Cautiously Thrilled

[AliceW]

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!!

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

[ArtGirl]

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]

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.