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

Celiac Or Ibs

KirstySF

Recommended Posts

KirstySF Rookie
KirstySF
Posted

Hi there

Pleased to meet everyone. Just wanted to say hi! before telling my story.

I have been suffering from a severely bloated tummy for around two years now. The one that sticks around and makes you feel like youve gained 10 pounds overnite. At first I thought I was imagining it, could i have put on what feels like a huge ring round my belly and back??

At first I thought, it must be a probiotic thing....however I have been taking pro-biotics for many years and why would my intestinal flora suddenly take a turn for the worst.

So, the major bloat, if I think back first started when I started work in a deli in Los Angeles....I have lived in the States for around a year and had not eaten bread since arriving as I did not enjoy the variety of supermarket breads. To my delight, I started at the deli which sold french bread and my discovery of sourdough....I ate it pretty much every day. I also discovered Soy Lattes ( was never a coffee drinker before moving here from the UK)

I dont think my stomach has ever been right since.

I then moved to SF and forgive me, im trying to remember when my stomach pain was at its worst.

I had battered fish and chips (scottish style) with :unsure: :unsure: lots of malt vinegar....deep fried goodness. A rare treat!

Again, my stomach inflated to the point of my clothes not fitting....and looking like i was pregnant.

My gyn put me on a strict yeast free diet for other reasons, I cut out coffee, sugars good and bad, i stopped eating bad carbs, changed pasta to the brown rice pasta and over a period of 3 months, I lost ten pounds and my stomach returned to its normal flat state (something i hadnt seen in 2 years and my pooing became regular and healthy (constipation has always been a problem for me and the uk doc always just fobbed me off with IBS) without any sort of tests.

So.....I was on the yeast free diet, everything was great, tummy better, felt great.....then i fell off my diet wagon by eating a box of regular mac-n-cheese on a rainy day and BAM!!! Stomach inflated almost instantly....

This was mid dec.....I eat a pretty healthy and wholesome diet anyway but after researching i came across celiac and its symptoms and thought this is ME.

I couldnt resist eating a piece of garlic nan 2 weeks ago....and the next day, I have never felt so ill.....run down, chronically fatigued.....no energy, nauseous.

I have made an appointment with a GI for March 1st. ( the earliest appt i could get :(

Im also trying to cut out gluten and wheat and see if it makes me feel better. I think I have done pretty well for the past 2 weeks not having what or gluten but I have been constipated for ten days now and my skin looks like a teenage boy going through puberty (this is normal?) I also have mucus downstairs? (shudder) :unsure:

I guess what I am asking, does this sound like celiac to you?

Is there any remedy to stop the bloating, and why does it not go away?

Ive heard that following a gluten free diet is not good before taking the test, is this true?

What can I expect from my GI Visit, what should i ask?

Any help or advice would be awesome!!!

Thanks so much for listening to me.

Kind regards

KirstySF

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Jestgar Rising Star
Jestgar
Posted

Wow, lots of questions.

First: It very well could be Celiac, or some other food allergy.

Second: If it is related to food, when you stop eating what you're reacting to, hopefully your tummy bloat will go away.

Third: True, could cause false negatives. On the other hand, if you determine that gluten makes you feel bad, you can choose to follow the diet whether or not you have positive test results.

Someone else will have to cover the fourth question. I didn't need a GI's opinion to make my choice.

darlindeb25 Collaborator
darlindeb25
Posted

I agree with Jestgar, totally. I had doctored for so long and had so many wrong answers, I didn't need a GI to say yes or no, I know.

sunshinen Apprentice
sunshinen
Posted

Sounds exactly like celiac to me. And maybe a sensitivity to soy as well? Of course, this is not the only possibility, so it is best to see a doctor.

And yes, since the damage of celiac accrues over time, if you have not been eating gluten regularly for some time, a false negative is likely. If you have only eaten gluten a couple of times in the past few months, it is very unlikely that you will test positive.

