Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    GliadinX



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):
    GliadinX


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Coloscopy


skinnyminny

Recommended Posts

skinnyminny Enthusiast

I was at a celiac support group meeting last night and they were sayin celiacs need to have a colonoscopy every 2 years. I am only 19 years old, and I was wondering if anyone knows if this is necessary for someone my age, they were shocked to know I have NEVER had one.. please if anyone has any information about this let me know!


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Daura Damm
GliadinX



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):
Food for Life


AmandaD Community Regular

I have celiac diagnosed by small intestinal biopsy and my doc has never recommended follow up colonoscopies (I originally just had a sigmoidoscopy)...Celiac doesn't affect the colon, persay, it's the small intestine. I think you occasionally may need a follow up small intestinal biopsy or EGD to check to make sure you are healing if you were having continuing symptoms...

A

I was at a celiac support group meeting last night and they were sayin celiacs need to have a colonoscopy every 2 years. I am only 19 years old, and I was wondering if anyone knows if this is necessary for someone my age, they were shocked to know I have NEVER had one.. please if anyone has any information about this let me know!
skinnyminny Enthusiast

That sounds right to me I was diagnosed 5 years ago and have had no follow up work other than a few check ups.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
I was at a celiac support group meeting last night and they were sayin celiacs need to have a colonoscopy every 2 years. I am only 19 years old, and I was wondering if anyone knows if this is necessary for someone my age, they were shocked to know I have NEVER had one.. please if anyone has any information about this let me know!

Celiacs can have a higher rate of adenocarcinomas and other cancers of the GI tract, but I believe this happens mostly with those of us who are undiagnosed for an extended period of time. Are you sure they said a colonoscopy and not a endoscopy? I could understand GI doctors wanting to do a endo every couple of years, to check if the villi are still healed, after all they don't get much money from us once we are dietary compliant and aren't sick anymore. <_<:D This is not something I would worry about unless your personal GI specialist said you need it for some reason, like for example you were not getting better on the diet.

IrishKelly Contributor
I was at a celiac support group meeting last night and they were sayin celiacs need to have a colonoscopy every 2 years. I am only 19 years old, and I was wondering if anyone knows if this is necessary for someone my age, they were shocked to know I have NEVER had one.. please if anyone has any information about this let me know!

I am now 28, and i had a partial-colonoscopy (not all the way through the entire intestines, just up to the colon...which didn't require sedation) and that was when i was 24, and I haven't needed one since. I have to say, your advice on this topic/issue is only as accurate as the person your getting your answers from. My point of view?? Why on earth would you allow a doctor to invade your intestines every two years when you know that the diet is working? You will heal fine so long as you stick to the diet and pay attention to any other food intolerances (especially as young as you are...knowing that the risks of cancer, etc. are minimal because the damage is only minimal due to your age). I personally feel it's being a little to over cautious to go every two years for a colonoscopy.

On another note, have you started to take any natural supplements to progress your healing process? L-Glutamine and Digestive Enzymes will help to heal you in half the time. They are not only available in a health food store, but they are over the counter in many other stores (although i do reccommend buying them from a health food store for risk free purposes ;) )

happygirl Collaborator

I must say, I've yet to hear of anyone recommending a colonoscopy every two years. Like it was mentioned before, the correct procedure to check for damage is an endoscopy, which checks the small intestine.

If they were in fact referring to an endoscopy (EGD), the "old" thinking used to be that follow up biopsies were necessary. Now, that is not the case.

Taken directly from Dr. Fasano's website (a leading Celiac researcher and physician) Open Original Shared Link

Do I need to repeat the biopsy once on a gluten-free diet?

If you are diagnosed based on positive serology and biopsy, and your symptoms improve once on a gluten-free diet, you do not need a follow-up biopsy.

The problem is that "old" thinking is hard to change. Many Celiacs who have had it for a long time have not caught up on recent research and continue to pass out information that came out long ago.

Many Celiacs were diagnosed on bloodwork alone---you will find many on this board. Heck, many Celiacs did not do bloodwork OR biopsy, but know that they do better without gluten in their diet.

So, unless you are having problems, then "usually" followup biopsies are not needed. Usually the first step, even if there are problems, is to run the bloodwork again.

Hope this helps clear things up. Does this help answer your question?

cmom Contributor

I have the celiac panel and small bowel series with follow-through every 3 years. I believe I am due in 2007 again. However, I am thinking of rejecting the small bowel series because the barium I have to drink may contain gluten. If I am mistaken about this, anyone may speak up to correct me.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Food for Life
Little Northern Bakehouse



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):
Food for Life


trents Grand Master
I have the celiac panel and small bowel series with follow-through every 3 years. I believe I am due in 2007 again. However, I am thinking of rejecting the small bowel series because the barium I have to drink may contain gluten. If I am mistaken about this, anyone may speak up to correct me.

