Had My Gastroscopy Today

[Michi8]

The procedure went really smoothly. All I remember is having my throat sprayed, then having the "tooth guard" placed and having meds injected into my IV (demerol and something else?) I woke up 2 hours later after a really sound sleep. Apparently my body takes meds really well. It was a very surreal experience to wake up and remember nothing.

So the doctor wrote a note for me (she doesn't speak to patients after the surgery because of the amnesiac)...everything looks normal. I was disappointed to hear she only took two biopsies though. I expect the results of those will be 100% normal too. I think it will take more exploration and trying the diet to figure out what all my symptoms are about.

Michelle

[Michi8]

Anybody reading my posts?

Anyone have a normal looking system and still have a positive biopsy?

I'm feeling a little disappointed today that I spent 3.5 months waiting for this darned procedure to have her only take two biopsies. I didn't get an opportunity to talk to her directly before the procedure either...only to the nurses, who had assured me she would take a few samples.

My stomach is cramping a little bit today. I believe the dr took a sample from my stomach and one from my duodenum. Can positive results be found from either of those sites, or did the dr miss the mark? She is supposed to be well versed in celiac (it's her specialty)...I'm really surprised she only took those two samples. If the samples come back negative I'm still going to end up wondering if it's a false negative or not.

Michelle

[Lisa]

Michele:

This is a holiday weekend in the US, so most are away from the computer.

I did the endoscopy and my GI saw flattening of the villi and my biopsy was consistant with Celiac.

Not the same as your case.

Lisa

[Michi8]

Thanks for reminding me about the holiday, I had forgotten...our Thanksgiving is a month earlier.

I'm feeling pretty low today. I'm really frustrated with my ongoing symptoms (a looong list) and the fact that every test I do comes back normal. This stuff isn't in my head (IBS symptoms, hair loss, skin issues, exhaustion, feeling cold, moody, etc, etc) and I'm so tired of dealing with this (IBS and other symptoms for 20 years.) I just want to get some answers.

Why have I been dealt a life of constant health issues? What is it like to be completely healthy and have no allergies or food issues?

Michelle

[Michi8]

bump

[2Boys4Me]

Is it possible that when she said she took two biopsies that she meant she took numerous samples from two locations? Several from stomach and several from duodenum? I'm sure you'll get a call in a week or so and if you are concerned call her office today.

When Ty had his, I believe they were all from the duodenum, but I don't know that for sure. I also don't know (or have forgotten) how many samples were taken. He was at the old Children's and it was all so overwhelming at the time that everything the doctor said went right out of my head immediately.

As for why you've been dealt this life of health issues - probably because you are strong enough to handle it. Right after Ty was diagnosed and he wasn't even six yet, we were all around the table eating supper and my older son was kind of complaining about never getting a Domino's pizza again and that's when I figured ut (and told everyone my theory) that Ty was the one with Celiac because he was the strongest of us all and he was just going about his business not complaining and just getting on with life while the rest of us tried to deal with the loss of just going out for the day and grabbing some junk at the food court, or not getting take-out pizza on pizza night.

I hope you feel better soon and get some answers as well.

[Michi8]

Is it possible that when she said she took two biopsies that she meant she took numerous samples from two locations? Several from stomach and several from duodenum? I'm sure you'll get a call in a week or so and if you are concerned call her office today.

No, she took two biopsies only. I'm sure it's because everything looked fine. I don't think calling her office will do much...she's got a horrible bedside manner (and so does her staff.) I was almost in tears over the dismissive way she talked to me on my initial visit. And, I doubt she would book another gastro just because I wanted more biopsies. Next encounter with her will be for my colonoscopy in March...which will probably be 100% normal too and a total waste of everyone's time. This dr's area of interest, BTW, is celiac.

When Ty had his, I believe they were all from the duodenum, but I don't know that for sure. I also don't know (or have forgotten) how many samples were taken. He was at the old Children's and it was all so overwhelming at the time that everything the doctor said went right out of my head immediately.

As for why you've been dealt this life of health issues - probably because you are strong enough to handle it. Right after Ty was diagnosed and he wasn't even six yet, we were all around the table eating supper and my older son was kind of complaining about never getting a Domino's pizza again and that's when I figured ut (and told everyone my theory) that Ty was the one with Celiac because he was the strongest of us all and he was just going about his business not complaining and just getting on with life while the rest of us tried to deal with the loss of just going out for the day and grabbing some junk at the food court, or not getting take-out pizza on pizza night.

I don't feel strong enough. I've had allergies since toddlerhood...it's always been one thing or another... And now my kids have health issues too. So I worry about them as well.

I hope you feel better soon and get some answers as well.

Thanks

Michelle

[Marlene]

Hi Michelle,

I understand totally what you are going through. I think I had every test in the book: colonoscopy, endoscopy, blood test, x-rays, CT scan, ultra sound, etc. etc. Everything came back normal but I knew I was definitely sick. I would cry when my tests came back normal because I just wanted them to find something. Finally, they did a HIDA scan on my gall bladder and that came back as having a malfunctioning gall bladder. I was soooo excited because I figured I had my answer. They took my gall bladder out and I ended up in the hospital a week later because I had such bad diarrhea and was dehydrated. All I did was cry, cry, cry. I did a blood test for Celiac. Negative. Cried again (and I used to be such a strong person!!) Anyway, I started the gluten free diet, got tested through Enterolab and am gluten/casein intolerant.

I never bothered getting biopsied because the specialist had been in there once for an endoscopy and never took samples so I really did not want to go through that again. I was mildy sedated and didn't handle the scope down my throat very well at all. Not only that, if it came back negative I would still be wondering if maybe they just didn't hit the right spot. As far as I am concerned, response to a gluten free diet is the best way to find out if gluten is your problem.

Hang in there. Negative test results don't mean that it's all in your head. There is a reason for all your symptoms and even if a Celiac test comes back negative, you could be IgA deficient or gluten intolerant. You could try seeing a good Naturopathic doctor. Personally, I find them more helpful when it comes to things like this.

All the best,

Marlene