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Is It Celiac Or Ibs?

Aunt Poppy

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Aunt Poppy Rookie
Aunt Poppy
Posted

I would like some opinions from all of you, who may know more than the two GI's and two Internists I have seen. Here is the scenario and I apoligize if I ramble: I took three rounds of antibiotics during January and February. During the third round, I became very ill with diarrhea and was hospitalized for that and dehydration after 10 days of feeling horrible. I was tested for C Diff and it came back negative ( 30% of people with C Diff have negative results).

I went to Little Rock to see my Internist who said it was IBS caused from the antibiotics. I then went to a GI who performed a colonoscopy and said all was well and I had IBS. He also ran Anigladin, antiendomysial, and Anti-human Tissue transglutaminase. All tests were negative. I had not been gluten free at this point, but was not consuming a lot of gluten or anything else at this point. This GI said that the tests he ran were proof positive that there was no Celiac. The second GI had me send my stool to Entrolab. this test showed a result of 43 ( 10 - 350 means gluten sensitive) but this GI said often the stool test gives false positives, but I should remain gluten free for a while and see if I get better. The second Internist said the same.

I was wonderful prior to the antibiotics and was consuming a ton of gluten with no problem whatsoever. And while I am somewhat better, I still feel like 'heck' most days even though I have been gluten free, toher than one messup a week ago. My symptoms after I got sick were: nausea, diarrhea, myclonus (jerky movements of the limbs), ataxia (difficulty walking), extreme fatigue and weakness, and horrible anxiety and panic attacks. I am, and have been hypoglycemic for years, but it is worse since I got sick. While you do not read of myclonus and ataxia with IBS, my GI says it is not uncommon for someone whose intestines were as messed up as mine were. I just don't know what to do. I can't eat any sugar drinks, nothing with gluten, and have to be so careful with other foods that my diet consists of rice, potato, bananas, applesauce, avacado, carrots, green beans and that is about it. If any of you have any advice, PLEASE ADVISE AS THE ANXIETY IS KILLING ME. Thanks for listening.

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AndreaB Contributor
AndreaB
Posted

Something definately got stirred up with the antibiotics. What is the puzzle piece that needs to be found. It could be gluten or gluten could just be part of the fix until you get to the real problem.

Why were you on so many rounds of antibiotics (if you don't mind sharing)?

How long have you been so restricted in what you eat? That's a pretty small list.

Do you have any amalgams?

Been tested for candida?

Are you an outdoorsy type person?

Probiotics are a good thing to take to try and restore your gut flora with antibiotics.

Aunt Poppy Rookie
Aunt Poppy
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for responding. I took the antibiotics because I had a severe sinus infection-first in my life and am prone to pneumonia. I have been on this diet since mid March, but take a mega vitamin, a probiotic, and metamucil. I assume they tested for Candida when they did the biopies of the large and small intestine, but all but IBS was ruled out. The GI who ruled out Celiac is very highly regarded, but I just feel that I should be getting better much faster. What are amalgams?

Something definately got stirred up with the antibiotics. What is the puzzle piece that needs to be found. It could be gluten or gluten could just be part of the fix until you get to the real problem.

Why were you on so many rounds of antibiotics (if you don't mind sharing)?

How long have you been so restricted in what you eat? That's a pretty small list.

Do you have any amalgams?

Been tested for candida?

Are you an outdoorsy type person?

Probiotics are a good thing to take to try and restore your gut flora with antibiotics.

AndreaB Contributor
AndreaB
Posted

Amalgams are silver colored fillings in your teeth.

Would you be open to seeing a LLMD? They test for more than lyme and are very thorough. A naturopath or holistic doctor may be able to run some tests as well.

dionnek Enthusiast
dionnek
Posted

I wouldn't assume they tested for candida - from what I've heard, dr's don't really "believe" in that. Candida was the first thing I thought though when i read your symptoms. Antibiotics will cause it to go crazy. Google candida and diet - maybe you should give that a try? It is very restrictive, and you'll have to cut out the rice and all starches/sugars/yeast (I haven't done it personally, but a lot of people on here have). Search "candida" in this forum and you'll come across a lot of posts.

It takes a while for your intestines to heal if you do have celiac - took me 6 months on the gluten-free diet before I noticed ANY difference, and now it's been a year and I still have lingering problems, so don't give up.

Belinda Meeker Apprentice
Belinda Meeker
Posted
Amalgams are silver colored fillings in your teeth.

Would you be open to seeing a LLMD? They test for more than lyme and are very thorough. A naturopath or holistic doctor may be able to run some tests as well.

