celiac?

[jewel1]

Quick history:

I've had stomach problems since Junior High (now 33)..usually the worst about 30 minutes to 1 hour after eating. Usually, symptoms are worse after eating out vs eating at home.

Main symptoms are: diarrhea, gas, stomach cramps, naseua/lightheadedness and beofre the stomach troubles start in earnest (meaning, having to run to the bathroom) I feel very flushed and hot all over. My husband would always get frustrated that I was spending my life running to the bathroom.

One doctor told me I had IBS a long time ago, and another tested me for hypoglycemia...nothing conclusive. I've been food allergy tested and possibly am slightly sensitive to garlic, peanuts and tomatoes, but it wasn't very conclusive either.

I defintiely have issues with Lactose intolerance/dairy, but not all the time. It seems to come in clumps...like 3 bad months, then 4 good months.

I'm always tired/lethargic, which is really annoying. I tend to be overweight...not under.

A year ago I started a low-carb diet where I tend to avoid most flours, oats etc and saw a HUGE improvement in my symptoms. I still have an episode once in awhile, but rarely (though I still have issues with being tired off and on).

Do you think this could be celiac disease? I've seen the symptoms lists and they're so long and varied that it confuses me. The one symptom I didn't really see mentioned was that intense feeling of heat/getting flushed prior to an outbreak of symptoms.

Any ideas? I'd love to hear your opnions. Thanks for all your help.

--Julie

[lesliew]

Wow, you sound exactly like me, same symptoms, age and everything. I even found out the same way! I have not had the test for Celiac, and have only been attempting to live wheat free for a short time (very unsuccesfully I might add, lol). I have had the flushing before an episode before too. I could have written your post! I've had the hypoglycemic episodes too, just not the lactose... Right now, I am just assuming I am gluten intolerant and not celiac, I will see if my doctor recommends having hte test. My sister has seen improvement off wheat also, so that makes me wonder tho.....

[flagbabyds]

If you are going to get tested (which I think you should) go back off hte low-carb diet because then the test will be bad, yes you could very welll be celiac, everyone's symptoms are different

[Guest jhmom]

Main symptoms are: diarrhea, gas, stomach cramps, naseua/lightheadedness and beofre the stomach troubles start in earnest (meaning, having to run to the bathroom) I feel very flushed and hot all over.

I had the very same symptoms plus a few more . Of course mine always hit me while driving to work in the mornings . I think you should look into getting tested either through your GI doc with blood tests or through Open Original Shared Link which is a stool panel test and is more sensitive than blood and more accurate.

I do hope you find some relief soon as I know exactly how you are feeling.