Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

5 Mths Pregnant...new & Need Advice

lwr101

By lwr101
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

lwr101 Newbie
lwr101
Posted

Hello...I am new to all of this, in fact not even certain I have Celiac. I did have a Celiac blood test recently, & the results were this: Endomysial Antibody IgA/IgG are 31 & 21 respectively. I was told this is high, but not sure "how high is high"??

I am 5 months pregnant & have been very sick (am still taking Zofran for the nausea/vomiting)- but now am not sure if it's hormones or celiac. I have a healthy 5 year old- and although I was very sick with her- I do not know if I "had" celiac then...or even now, for that matter.

My concern is waiting for a biopsy to confirm the blood test (as I assume biopsy's are not collected from pregnant women?)- or should I start the gluten free diet regardless. Although the high- risk obgyn assured me that this baby looks fine (development, weight, etc) & all of the blood tests are normal, I am still very concerned for my baby's health. I have had a "sensitive stomach" for what seems like the past 15 years- with other celiac symptoms- but they have been vague not intense, and I have bounced from doctor to doctor for years. I do not want to wait another day to be well...or help my baby.

If anyone can provide further insight, I would be very appreciative. Thanks!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


alamaz Collaborator
alamaz
Posted

Hi Congratulations!

Did you dr. tell you what a normal result range is? Most people would say a "high" result is a positive result and no, most likely they would not do an endoscopy on you until after you deliver.

It would probably be in your best interest, if your doctor confirms that the high result meant you are positive for celiac, to start eating gluten free. start out eating fresh fruits, veggies, meats. when i first when gluten free my body couldn't handle the gluten free baked and commercial products you see at the stores (except rice crackers). if you've been struggling with tummy issues for quite some time it may take time to heal but most people start to see progress within the first few weeks of following the diet. These boards are a great place to start at.

Good luck!

lwr101 Newbie
lwr101
Posted
  • Author
Hi Congratulations!

Did you dr. tell you what a normal result range is? Most people would say a "high" result is a positive result and no, most likely they would not do an endoscopy on you until after you deliver.

It would probably be in your best interest, if your doctor confirms that the high result meant you are positive for celiac, to start eating gluten free. start out eating fresh fruits, veggies, meats. when i first when gluten free my body couldn't handle the gluten free baked and commercial products you see at the stores (except rice crackers). if you've been struggling with tummy issues for quite some time it may take time to heal but most people start to see progress within the first few weeks of following the diet. These boards are a great place to start at.

Good luck!

mommyagain Explorer
mommyagain
Posted

I have a similar history in that I have always had random GI issues... that got MUCH worse during my 1st pregnancy and stayed bad while I was on depo-provera. Eventually I figured out that it was a "wheat allergy" and went gluten-lite. Then I stopped taking depo-provera and I found that I could "cheat" on my diet without any major side effects so I went back to a normal diet.

Now, I'm pregnant again, and the celiac-type symptoms came back full force. I was smarter this time, and have been gluten-free for 6 weeks. I feel SOOO much better. But, I'm not diagnosed as celiac because I've never even had the blood tests done. I refuse to go back on gluten while I'm pregnant because of the risk to the baby. Celiacs who eat gluten during pregnancy are at a much higher risk for miscarriage than celiacs who eat gluten-free.

After the baby is born, I'll probably want to stay gluten-free because I'll be nursing, and don't want to risk vitamin deficiencies at that point. After that, who knows? I figure by then I'll have been gluten-free for 2 years (or more) and will probably be used to it! :P

I would really suggest that you go gluten-free asap, if only for your baby's sake! Some of us on this board feel that a positive dietary response is just as good as a biopsy at diagnosing... since there is always the possibility of a false negative with blood tests and biopsies. I also believe that you have to listen to your body. If your body is healthier without gluten, don't eat gluten! If you feel like you need that diagnosis, you can always try to go back on gluten after the baby's born. Chances are, if you are celiac, you'll feel so sick the first time you get gluten by accident that you won't want to be on it long enough to get a biopsy!

By the way, congrats on the pregnancy, and good luck!

lwr101 Newbie
lwr101
Posted
  • Author
I have a similar history in that I have always had random GI issues... that got MUCH worse during my 1st pregnancy and stayed bad while I was on depo-provera. Eventually I figured out that it was a "wheat allergy" and went gluten-lite. Then I stopped taking depo-provera and I found that I could "cheat" on my diet without any major side effects so I went back to a normal diet.

Now, I'm pregnant again, and the celiac-type symptoms came back full force. I was smarter this time, and have been gluten-free for 6 weeks. I feel SOOO much better. But, I'm not diagnosed as celiac because I've never even had the blood tests done. I refuse to go back on gluten while I'm pregnant because of the risk to the baby. Celiacs who eat gluten during pregnancy are at a much higher risk for miscarriage than celiacs who eat gluten-free.

After the baby is born, I'll probably want to stay gluten-free because I'll be nursing, and don't want to risk vitamin deficiencies at that point. After that, who knows? I figure by then I'll have been gluten-free for 2 years (or more) and will probably be used to it! :P

I would really suggest that you go gluten-free asap, if only for your baby's sake! Some of us on this board feel that a positive dietary response is just as good as a biopsy at diagnosing... since there is always the possibility of a false negative with blood tests and biopsies. I also believe that you have to listen to your body. If your body is healthier without gluten, don't eat gluten! If you feel like you need that diagnosis, you can always try to go back on gluten after the baby's born. Chances are, if you are celiac, you'll feel so sick the first time you get gluten by accident that you won't want to be on it long enough to get a biopsy!

By the way, congrats on the pregnancy, and good luck!

I hope that I'm doing this right- I don't know how to reply! But thanks for your response...I felt that I would trust my instincts about this & decided to go ahead with the gluten free diet. My stomach issues & other complaints have been so long term, that is must be something besides stress, etc. And regardless, I want to have the peace of mind that I'm not putting my baby in harm's way. Congratulations, too & am glad to hear you are feeling good this time. Thanks for sharing.

goldyjlox Contributor
goldyjlox
Posted

I am glad that you are going gluten-free. If only I had known this my lst pregnancy would have been smoother. My son was not thriving at all and had to come out, and I had no time to think it was straight to the hospital and induced within hours of finding out he was not thriving. It was scary. Ijust had my children tested for Celiac 2 weeks ago and I am awaiting the results.

  • 2 months later...
dilipv Newbie
dilipv
Posted

hi there,

this is Dilip. i thought of providing the information regarding Celiac Disease to to the womans . so searched through the net and found a site just go through the following url.it will defianetly help the people who are really searching for it.

Open Original Shared Link

Hope this will probably help the people.

Thank you

Dilip

Open Original Shared Link

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.