Hi I'am new to all this have a quick ? wht is Candida ? we r going through testing now for "C" cuz we have a C>Sprue 17 year old. TY for ur time Bea

AndreaB Contributor
AndreaB
Posted
Hi I'am new to all this have a quick ? wht is Candida ? we r going through testing now for "C" cuz we have a C>Sprue 17 year old. TY for ur time Bea

Candida is an overgrowth of yeast in your body.....primarily your intestinal track. Antibiotics cause alot of problems because they kill of good bacteria in the gut. Mercury from fillings and/or seafood can cause toxicity in some people and the body will allow candida to grow to keep the mercury locked in place.

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    • knitty kitty
      My only proof

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @NanceK, I do have Hypersensitivity Type Four reaction to Sulfa drugs, a sulfa allergy.  Benfotiamine and other forms of Thiamine do not bother me at all.  There's sulfur in all kinds of Thiamine, yet our bodies must have it as an essential nutrient to make life sustaining enzymes.  The sulfur in thiamine is in a ring which does not trigger sulfa allergy like sulfites in a chain found in pharmaceuticals.  Doctors are not given sufficient education in nutrition (nor chemistry in this case).  I studied Nutrition before earning a degree in Microbiology.  I wanted to know what vitamins were doing inside the body.   Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.   Not feeling well after starting Benfotiamine is normal.  It's called the "thiamine paradox" and is equivalent to an engine backfiring if it's not been cranked up for a while.  Mine went away in about three days.  I took a B Complex, magnesium and added molybdenum for a few weeks. It's important to add a B Complex with all eight essential B vitamins. Supplementing just one B vitamin can cause lows in some of the others and result in feeling worse, too.  Celiac Disease causes malabsorption of all the B vitamins, not just thiamine.  You need all eight.  Thiamine forms including Benfotiamine interact with each of the other B vitamins in some way.  It's important to add a magnesium glycinate or chelate supplement as well.  Forms of Thiamine including Benfotiamine need magnesium to make those life sustaining enzymes.  (Don't use magnesium oxide.  It's not absorbed well.  It pulls water into the intestines and is used to relieve constipation.)   Molybdenum is a trace mineral that helps the body utilize forms of Thiamine.   Molybdenum supplements are available over the counter.  It's not unusual to be low in molybdenum if low in thiamine.   I do hope you will add the necessary supplements and try Benfotiamine again. Science-y Explanation of Thiamine Paradox: https://hormonesmatter.com/paradoxical-reactions-with-ttfd-the-glutathione-connection/#google_vignette
    • Wheatwacked
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    • NanceK
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    • Wheatwacked
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      Hello @Scatterbrain, Are you getting enough vitamins and minerals.  Gluten free food is not fortified so you may be starting to run low on B vitamins and vitamin D.   By the way you should get your mom checked for celiac disease.  You got it from your mom or dad.  Some studies show that following a gluten-free diet can stabilize or improve symptoms of dementia.  I know that for the 63 years I was eating gluten I got dumber and dumber until I started GFD and vitamin replenishment and it began to reverse.  Thiamine can get used up in a week or two.  Symptoms can come and go with daily diet.  Symptoms of beriberi due to Thiamine deficiency.   Difficulty walking. Loss of feeling (sensation) in hands and feet. Loss of muscle function or paralysis of the lower legs. Mental confusion. Pain. Speech difficulties. Strange eye movements (nystagmus) Tingling. Any change in medications? Last March I had corotid artery surgery (90 % blockage), and I started taking Losartan for blood pressure, added to the Clonidine I was taking already.  I was not recovering well and many of my pre gluten free symptoms were back  I was getting worse.  At first I thought it was caused a reaction to the anesthesia from the surgery, but that should have improved after two weeks.  Doctor thought I was just being a wimp. After three months I talked to my doctor about a break from the Losartan to see if it was causing it. It had not made any difference in my bp.  Except for clonindine, all of the previous bp meds tried had not worked to lower bp and had crippling side effects. One, I could not stand up straight; one wobbly knees, another spayed feet.  Inguinal hernia from the Lisinopril cough.  Had I contiued on those, I was destined for a wheelchair or walker. She said the symptoms were not from Losartan so I continued taking it.  Two weeks later I did not have the strength in hips and thighs to get up from sitting on the floor (Help, I can't get up😨).  I stopped AMA (not recommended).  Without the Losartan, a) bp did not change, after the 72 hour withdrawal from Losartanon, on clonidine only and b) symptoms started going away.  Improvement started in 72 hours.  After six weeks they were gone and I am getting better.  
    • Scott Adams
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      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Hopefully the food she eats away from home, especially at school, is 100% gluten-free. If you haven't checked in with the school directly about this, it might be worth a planned visit with their staff to make sure her food is safe.
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