I had a CT of my abdomen recently with contrast, i.e., had to drink the barium milkshake. I inquired about it containing gluten on the day I scheduled the appointment. The radiology tech researched it and the next day had the info that it was gluten free. So, make sure you ask and get them to check it out.

Steve

happygirl Collaborator

cmom,

do you mind if i ask why you are having the barium/follow through? to check for other issues/maintenance (to make sure everything else is ok...no complications), I'm assuming, since it isn't used for Celiac testing. Wow-every three years---you are a better person than me :P I can handle lots of stuff...drinking that stuff was not one that went over well with me!!!

Due to non-celiac health issues, I had one this spring. I apparently wasn't her first Celiac and she knew that it was gluten free! So, I would recommend calling beforehand to have them verify it...but it looks like, at the very least, there are 'brands' of the stuff that are safe.

Hope this helps.

Laura

SanteeBay Rookie

I am 43 and was diagnosed 3 weeks ago. Positive blood and positve biopsy. I saw my doctor today and he wants me to have another endoscopy in 6 months, but I don't have to have another colonoscopy until I am 50 (WhooHoo!) You are lucky you found out when you are so young, unlike a lot of us who have felt terrible our whole lives and didn't know why..

Lisa Mentor
I am 43 and was diagnosed 3 weeks ago. Positive blood and positve biopsy. I saw my doctor today and he wants me to have another endoscopy in 6 months, but I don't have to have another colonoscopy until I am 50 (WhooHoo!) You are lucky you found out when you are so young, unlike a lot of us who have felt terrible our whole lives and didn't know why..

SanteeBay:

We have a lots of stories, a lot of histories and every one who posts here has a personal history. Many are know by us, who have been here a long time, and may suffer in silence. Do you reallty thing that we have not all walked in your shoes? <_<

"Lucky that you have found out...". I am glad that you found out why you were feeling so bad and happy that you have a conclusion.

There are some people here that have very serious side effect from un dx's celiac. Many are my friends and they are not so lucky.

Count you blessings, trust me. :)

cmom Contributor
cmom,

do you mind if i ask why you are having the barium/follow through? to check for other issues/maintenance (to make sure everything else is ok...no complications), I'm assuming, since it isn't used for Celiac testing. Wow-every three years---you are a better person than me :P I can handle lots of stuff...drinking that stuff was not one that went over well with me!!!

Due to non-celiac health issues, I had one this spring. I apparently wasn't her first Celiac and she knew that it was gluten free! So, I would recommend calling beforehand to have them verify it...but it looks like, at the very least, there are 'brands' of the stuff that are safe.

Hope this helps.

Laura

I have the barium/follow through to make sure I haven't developed any lymphomas or other problems. The last time I went in for one I already wasn't feeling well. Afterward, I became very sick. The hospital was about 45 minutes from my home. I had it coming out of both ends before I made it there. That's one reason I thought maybe the info I had was right about it containing gluten. I have wondered if it's really necessary though.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Food for Life
    Food for Life




    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):

    GliadinX



  • Recent Activity

    1. - chrish42 replied to chrish42's topic in Doctors
      2

      Doctors and Celiac.com

    2. - Scott Adams replied to shirlane's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      1

      Is AG1 safe for Celiacs??

    3. - Scott Adams replied to chrish42's topic in Doctors
      2

      Doctors and Celiac.com

    4. - nataliallano replied to MagsM's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      28

      Inflammation and Menier’s disease link?

    5. - Wheatwacked replied to Betsy Crum's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      5

      Chest pain from celiac


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):
    Food for Life



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      130,262
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    nebraskagal
    Newest Member
    nebraskagal
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
    Authentic Foods


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):
    GliadinX




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):
    GliadinX



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • chrish42
      All I can say is this site is great!
    • Scott Adams
      From their website I see "organic barley leaf powder" as an ingredient. Keep in mind that the gluten is in the kernel, and not in the leaves. https://drinkag1.com/about-ag1/ingredients/ctr
    • Scott Adams
      Before the rise of social media we were well known by a lot of doctors and were recommended by many, especially our Safe & Forbidden Lists, but as doctors get younger and younger this is probably not happening as much as before. 
    • nataliallano
      Thanks Scott I will definitely check my vitamins and minerals to see what I am missing so then I can supplement. I was very concern about my Meniers syntoms and i tryed to find some alive. Now im just realizing that my celiac is provably the root cause of my Meniers none of the 12 doctors I saw told me anything about this.  This web site is so helpful, thanks to people like you we can get answers. 
    • Wheatwacked
      Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to rib pain. Chest pain stemming from the ribs ccould be costochondritis, which involves inflammation of the cartilage connecting the ribs to the breastbone. This pain can range from mild to severe, potentially mimicking heart attack symptoms, and is often worsened by breathing or movement. Other potential causes include muscle strain, rib fractures, or even referred pain from other conditions.  It will also help to chose vegetables low in omega 6.
×
×
  • Create New...