Brand New, Have A Question

[sg325]

Hi everyone, I have been suffering with digestive problems for the past 3 yrs or so, had a baby and a gallbladder removal in between, so I have recently been able to receive testing from my GI doctor. After a colonoscopy and endoscopy, nothing was seen, but my doctor said my biopsy showed some flatten villi in the beginning of my small intestine. The pathology dept. said it was not celiac, but my doc is sending it to another hospital (he works for the state hospital dept.) and will see what they say, he suspects celiac.

We have no known history of celiac (just colon cancer, diverticulitis, Crohns, lactose intolerance, and I don't have any of these myself, as far as I know) in our family. My question is, after all of my research of villi problems, all I can find is celiac as the cause. Could it be something else?? If so, I haven't been able to find it on google, lol.

My next appt is in November, and my doctor said to go off gluten for a week sometime before then and see if it makes a difference.

My symptoms are abdominal pain, loose stools, nausea, and fatigue.

Anyway, thanks for reading and let me know what you think, I appreciate all theories and comments!

[Lisa]

Hi everyone, I have been suffering with digestive problems for the past 3 yrs or so, had a baby and a gallbladder removal in between, so I have recently been able to receive testing from my GI doctor. After a colonoscopy and endoscopy, nothing was seen, but my doctor said my biopsy showed some flatten villi in the beginning of my small intestine. The pathology dept. said it was not celiac, but my doc is sending it to another hospital (he works for the state hospital dept.) and will see what they say, he suspects celiac.

We have no known history of celiac (just colon cancer, diverticulitis, Crohns, lactose intolerance, and I don't have any of these myself, as far as I know) in our family. My question is, after all of my research of villi problems, all I can find is celiac as the cause. Could it be something else?? If so, I haven't been able to find it on google, lol.

My next appt is in November, and my doctor said to go off gluten for a week sometime before then and see if it makes a difference.

My symptoms are abdominal pain, loose stools, nausea, and fatigue.

Anyway, thanks for reading and let me know what you think, I appreciate all theories and comments!

Welcome to the forum. Glad that you have found us.

Flattening of the villi is classic in a Celiac diagnosis. I don't see why you doctor has any doubt about this. Your other symptom also fit.

You will find no better source for Celiac than here. (I'll let other chime in - I'm burning the bacon )

[nikki-uk]

Flattening of the villi is classic in a Celiac diagnosis. I don't see why you doctor has any doubt about this. Your other symptom also fit.

I'd have to agree with Lisa

Definition of celiac disease is villi flattening (or atrophy)

Did you have the blood panel for celiac disease as well??

The only other thing that causes villi damage is Open Original Shared Link...been to any tropical countries lately?

I'll let other chime in - I'm burning the bacon

Burnt bacon

[Lisa]

I'd have to agree with Lisa

Definition of celiac disease is villi flattening (or atrophy)

Did you have the blood panel for celiac disease as well??

The only other thing that causes villi damage is Open Original Shared Link...been to any tropical countries lately?

Burnt bacon

Bacon saved and in the Quiche! BACK ON SUBJECT.

[darkangel]

Crohn's disease also causes blunting of intestinal villi. All of your symptoms are also common with Crohn's.

[sg325]

Crohn's disease also causes blunting of intestinal villi. All of your symptoms are also common with Crohn's.

Thanks for your quick responses! My doctor did do the blood test for it at this last visit, and when I see him again, he will have those results and the results of his second pathology opinion. He said he suspects celiac, but the pathologist at our local hospital said it was not, so he will send it to another one and I will wait and see. I did not know that Crohns causes blunting of villi, but that disease certainly runs in our family. However, the colonoscopy showed no inflammation or damage, so I am stumped.

Will keep you posted as I find out more info, thanks again!!

[happygirl]

Make sure that your dr ran the full Celiac blood work:

Anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) both IgA and IgG

Anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA) - IgA

Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTG) - IgA

Total IgA level

Best of luck. I hope that you find some much-needed answers.

"Causes of villous atrophy apart from celiac disease

In children less than two years old, there are several causes that include cows milk allergy, soy allergy, eosinophillic gastroenteritis, and viral gastroenteritis. In adults, HIV enteropathy and tropical sprue are the most common causes of villous atrophy apart from celiac disease. Radiation may cause a similar picture as well as autoimmune enteropathy. Other food intolerances have been reported though are exceptionally rare; they include a single case report of fish and chicken intolerance [18]." from: Open Original Shared Link

[darkangel]

I did not know that Crohns causes blunting of villi, but that disease certainly runs in our family. However, the colonoscopy showed no inflammation or damage, so I am stumped.

From the wikipedia definition of Crohn's:

Biopsies may also show chronic mucosal damage as evidenced by blunting of the intestinal villi, atypical branching of the crypts, and change in the tissue type (metaplasia).

Damage to intestinal villi in both UC and Crohn's is discussed at length in the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle.

You may also find this interesting:

The diagnosis of Crohn's disease can sometimes be challenging, and a number of tests are often required to assist the physician in making the diagnosis. Sometimes even with all the tests the Crohn's does not show itself. A colonoscopy has about a 70% chance of showing the disease and the rest of the tests go down in percentage. Disease in the small bowel can not be seen through some of the regular tests; for example, a colonoscopy can't get there.