Looking For Opinions On My Symptoms

[chefling]

Hello, I've been lurking off and on for quite awhile. I tend to believe that I could have a gluten intolerance YET... as far as I know it does not run in my family. Isn't this more of a genetic thing? Also.. my symptoms are quite mild compared to some of you. I'm extremely tired, brain fog and lots of fould smelling gas but no big D or big C. My thyroid test say it's in good condition. I had an oxygen test to determine my metabolism and that is good. I don't have any mood problems or joint problems. I do have sensitivities to smells especially smoke and sweet perfumes and my 3 month glucose test showed I was border line hypoglycemic. I sneeze a lot and my nose is often so dry that it feels like it has scabs inside.

It's hard to say how long this has been going on because I seldom eat grains due to my efforts in trying to lose weight. I gained about 35 lbs 4 years ago and have not been able to lose even an ounce. It was this inabiltiy to lose that first had me looking at the possibility of having a gluten intolerance. I did cut out all obvious gluten for a short time and I felt better but then reintroduced it when the holidays came around after convincing myself that it was Perimenopause I was experiencing and not Gluten intolerance. After going on HRT and getting no better, I have once again started looking at gluten as my enemy. I went off gluten for the past 3 days. I spent most of that time in the bathroom. Only once did I experience the big D and then it was dark stools that floated and frequent trips to urinate.

What do you think? Is it foolish to think I could have Gluten intolereance? If I go to my doctor for a test, he's going to check for damaged Villi and I'm pretty sure he won't find any. I have also read where everyone who test with eco??? lab come back with a positive for intolerance so I'm not sure I want to pay $350. for a test where the results are questionable.

Sorry this has been so long and so graphic. Thank you for any light you can shed on this.

[Cottage-Soul]

What do you think? Is it foolish to think I could have Gluten intolereance? If I go to my doctor for a test, he's going to check for damaged Villi and I'm pretty sure he won't find any. I have also read where everyone who test with eco??? lab come back with a positive for intolerance so I'm not sure I want to pay $350. for a test where the results are questionable.

I'm new here too and probably not a lot of help. I don't think I have celiac disease, but I do think I have a intolerance. I did have one of the $350. blood tests that you mentioned and according to it I am sensitive to Gluten, wheat and dairy. If I feel better after starting the diet later this week, hopefully getting rid of chronic migraines, fatigue and some excess weight - then I will be able to vouch more for the validity of the testing. I could have had a 10 food test which tests for the main allergy culprits, have saved myself over $200. and would still have known all the foods I had a problem with.

If you think you have other intolerances (and it sounds like it if you've been gluten-free, watching what you eat and are still unable to lose weight) I do think one of the 10 food panel tests (I think it is 10 foods?) would be the way to go. Just don't use Optimum Health Resource Labs (formerly York) - it took me 6 months to get results from them and it is almost impossible to get anyone on the phone or get replies to emails with questions.

[wowzer]

I know that floaty stools are a sign of celiac. I grew up with a little sister that was diagnosed at a year. It as a genetic disease, but many people go undiagnosed. I'm sure many people with IBS are really celiac. I'm 52 now and finally decided my itching could be DH. My blood test came back negative, but even before the diet, I was semiconsciously avoiding gluten. I've noticed many on this site who also don't have an official diagnosis, but the gluten free diet is good enough for them. I was put on hormones for perimenopause years ago. I'm now trying to wean off that. I've been on the gluten free diet since the beginning of the year. I'm finally getting sleep and am hardly having hot flashes. I have been almost a year from this last bout. I had horrible itching in the female area. That has finally stopped on the diet. It sounds like you have many celiac symptoms to me. I debated about it for a couple of months when my blood work came back negative. I finally decided it can't hurt to try the diet. In fact, I can tell pretty quickly if I have ingested gluten. I seem more sensitive to it now. Good luck.

[chefling]

Thanks for your thoughts. I think I will continue the diet as I do feel better although it seems to be a learning curve. I just ate some Jif peanut butter that has made me feel bloated and tired where I was feeling better before eating it.

I thought I had read where Jif was ok. It wasn't CC because I just opened it and I had it on celery so... maybe it's the HFCS and maybe my lethargy is coming from candida.

I also considered adrenal fatigue because I was under a great deal of ongoing stress. Losing my Dad and my GM and having my son and brother in Iraq as well as some minor stresses.

I think a gluten free diet actually helps candida and adrenal fatigue so perhaps once I become well, it will all sort itself out.