Many doctors will tell you it can't be celiac because of (x). Many of those doctors are basing their opinion on very outdated facts and are wrong. This is why 97% of those with celiac disease don't know they have it. Doctors don't test for it. So unless their reasoning is that the results will not be accurate because you have not been eating enough gluten, insist on the tests.

If they don't think the tests will be accurate, rule out other possibilities for the symptoms, and listen to your body. If it doesn't like gluten, it doesn't like gluten, and it may not be worth eating enough gluten to try to get an accurate result on the tests.

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

Sounds like celiac or candida or both.

If you need a GI to verify what's wrong, you need to keep eating a LOT of gluten. There is already a chance of getting a false negative, you increase that chance by going gluten-free prior to testing.

Even if you get a negative result, I'd try the diet. Some of us (like me) are non-celiac gluten intolerant. That means we get the symptoms, but not the intestinal damage (most of time).

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

Mucus at the middle of the cycle is normal, if it's all the time, it's most likely candida or a bacterial infection ... you should have your gynecologist check it out.

KirstySF Rookie
KirstySF
Posted
  • Author
Mucus at the middle of the cycle is normal, if it's all the time, it's most likely candida or a bacterial infection ... you should have your gynecologist check it out.

The mucus I was referring too was not gyny related.....in my stools :( (sniff)

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Felidae Enthusiast
Felidae
Posted

Sounds like celiac or gluten intolerance to me. Definitely keep eating gluten before you see the GI. You need to have an endoscopy and the GI needs to see if there is villi damage. However, keep in mind that many people have non-celiac gluten intolerance which won't neccessarily show any intestinal damage. So, if you get a negative test and you still feel ill try the gluten-free dietary change. This way you'll know if gluten is affecting you.

happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted

You will need to continue to eat gluten if you want to have as accurate as testing as possible.

However, you could have a problem with gluten that won't show up on tests, so regardless of your Celiac results, it may be worth your while to embark on a strict gluten free diet for a more extended period of time.

When you go to the GI, mention that you would like to be tested for Celiac via the bloodwork. Here is the full panel. Insist that the WHOLE panel is run, as many doctors only run part of it. Print this out, and bring it with you. You don't want to hear "oh, I didn't run this test, go back to eating gluten" in a few weeks!

Open Original Shared Link (the rest of the website is very informative, as well, and its worth looking over)

Best of luck, and we are happy you have found this board. Regardless of your results, I hope that you find some answers and your health improves!

Laura

KirstySF Rookie
KirstySF
Posted
  • Author
You will need to continue to eat gluten if you want to have as accurate as testing as possible.

However, you could have a problem with gluten that won't show up on tests, so regardless of your Celiac results, it may be worth your while to embark on a strict gluten free diet for a more extended period of time.

When you go to the GI, mention that you would like to be tested for Celiac via the bloodwork. Here is the full panel. Insist that the WHOLE panel is run, as many doctors only run part of it. Print this out, and bring it with you. You don't want to hear "oh, I didn't run this test, go back to eating gluten" in a few weeks!

Open Original Shared Link (the rest of the website is very informative, as well, and its worth looking over)

Best of luck, and we are happy you have found this board. Regardless of your results, I hope that you find some answers and your health improves!

Laura

KirstySF Rookie
KirstySF
Posted
  • Author

Thanks so much everyone for your kind words and support....

