To Be Or Not To Be

[DVK]

Well, Make long story short but its long, about 3 months ago I woke up after eating a pizza and having a few beers with Nausea, dry heaving sweats etc. Next day went in to Doc and had blood work done all my tets were good other than my lipase was slighty elevated. My doctor told me it was mild pancreatitis and to slow down on the drinking (like I was some raging alcoholoic) So I did quit drinking my few beers here and there for 2 months. then One night I woke up after eating a big italian meal and and bread and felt the same way, next day went in and my lipase was slightly elevated again.

this time there was more, I started having anxiety, Depression, Artrhitis type feelings in my body, Weird itching, dermatitis, tired, just felt like crap, Oh ya lots of Movements in the intestines, Gas sounds, like something was running in my belly and was trying to get out.

Again my doctor said pancreas problems but couldnt say about the other but here is some wellbutrin and xxanax and lets do CAT SCAN to check, so I did that and an ultra sound, and everything was fine but elevated lipase. So he sent me to a GI at my request, and during the time of all this I didnt feel good at all, THE TRIGGER WAS ON, and my doctor thought I was crazy.

So after feeling like crap for a while with no answers, I decided to look for myself I did not believe I was having Pancreas problems.

I found a site on line for the Marlyand clinic and specialty where you pay a fee and ask some questions. So I did this and the doctor said to be checked for celiac disease. Which I asked my doctor and he did and they can back within normal range.

So he said its your pancreas and to see the specialist. BOY I wasnt happy so I found this site and found that may of you tested with ENterolab. So I requested a test, I did it and the results are below. BUT before you look at these, I showed them to the GI Doctor and he said NOPE Its your pancreas, but lets watch it. TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS!

PS I AM gluten-free FOR ONE MONTH AND FEELING BETTER BUT still have slight GI problems

A) Gluten Sensitivity Stool and Gene Panel Complete *Best test/best value

Fecal Antigliadin IgA 30 (Normal Range <10 Units)

Fecal Antitissue Transglutaminase IgA 16 Units (Normal Range <10 Units)

Quantitative Microscopic Fecal Fat Score 443 Units (Normal Range <300 Units)

Fecal anti-casein (cow

[Ursa Major]

Well, obviously your doctors don't know what the heck they're talking about. Your Enterolab results clearly show that you have the celiac disease genes, are intolerant to gluten, have malabsorption due to villi damage (meaning, you have celiac disease), are intolerant to dairy and soy.

Meaning, you need to eliminate gluten, all dairy and soy for life. So, if you haven't eliminated dairy and soy yet, that would be the reason why you are still having problems. Plus, of course, it takes a while to recover.

The blood tests are very unreliable and yield many false negatives.

Join the club, many here have been treated like you have been by their doctors. It's not that the doctors are bad people, just that they are woefully ignorant.

[NoGluGirl]

Well, Make long story short but its long, about 3 months ago I woke up after eating a pizza and having a few beers with Nausea, dry heaving sweats etc. Next day went in to Doc and had blood work done all my tets were good other than my lipase was slighty elevated. My doctor told me it was mild pancreatitis and to slow down on the drinking (like I was some raging alcoholoic) So I did quit drinking my few beers here and there for 2 months. then One night I woke up after eating a big italian meal and and bread and felt the same way, next day went in and my lipase was slightly elevated again.

this time there was more, I started having anxiety, Depression, Artrhitis type feelings in my body, Weird itching, dermatitis, tired, just felt like crap, Oh ya lots of Movements in the intestines, Gas sounds, like something was running in my belly and was trying to get out.

Again my doctor said pancreas problems but couldnt say about the other but here is some wellbutrin and xxanax and lets do CAT SCAN to check, so I did that and an ultra sound, and everything was fine but elevated lipase. So he sent me to a GI at my request, and during the time of all this I didnt feel good at all, THE TRIGGER WAS ON, and my doctor thought I was crazy.

So after feeling like crap for a while with no answers, I decided to look for myself I did not believe I was having Pancreas problems.

I found a site on line for the Marlyand clinic and specialty where you pay a fee and ask some questions. So I did this and the doctor said to be checked for celiac disease. Which I asked my doctor and he did and they can back within normal range.

So he said its your pancreas and to see the specialist. BOY I wasnt happy so I found this site and found that may of you tested with ENterolab. So I requested a test, I did it and the results are below. BUT before you look at these, I showed them to the GI Doctor and he said NOPE Its your pancreas, but lets watch it. TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS!

