No Idea What To Expect...

[farfromhome]

I just got my biopsy done (not without a lot of crying, I assure you), and I'm wondering a few things. My doctor had never said a word about Celiac disease or a gluten allergy or wheat intolerance, I'd never had a blood test for it, but when I came out of the endoscopy, he told my mom (as I was a bit flighty) that they took a biopsy to check for a gluten allergy (and I would assume Celiac and wheat intolerance). Is there anything that would show up in my bowel if I had the allergy/Celiac? Wouldn't he need a microscope or something? I'm confused.

My symptoms are: nausea every day for the past few years, vomiting, anxiety, depression, D (sometimes), ichyness (sp?), vitamin deficiencies (we think), SEVERE heartburn every night, and a very poor immune system. The allergy/Celiac would explain most/all of my symptoms and I would really like to know if anyone thinks they're a good indicator.

I would LOVE any advice/thoughts/comments anyone has. Thanks in advance.

[CarlaB]

They do put the biopsy under a microscope to see if there's damage to the intestinal villi. The damage happens in the small intestine.

Even if your biopsy is negative, you still might want to try the gluten-free diet. Some of us don't have celiac, but non-celiac gluten intolerance, and we have the same symptoms as celiac.

In the meantime, try natural apple cider vinegar (like Braggs) available at the health food store. Put a tsp. in a glass of water. It helps with heartburn/reflux. You can drink it three times daily (according to the manufacturer) as it has wonderful health benefits. Open Original Shared Link

[sherylj]

I just got my biopsy done (not without a lot of crying, I assure you), and I'm wondering a few things. My doctor had never said a word about Celiac disease or a gluten allergy or wheat intolerance, I'd never had a blood test for it, but when I came out of the endoscopy, he told my mom (as I was a bit flighty) that they took a biopsy to check for a gluten allergy (and I would assume Celiac and wheat intolerance). Is there anything that would show up in my bowel if I had the allergy/Celiac? Wouldn't he need a microscope or something? I'm confused.

My symptoms are: nausea every day for the past few years, vomiting, anxiety, depression, D (sometimes), ichyness (sp?), vitamin deficiencies (we think), SEVERE heartburn every night, and a very poor immune system. The allergy/Celiac would explain most/all of my symptoms and I would really like to know if anyone thinks they're a good indicator.

I would LOVE any advice/thoughts/comments anyone has. Thanks in advance.

You have all the same symptoms I did and my biopsy came back positive for celiac. But it is hard to wait for the diagnosis. I was loopy after the biopsy as well. I have been on the diet now for 3 weeks and am doing okay but I was off and on this diet for 10 years. And I've had some practice at following the gluten-free recommendations. (My dr. wasn't in a hurry to find a diagnosis) So the good news is..you have had the biopsy and soon will know for sure.

If you don't know what gluten is or where it is hidden I would encourage you to get a spiral bound notebook and start collecting articles from online sources. that way you will have some information in your hands when they call to give you your diagnosis and won't feel so overwhelmed. If you are positive for celiac they should give you a referral to a dietician or you can collect information yourself.

So I am kind of jumping to conclusions but your symptoms sound so like celiac. Gluten free is just a different way to approach fooding, as my daughter calls it. She is a freshman at MSU and has food allergies so eating in the cafeteria has been a challenge for her but she is dealing with it.

Let us know how things turn out,,k??? Sherylj

[farfromhome]

Thanks you guys. I guess I should add- I'm a sophmore at USC (the old one- in South Carolina), I turn 20 next friday (not looking forward to trying to arrange for a gluten free cake if I am positive), and I live 2 hours from home. I keep saying "I can't do this" and my boyfriend, Shane, just tells me I have to if it comes back positive and I won't have any choice. We both secretly hope it's true because I want to feel better and he gets tired of my constant "my stomach hurts, I can't go out", but I'm terrified of trying to learn all this without my mom standing over me telling me what to do. I mean, I'm grown up, but I'm not that grown up. Don't worry about jumping the gun....I'm pretty sure that I have Celiac or at least gluten intolerance. The symptoms are just too similar and like they say in science- the simplest explanation is usually the right one. Or true one. Whichever. Sorry if I'm a downer- I'm just sort of overwhelmed by the possibility itself and I'm in the middle of a semester...so I'm in the middle of midterms, so lots going on and my brain is just trying to understand it all, I guess. At least I can tell my family doctor back home that I'm NOT making this stuff up (the popular opinion between him and my mom) and there really is something going on- even if it's just a hernia (they found a very small hiatal hernia that shouldn't even cause symptoms it's so small), it explains some of my symptoms.

Thanks again,

Sarah