Theres so much great info on this board....Im so glad Ive found it :)

KirstySF :P:rolleyes:

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. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      @catnapt, Wheat germ has very little gluten in it. Gluten is the carbohydrate storage protein, what the flour is made from, the fluffy part. Just like with beans, there's the baby plant that will germinate ("germ"-inate) if sprouted, and the bean part is the carbohydrate storage protein. Wheat germ is the baby plant inside a kernel of wheat...
    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      49

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      Hello, @asaT, I'm curious to know whether you are taking other B vitamins like Thiamine B1 and Niacin B3. Malabsorption in Celiac disease affects all the water soluble B vitamins and Vitamin C. Thiamine and Niacin are required to produce energy for all the homocysteine lowering reactions provided by Folate, Cobalamine and Pyridoxine. Weight...
    3. Florence Lillian
      - Florence Lillian replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      11

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hi Jane: You may want to try the D3 I now take. I have reactions to fillers and many additives. Sports Research, it is based in the USA and I have had no bad reactions with this brand. The D3 does have coconut oil but it is non GMO, it is Gluten free, Soy free, Soybean free and Safflower oil free. I have a cupboard full of supplements that did not agree...
    4. catnapt
      - catnapt replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      highly unlikely NOTHING and I mean NOTHING else has ever caused me these kinds of symptoms I have no problem with dates, they are a large part of my diet In fact, I eat a very high fiber, very high vegetable and bean diet and have for many years now. It's considered a whole foods plant based or plant forward diet (I do now eat some lean...
    5. cristiana
      - cristiana replied to hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      21

      Insomnia help

      Thank you for your post, @nanny marley It is interesting what you say about 'It's OK not to sleep'. Worrying about sleeping only makes it much harder to sleep. One of my relatives is an insomniac and I am sure that is part of the problem. Whereas I once had a neighbour who, if she couldn't sleep, would simply get up again, make a cup of tea, read,...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,354
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Gracieruizzz
    Newest Member
    Gracieruizzz
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @catnapt, Wheat germ has very little gluten in it.  Gluten is  the carbohydrate storage protein, what the flour is made from, the fluffy part.  Just like with beans, there's the baby plant that will germinate  ("germ"-inate) if sprouted, and the bean part is the carbohydrate storage protein.   Wheat germ is the baby plant inside a kernel of wheat, and bran is the protective covering of the kernel.   Little to no gluten there.   Large amounts of lectins are in wheat germ and can cause digestive upsets, but not enough Gluten to provoke antibody production in the small intestines. Luckily you still have time to do a proper gluten challenge (10 grams of gluten per day for a minimum of two weeks) before your next appointment when you can be retested.  
    • knitty kitty
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @asaT, I'm curious to know whether you are taking other B vitamins like Thiamine B1 and Niacin B3.  Malabsorption in Celiac disease affects all the water soluble B vitamins and Vitamin C.  Thiamine and Niacin are required to produce energy for all the homocysteine lowering reactions provided by Folate, Cobalamine and Pyridoxine.   Weight gain with a voracious appetite is something I experienced while malnourished.  It's symptomatic of Thiamine B1 deficiency.   Conversely, some people with thiamine deficiency lose their appetite altogether, and suffer from anorexia.  At different periods on my lifelong journey, I suffered this, too.   When the body doesn't have sufficient thiamine to turn food, especially carbohydrates, into energy (for growth and repair), the body rations what little thiamine it has available, and turns the carbs into fat, and stores it mostly in the abdomen.  Consuming a high carbohydrate diet requires additional thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  Simple carbohydrates (sugar, white rice, etc.) don't contain thiamine, so the body easily depletes its stores of Thiamine processing the carbs into fat.  The digestive system communicates with the brain to keep eating in order to consume more thiamine and other nutrients it's not absorbing.   One can have a subclinical thiamine insufficiency for years.  A twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent increase in brain function, so the symptoms can wax and wane mysteriously.  Symptoms of Thiamine insufficiency include stunted growth, chronic fatigue, and Gastrointestinal Beriberi (diarrhea, abdominal pain), heart attack, Alzheimer's, stroke, and cancer.   Thiamine improves bone turnover.  Thiamine insufficiency can also affect the thyroid.  The thyroid is important in bone metabolism.  The thyroid also influences hormones, like estrogen and progesterone, and menopause.  Vitamin D, at optimal levels, can act as a hormone and can influence the thyroid, as well as being important to bone health, and regulating the immune system.  Vitamin A is important to bone health, too, and is necessary for intestinal health, as well.   I don't do dairy because I react to Casein, the protein in dairy that resembles gluten and causes a reaction the same as if I'd been exposed to gluten, including high tTg IgA.  I found adding mineral water containing calcium and other minerals helpful in increasing my calcium intake.   Malabsorption of Celiac affects all the vitamins and minerals.  I do hope you'll talk to your doctor and dietician about supplementing all eight B vitamins and the four fat soluble vitamins because they all work together interconnectedly.  
    • Florence Lillian
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Florence Lillian · Posted

