Colonoscopy Found Celiac In Dh 6 Years Ago And He Found Out Today!

[Ann1231]

DH went in for a colonoscopy 6 years ago due to sudden and violent D. He was told to not eat as much wheat and they left it at that, said it "might" help him. He went in for his physical today and the dr. pulled up his chart and found that the chart said "sprue" damage found 6 years ago. Husband said he remembered hearing that word in passing a few years ago but had no idea what it was. Dr. said it's more commonly known as celiac. At that my husband knew, of course because of me, exactly what it was and what it meant. I'm frustrated not only at the dr office but my husband too. I've been telling him for YEARS that his symptoms smacked of celiac but he kept blowing it off and saying nothing was found in the tests. argh.

Now if he'll just follow the diet (highly doubtful, for years he's been telling me that bread or pasta now and then wouldn't hurt me)

The dr. did tell him that the "experts" used to think this was very rare but are now realizing it's very common ........

I feel like banging my head on the wall sometimes.....

[wolfie]

Oh my goodness!!!! Talk about not giving him an explanation of what they found! Geez!

[hathor]

Uh, incompetence? I would be very angry if I were your husband. I would contemplate lodging a complaint or suing. At the very least, he should write to the original doctor to report what he went through because he wasn't told what he should have been told. If nothing else, perhaps this doctor won't do this to anyone else. Or is his doctor now the same one he had before?

Yes, doctors used to think it was rare. But wasn't that disproven years before your husband was tested? There is no excuse not to stay up with the literature (or to research things if a patient presents with a particular disease). Even if it was rare, this is no excuse not to tell him and advise him what to do to avoid further damage to his body and to begin to heal.

[blueeyedmanda]

That's horrible! Knowing about celiac 6 years ago could have prevented him from suffering the past few years. What were they looking for 6 years ago? Was it a routine colonoscopy or to see why he was feeling sick?

[CarlaB]

Did they do an endoscopy at the same time? The endoscopy and blood work is the test for celiac, not a colonoscopy.

[Ann1231]

That's horrible! Knowing about celiac 6 years ago could have prevented him from suffering the past few years. What were they looking for 6 years ago? Was it a routine colonoscopy or to see why he was feeling sick?

it wasn't routine. He'd been having trouble keeping weight on, violent D, run down, feeling terrible, stomach cramps, the whole bit.

They did a biopsy at that point on some spots (I guess that's how they found the damage). I don't really know what all they did. He went to dr. appt. by himself and forgets most of whats said....guess I'll start going with him from now on...

I talked with his parents this afternoon. They said he was 'allergic' to wheat, barley, rye, etc as a child, he was always sick, very underweight, very sickly is how they put it. They didn't know about celiac then of course. Now, after talking with them and what the tests showed, it all fits together in a nice little package.

My son is upset. I told him his chances are extremely high with both a mom and a dad with it. He's now saying he doesn't have problems (just yesterday he was complaining of stomach cramps and bathroom issues, it's a normal routine for him). I think he's really in denial that he may have to give up some of the foods he loves. His mood has definitely changed this afternoon since hearing all this.

Anyway, what a bummer but I am glad that maybe husband can start feeling better....if he'll stay gluten-free that is...