Does This Sound Like Celiac?

[KAG]

Been dealing with digestive disorders for 12 years (since I was pregnant with daughter). Diary allergies longer but unknown. Candida problems. Low thyroid. I have been mostly gluten free for 4 years, but still problems. Recently went back to doctor. I alway thought I was celiac, but still having problems. Since I went back to doctor, found out about egg allergies (I feel so stupid that I didn't connect this before).

My new doctor is doing a colonoscopy (previous polyps) and endoscopy. Also blood tests. I need to be on gluten for 3 weeks prior (according to doctor). I was afraid going back on gluten. I have now been eating gluten for 3 days. These are the symptoms I am now noticing:

weight gain (not eating more)

very sweaty palms and feet

feel hot most of the time (have not adjusted throid meds)

constipation

feels like my lungs are bruised when I breath in deap or twist (hard to explain)

hard time breathing like the air is very polluted

I wake up around 3AM like I was jolted awake and hard to get back to sleep (I don't have sleep problems)

acne getting worse

some smelly gas (I found out the eggs were causing most of the smelly gas, did I mention how stupid I feel?)

Does this sound like celiac? It doesn't sound as bad as a lot of what I read here. It does sound like some kind of allergy though, doesn't it? I guess I want to see what the results are going to be from my tests, but then I probably won't eat gluten again afterwards. I want to know for my childrens' sake. It might help.

Kim

[gfgypsyqueen]

Celiacs is such a fun disease! Yes it sounds like you should be tested. Some people gain weight, some lose weight. Some have diarrhea, some get constipated. Acne getting worse makes sense. Your intestines are inflammed so you get acne, others get eczama. My child gets eczama so badly it wakes her up at night scratching it to the point of bleeding. That is from a dairy allergy. Some people have sleep problems too. I get nightmares when I am glutened. It really sucks.

Unfortunately this disease does not have a clear cut list of symptoms, so it is hard to diagnose. And once you are dignosed be prepared for your family to make some pretty bad comments. I have heard it all from my family and we are a very loving and supportive family. (THAT doesn't come from my side of the family!) Eventhough there are tons of autoimmune disease and intestinal problems on that side of the family. Followed by family members refusing to get tested when they have symptoms, then telling me that I am wrong celiacs is not genetic! Best you can do is try to educate them and keep yourself healthy!

Best of luck!

[nikki-uk]

Sorry to point out that 3 weeks back on gluten after being gluten-free IS NOT long enough for you to gain a positive blood test OR biopsy - your doctor is wrong

Ideally - you would need to back on a high (at least 4-6 slices of bread) a day for 6 weeks or more for a blood test. Some would say even longer for the endoscopy.

[KAG]

I don't think that I can be on gluten for 6 weeks. I can't live in a hermit shell by myself for that long. (I guess I do have ups and downs when I am eating gluten!) But then that makes no sense either. I want to be diagnosed so that I can see that I am NOT crazy, but being gluten free is so hard. I mean, what is really hard is no gluten, dairy, eggs, alcohol (bad reaction to), processed foods, potatoes, sugar. When I eat really well I know I feel great but why is it so hard? I LOOOOOOVE food. It just doesn't love me.

I guess I'll see what my results are and hopefully they will come back with something.

Until then, I'll enjoy beer and biting people's heads off!

[CMCM]

Each person reacts differently to the effects of gluten poisoning the body...yes, poisoning....that's what is happening. If you continue eating gluten a whole boatload of other sensitivities can start popping out because the gluten is causing your immune system to be increasingly reactive. This happened with me....for simply years and years I thought MY problem was dairy. I knew my mom had celiac disease since I was 16, but since my symptoms weren't so strong and violent as hers, I never suspected celiac disease for myself. But over the years, I had more and more intestinal upset, headaches, asthma, joint aches, lots of stuff. And more and more foods seemed to be problematic. Before I finally figured it all out and got appropriate testing, I was at the point of believing there wasn't much I could eat except perhaps water. Seriously! I was in continual upset, and then I had a very frightening episode of vertigo that scared the dickens out of me. That's when I started really looking at this in a state of desperation. I got tested thru Enterolab, went gluten free, and within a couple of weeks I felt like a new person. Bit by bit, the other sensitivites lessened and at this point, 17 months later, I can actually tolerate moderate dairy again. I have to eat carefully, but most of the time I feel good.

There are so MANY symptoms that can be linked to celiac disease and/or gluten sensitivity. Too many to list, actually! I guess the message is that there is no one set of symptoms that point to celiac disease. For the things you mentioned, it would be good to test for celiac disease. And if you prove to have celiac disease, over time if you go gluten free, you will most likely see your other physical complaints go away, some faster than others, but they could all go away eventually.