Jump to content

  • 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):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

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

Cautiously Thrilled

AliceW

Recommended Posts

AliceW Apprentice
AliceW
Posted

:blink:

I"ve posted before,but it's been a while, so here's my background again (sorry this is so long!):

Perfect digestive health until contracting a severe case of mono at age 19; daily reflux/heartburn require high doses of medication for the entire 15 years since. Intermittent diarrhea during my 20s; given a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome. Constipation and gradually worsening severe bloating and gas in my 30s.

A few months ago I decided I was going to try to get myself off reflux drugs. I made various lifestyle changes (gave up coffee, cut way back on wine, didn't eat within 3 hours of bedtime, etc) which did help, but only up to a point...I imporved somewhat and then reached a plateau. I then somehow (I don't remember how at this point) got hold of the idea that a gluten intolerance might be responsible for my GI symptoms.

So, I got tested by enterolab, and my results were strongly positive for anti-gliadin antibodies and TTG. However, I then got conventional blood tests for celiac, which were firmly negative.

So I started a gluten-free diet a month ago despite the negative blood tests, figuring I had nothing to lose. For the first two weeks I felt the same; during the third week I felt briefly terrible, and then for the 4th week I have felt...amazing!!!

I have had almost no reflux or gas for the last 3 or 4 days. It is astonishing. I can hardly believe it. Rather than taking medications and still feeling bad, I've taken only one or two rolaids all day, and I feel fine. I am almost afraid to hope that it might continue. My stomach is flat, I don't have embarassing gas, and most amazingly, I do not have heartburn!! :blink:

But the difficult part is that I don't know what to attribute the change to. It might be the gluten-free diet, or on the other hand maybe it's just that I am finally healing as a result of the anti-reflux lifestyle changes I've made?? It would be different if I'd been formally diagnosed with celiac disease, but as it is I still feel like I'm feeling around in the dark.

I think I should stick with this for a few more months, and then do a gluten challenge and see what happens. That way I'll know for sure. If it will make me feel this good I'll happily stick with the gluten-free diet forever, but on the other hand I wouldn't want to if I don't have to. Does that seem reasonable?

Just had to share!

Alice :)

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ArtGirl Enthusiast
ArtGirl
Posted

Welcome back - I'm glad you're feeling better.

Just wanted to relate that my heartburn issues left after about 5 weeks on the gluten-free diet and have never returned. I know there are others here who have reported having GERD that cleared up after going gluten-free.

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

Personally, I would take the Enterolab diagnosis as a firm diagnosis. The blood tests are only about 50% accurate.

It is extremely likely that you feel so great now due to eliminating gluten. I hope you'll continue to improve, and that none of your symptoms return.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Jmartes71
      - Jmartes71 replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      3

      Related issues

      I had the test done by one of the specialist through second pcp I had only a few months because he was saying I wasn't.Even though Im positive HLA-DQ2 .My celiac is down played.I am with new pcp, seeing another girl doctor who wants to do another breathe test next month though Im positive sibo this year.I have high blood pressure not sure if its pain from...
    2. Scott Adams
      0

      Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cup Swirl Brownies

    3. Mari
      - Mari replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      3

      Related issues

      Hi Jmartes, It sure is difficult to get useful advice from medical providers. Almost 20 years ago a Dr suggested that I might have Celiacs and I took a Celiac Panel blood test. No gluten challenge diet. On that test the tTG was in normal range but an alpha antibody was very high. I went online and read about celiac disease and saw how I could investigate...
    4. MogwaiStripe
      - MogwaiStripe replied to annamarie6655's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      2

      Airborne Gluten?

      I can't prove it, but I truly believe I have been glutened by airborne particles. I used to take care of shelter cats once per week at a pet store, and no matter how careful I was, I would get glutened each time even if I wore a mask and gloves and washed up well after I was done. I believe the problem was that because I'm short, I couldn't do the the tasks...
    5. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Midwestern's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      16

      Gluten Issues and Vitamin D

      Hello, @MogwaiStripe, Vitamin D is turned into its activated forms by Thiamine. Thiamine deficiency can affect Vitamin D activation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14913223/ Thiamine deficiency affects HLA genes. HLA genes code for autoimmune diseases like Celiac, Thyroiditis, Diabetes, etc. Thiamine deficiency inside a cell triggers a...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,256
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Phoenyx
    Newest Member
    Phoenyx
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Jmartes71
      Related issues

      By Jmartes71 · Posted

      I had the test done by one of the specialist through second pcp I had only a few months because he was saying I wasn't.Even though Im positive HLA-DQ2 .My celiac is down played.I am with new pcp, seeing another girl doctor who wants to do another breathe test next month though Im positive sibo this year.I have high blood pressure not sure if its pain from sciatica or sibo, ibs or hidden gluten. Im in disability limbo and I should have never been a bus driver because im still suffering and trying to heal with zero income except for my husband. This isnt fare that my health is dictating my living and having ti beg for being revalidation of my disregarded celiac disease. Its an emotional roller coaster I don't want to be on and the medical made it worse.New pcp new gi, exhausted, tired and really fed up. GI doctor NOT girl..
    • Mari
      Related issues