      Hi Jane: You may want to try the D3 I now take. I have reactions to fillers and many additives. Sports Research, it is based in the USA and I have had no bad reactions with this brand. The D3 does have coconut oil but it is non GMO, it is Gluten free, Soy free, Soybean free and Safflower oil free.  I have a cupboard full of supplements that did not agree with me -  I just keep trying and have finally settled on Sports Research. I take NAKA Women's Multi full spectrum, and have not felt sick after taking 2 capsules per day -  it is a Canadian company. I buy both from Amazon. I wish you well in your searching, I know how discouraging it all is. Florence.  
    • catnapt
      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      By catnapt · Posted

      highly unlikely  NOTHING and I mean NOTHING else has ever caused me these kinds of symptoms I have no problem with dates, they are a large part of my diet In fact, I eat a very high fiber, very high vegetable and bean diet and have for many years now. It's considered a whole foods plant based or plant forward diet (I do now eat some lean ground turkey but not much) I was off dairy for years but recently had to add back plain yogurt to meet calcium needs that I am not allowed to get from supplements (I have not had any problem with the yogurt)   I eat almost no processed foods. I don't eat out. almost everything I eat, I cook myself I am going to keep a food diary but to be honest, I already know that it's wheat products and also barley that are the problem, which is why I gradually stopped eating and buying them. When I was eating them, like back in early 2024, when I was in the middle of moving and ate out (always had bread or toast or rolls or a sub or pizza) I felt terrible but at that time was so busy and exhausted that I never stopped to think it was the food. Once I was in my new place, I continued to have bread from time to time and had such horrible joint pain that I was preparing for 2 total knee replacements as well as one hip! The surgery could not go forward as I was (and still am) actively losing calcium from my bones. That problem has yet to be properly diagnosed and treated   anyway over time I realized that I felt better when I stopped eating bread. Back at least 3 yrs ago I noticed that regular pasta made me sick so I switched to brown rice pasta and even though it costs a lot more, I really like it.   so gradually I just stopped buying and eating foods with gluten. I stopped getting raisin bran when I was constipated because it made me bloated and it didn't help the constipation any more (used to be a sure bet that it would in the past)   I made cookies and brownies using beans and rolled oats and dates and tahini and I LOVE them and have zero issues eating those I eat 1 or more cans of beans per day easily can eat a pound of broccoli - no problem! Brussels sprouts the same thing.   so yeh it's bread and related foods that are clearly the problem  there is zero doubt in my mind    
    • cristiana
      Insomnia help

      By cristiana · Posted

      Thank you for your post, @nanny marley It is interesting what you say about 'It's OK not to sleep'. Worrying about sleeping only makes it much harder to sleep.  One of my relatives is an insomniac and I am sure that is part of the problem.  Whereas I once had a neighbour who, if she couldn't sleep, would simply get up again, make a cup of tea, read, do a sudoku or some other small task, and then go back to bed when she felt sleepy again.  I can't think it did her any harm - she lived  well into her nineties. Last week I decided to try a Floradix Magnesium supplement which seems to be helping me to sleep better.  It is a liquid magnesium supplement, so easy to take.  It is gluten free (unlike the Floradix iron supplement).  Might be worth a try.        
×
×
  • 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.