Anemia, Colonoscopy And Confusion

[miles2go]

Hi all,

I've been gluten-free since January 2006, except for a very few instances of cc. I was gluten light before that for about 8 years without ever having suspected celiac as a problem. I was diagnosed with multiple/severe allergies, including wheat and incompletely/inconclusively blood tested for immunoglobulins and anti-gliadin in September 2005. The decision to go gluten free was based on my dietician's advice and not that of any of my other doctors'. I've had a positive dietary response and so didn't feel that there was a need to get further testing based on that alone. I feel so much better than I have in years! yay!

I go to a clinic that is walk-in and has a different doctor almost every year, it seems - convenient for me as I need shots every two weeks. How much information my current PHP actually has on me is a guess, but I've been getting adequate care there and don't have a "star" celiac doctor to go to regularly instead, here in semi-rural Maine. So...

I was put on iron supplements in January for anemia by my current PHP and when she tested my CBC last week, found that even though I've been taking the iron supplements 99% of the time as prescribed, my iron-deficiency anemia has been getting worse, not better, but not really bad, either. She recommended that I get a colonoscopy, which is fine - I'm near that age where I should be doing a baseline anyway and I know it's not a day at the beach, but really don't have any problems with the procedure at this point and feel that it's a very important test for folks like us to have. I had the presence of mind to ask for an endoscopy at the same time, because of this excellent forum and sort of launched into a short spiel about IELs associated with refractory sprue and she got this deer-in-the-headlights look and said that she'd send me to a GI instead of a general surgeon, which was her first inclination. Fine, fine, I love an honest doctor and one who's got a good bedside manner and is willing to work with their patients. She seems to think there's a good chance that I have polyps and if I do, I certainly want to know.

What's confusing to me though, is that I never seemed to absorb the iron supplements in the first place. I never had the C associated with taking large amounts of iron and when I forgot to take it a few times, everything looked like it was the proper color, i.e. no fecal occult blood, although I've since learned that amounts can be microscopic.

I just wish that I was having the test done sooner than a "few weeks" from now, I guess and am left searching the internet too much to try and figure out what's going on before I get to the test. Any advice would be appreciated, especially good questions that I might have for my docs once I get there and afterwards. My worst-case scenario is that they'll diagnose me with IBS and send me on my merry way, although I suppose that sounds a bit cynical.

Thanks in advance,

Margaret