      By Mari · Posted

      Hi Jmartes, It sure is difficult to get useful advice from medical providers. Almost 20 years  ago a Dr suggested that I might have Celiacs and I took a Celiac Panel blood test. No gluten challenge diet. On that test the tTG was in normal range but an alpha antibody was very high. I went online and read about celiac disease and saw how I could investigate this low tTG and still have celiac disease. Normal tTG can happen when a person had been reacting for many years. Another way is that the person has not been eating enough gluten to raise the antibody level. Another reason is that the tTG does not show up on a blood but may show up on a fecal test. Almost all Celiacs inherit at least one of the 2 main Celiac genes. I had genetic tests for the Celiac genes at Enterolab.com. I inherited one main Celiac gene from one parent and the report said that the DQ gene I inherited from my other parent, DQ6, could cause a person to have more problems or symptoms with that combination. One of my grandmother's had fairly typical symptoms of Celiacs but the other grandmother had severe food intolerances. I seem to show some problems inherited from both grandmothers. Human physiology is very complex and researchers are just beginning to understand how different body systems interact.  If you have taken an autosomal DNA test you can download your raw data file and upload it to Prometheuw.com for a small fee and search for Celiac Disease. If you don't find any Cekiac genes or information about Celiac disease  you may not have autoimmune gluten intolerance because more than 99% of Celiacs have one or both of these genes.  PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU WANT TO KNOW EHAT i HAVE DONE TO HELP WITH SYMPTOMS.  
    • MogwaiStripe
      Airborne Gluten?

      By MogwaiStripe · Posted

      I can't prove it, but I truly believe I have been glutened by airborne particles. I used to take care of shelter cats once per week at a pet store, and no matter how careful I was, I would get glutened each time even if I wore a mask and gloves and washed up well after I was done. I believe the problem was that because I'm short, I couldn't do the the tasks without getting my head and shoulders inside their cages, and so the particles from their food would be all over my hair and top of my shirt. Then I had to drive home, so even if I didn't get glutened right then, the particles would be in my car just waiting for me to get in the car so they could get blown into my face again. I gave up that volunteer gig and stopped getting glutened so often and at such regular intervals.
    • knitty kitty
      Gluten Issues and Vitamin D

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @MogwaiStripe, Vitamin D is turned into its activated forms by Thiamine.  Thiamine deficiency can affect Vitamin D activation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14913223/ Thiamine deficiency affects HLA genes.  HLA genes code for autoimmune diseases like Celiac, Thyroiditis, Diabetes, etc.  Thiamine deficiency inside a cell triggers a toggle switch on the gene which in turn activates autoimmune diseases carried on the gene.  The reference to the study is in my blog somewhere.  Click on my name to go to my page, scroll down to the drop down menu "Activities" and click on blogs.  
    • knitty kitty
      Airborne Gluten?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @annamarie6655, Yes, there's many of us who react to airborne gluten!   Yes, animal feed, whether for chickens or cats or dogs, can release airborne gluten.  I can get glutened from the bakery section at the grocery store.   The nose and mouth drain into the digestive system and can trigger systemic reactions.   I find the histamine release in response to airborne gluten will stuff up my sinuses and bother my eyes.  High histamine levels do cause anxiety and migraines.  The muscle spasms can be caused by high histamine, too.  The digestive system may not manifest symptoms without a higher level of gluten exposure.   Our bodies make an enzyme, DAO (diamine oxidase), to break down histamine.   Pyridoxine B 6, Cobalamine B12, Vitamin C, copper, zinc, and iron are needed to make DAO.  DAO supplements are available over the counter.  Taking a B Complex supplement and additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine or TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) helps reduce the amount of histamine being released.  Mast cells without sufficient Thiamine have an itchy trigger finger and release histamine at the slightest provocation.  Thiamine helps mast cells refrain from releasing their histamine.    I find taking additional TTFD thiamine helps immensely with neurological symptoms as TTFD can easily cross the blood brain barrier without a carrier.  High histamine in the brain can cause the muscle spasms, anxiety and migraines.  Vitamin C really helps with clearing histamine, too.   The Digiorno pizza mystery reaction could have been caused by a reaction to the cheese.  Some people develop lactose intolerance.  Others react to Casein, the protein in dairy, the same as if to gluten because Casein resembles the molecular structure of gluten.  An enzyme used in some dairy products, microbial transglutaminase, causes a gluten reaction because it is the same as the tissue transglutaminase our bodies make except microbes make it.  Those tTg IgA blood tests to diagnose celiac disease measure tissue transglutaminase our bodies release as part of the autoimmune response to gluten.   You're doing great!  A Sherlock Holmes award to you for figuring out the connection between airborne gluten and animal feed!!!  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.