Visual Endosopic Dianosis?

[jcford33]

My blood tests point to Celiac, and after my scope, my GI said it sure looked like Celiac. Does Celiac damage have a certain appearance that distinguishes it from Crohn's or other IBS diseases? Thanks!

[happygirl]

A couple things:

IBS itself does not have any signs that would be visible through an endoscopy/colonoscopy, etc.

IBDs (mainly, Crohns and UC) have distinctive markers. Crohn's damage is predominantly seen in the colon.

Classic celiac damage is seen in the small intestine. "Villous atrophy" or "blunted villi" (the villi are the little hairs in your intestine that are damaged when a Celiac ingests gluten, due to an autoimmune reaction that occurs) are the characteristics of Celiac. The biopsy will confirm it...but if it looked like it, then it probably is (its more common for the doc to "not" see it and the biopsy show Celiac damage, than to "see" it and it come back 'normal')

Since you have positive bloodwork, and an apparently positive biopsy, then you have a gold standard Celiac diagnosis!

[plantime]

My endo was a visual one, the doc was looking for ulcers. What he found instead was "spots of redness and inflammation." He wanted to know why the lining was like that, so he took samples from those spots. The lab confirmed my self-diagnosis of celiac disease. While the doc cannot see the villi themselves, there are other factors of celiac disease that can be seen. It is good that he knew what he was seeing when he saw it.

[jerseyangel]

Yes, my doctor saw inflammation that he felt was associated with Celiac. He, of course, took biopsies, but advised me to go gluten-free and dairy free that day.

With mine, we were already thinking Celiac.

[pinktulip]

Yes, my doctor saw inflammation that he felt was associated with Celiac. He, of course, took biopsies, but advised me to go gluten-free and dairy free that day.

With mine, we were already thinking Celiac.

My dad's was the same way and his biopsy came back negative the doctor feels he may have gotta a biopsy from a unaffected part.

[jerseyangel]

My dad's was the same way and his biopsy came back negative the doctor feels he may have gotta a biopsy from a unaffected part.

Yes, that's a definate possibility, especially if the doctor only took one sample. The damage to the intestine is also patchy, so it can be missed altogether.

[pinktulip]

Yes, that's a definate possibility, especially if the doctor only took one sample. The damage to the intestine is also patchy, so it can be missed altogether.

That's what his doctor is going with and diagnosed him as celiacs. But you can just see the improvment my dad has made. He can actually work all day without worrying about bathroom breaks. sad but true.

[jerseyangel]

That's what his doctor is going with and diagnosed him as celiacs. But you can just see the improvment my dad has made. He can actually work all day without worrying about bathroom breaks. sad but true.

And, you know--that's really the most important thing. Eliminating gluten has caused your dad's health to improve and has let him get on with his life. That's great!