PS I AM gluten-free FOR ONE MONTH AND FEELING BETTER BUT still have slight GI problems

A) Gluten Sensitivity Stool and Gene Panel Complete *Best test/best value

Fecal Antigliadin IgA 30 (Normal Range <10 Units)

Fecal Antitissue Transglutaminase IgA 16 Units (Normal Range <10 Units)

Quantitative Microscopic Fecal Fat Score 443 Units (Normal Range <300 Units)

Fecal anti-casein (cow

[chrissy]

DQ2 and DQ8 are the only known celiac genes, so far. if you feel better gluten free----be gluten free.

[happygirl]

the combination of feeling better already, plus the enterolab results and gene testing indicate very highly that gluten and other foods are causing problems for you. You may have other issues, however (I can't comment on the pancreas, etc).

You do not need a doctor's permission to start and maintain a gluten free diet!

[GlutenWrangler]

While DQ2 and DQ8 are the only "known" celiac genes, DQ1 and DQ3 are now known gluten intolerant genes. 1% of the population that is diagnosed with celiac disease does NOT have DQ2 or DQ8. From what I've read, most of those 1% have DQ1. Therefore, it would be legitimate at the very least to say DQ1 a celiac gene. Since the poster has malabsorption, it is fair to say he has celiac disease because malabsorption follows villous atrophy. He would be another person that falls into the 1%.

Since celiac disease is so under-diagnosed, it is impossible to say how accurate the numbers are which imply 99% of celiacs have DQ2 and DQ8.

DVK,

You results are as clear as day. Don't give a second thought to what your doctors told you. After eliminating the problem, you should start to feel better with time. Good luck.

-Brian

[jukie]

Just for the sake of clarity, gene DQ3, subtype 8 (more simply known as DQ8) IS in fact one of the two recognized celiac genes. Having the gene does not mean that you have celiac, but merely a predisposition. Of course, based on your history and other test results, you are obviously reacting to gluten...not to mention dairy and soy. Hopefully eliminating all of these will help you to feel even better.

[GlutenWrangler]

Yeah you're right I mixed that one up. DVK does have a main celiac gene.

[jukie]

Hey, Brian - I wasn't picking on you...honest! Just wanted to clarify because the genetic lingo is often confusing.

[GlutenWrangler]

No I didn't think you were picking on me. I just noticed that you were right. For some reason I thought it said subtype 9 instead of subtype 8. You're right about it being confusing though!

[DVK]

Thanks for the reply, It is all still confusing and I think I am handleing all of this pretty good. However I am going to the University to see what they think. My Current Doctor after sending him these results blew me off, he is an internal medicine doctor and yet he said " Your problem is difficult enough that I suggest you call the University and talk to there GI department" Then he said "GOOD LUCK AND HOPE YOU START FEELING BETTER"

I have in fact accepted the results and Feeling better other than the weight loss, I know its from not eating enough cause as you all know how easy it used to be being able to stop and grab a bite to eat.

David

[almostnrn]

I have in fact accepted the results and Feeling better other than the weight loss, I know its from not eating enough cause as you all know how easy it used to be being able to stop and grab a bite to eat.

David,

Rest assured that one day you will not only feel better but that looming food cloud will be gone too. This is an amazing place with so many people that have a ton of knowledge. I think you are handling it incredibly well, I don't think I could be nearly so nice to that doctor! I'm glad you found this site it will help you a lot! Good luck and I hope you start feeling better soon!

[malosp]

Hi there,

I actually saw your earlier posts over on medhelp and then was surprised to see you here.

I too have a slightly elevated lipase. I believe I made have got gluten through some meds.

All my other labs were normal except the lipase at 158. normal <90 at my labs.

My symptoms....weight loss, headaches, nausea, stinging throughout my stomach area.

No fever, no jaundice, no boring pancreatic pain etc.

I am thinking I may be having a flare up of gluten intolerance after 13 years.

I am off the meds now and will be extremely careful what I eat. I really think it may be the gluten intolerance.

[ginghamkim]

DVK and malosp,

Your symptoms sound alot like mine. In September 2006, I felt like I had a golf ball under my right rib cage. Went to ER, said it was gallbladder. Had ultrasound, CT scan, HIDA scan, MRCP--all were perfectly normal except my lipase and amylase were slightly elevated. Doctor thought it might be pancreas and sphincter of oddi dysfunction. He sent me to Indiana University for an ERCP (which ended up not having b/c I didn't have pancreatitis and there is a 30% chance of causing it from the procedure--sent me home with muscle relaxers). I've been gluten-free and dairy-free since Christmas (sucky time to start) and noticing improvements...some days are better than others.

It sounds like we are on the same recovery time-line...are you having problems with fat (nuts, eggs, meat in particular)? I'm afraid I might have to go vegan (don't get me wrong, I grew up on a cattle farm). I'd like to hear how you are doing in your recovery.

Thanks,

Kim