Symptoms ( Fat Loss Especially) & Celiac

[djsurreal]

Hi .. I don't know if I have Celiac or not yet , I'm going to take my blood test this coming Wednesday ( bloody doctor is busy )

I just wanna ask if there is anyone in the same boat as me , well .. I barely have any fats around my body especially my FACE ! cheeks are so sunken and eyes sunken too , I LOOK OLD ! so .... Malabsorption maybe? I have had this thinning for quite some time ( since 3 years ago ! ). I look asif I'm aging prematurely.

I do eat alot and constantly hungry , but it seems I get bloated easily when eating even just abit. Stomach always comes out a gurgling sound. Very gassy , and the released gas smells like my stool's strange smell.

- Sunken cheeks , sunken temples ( above eyes , side of the head ) , sunken eyes.

- Sunken buttocks ( both side sucks in from the side , like a poked bursted balloon ) ,

- Knee looks funny because lack of fat I think ( sucked in , like old man's leg ) , kinda feeling imbalance at times.

- Currently having weird stool ( yellowish almost green , very strong strange smell , the stool seems spoiled , rotten like but not exactly rotten ... seems undigested ... maybe nutrients & fats are in there ??) for 8 weeks already .. ( since I first notice .. might have been YEARS and I didnt know , because now I'm living by myself .. so I have become much more observant)

- Constantly feel dehydrated ( feels dry inside and constantly , always want to drink alot of water) , always feeling fatigued , have joint pain , stiff muscles

- Urine have same strange smell as stool (almost ) , it is very yellowish and bubbly ( diabetes check came back fine ) ( last did general blood test 8 weeks ago )

What I'm most concerned would be my fat loss , I feel closeup I look old , haggard and wrinkly ( horrible thing for my age ). I'm just a 19 years old boy !

My face look pinched and I don't look too pleasing , probably more like intimidating. My facial expressions seems unnatural .. when I make them .. wonder if the lack of fats cause that.

So does celiac cause fat loss ?

I have posted pictures .. ( sorry if my face digust you ... but .. I really need help and clarification )

Pic 1 (Warning Gross ! but I really feel sad)

Pic 2 =(

A better picture .. further away from cam

[djsurreal]

=D

[Lisa]

djsurreal,

Welcome to this site. You look like a very normal 19 year old young man.

Many of your symptoms sound like it could be Celiac Disease and at the least a food intolerance.

I am sure that you are anxious for your blood work. If your blood work is negative, you might try the gluten free diet and see if you feel better. Many here can help you with the diet.

But while you wait for your blood work, read here and learn as much as you can. The gluten free diet is complex in the beginning, but easy to deal with once you know your way around ingredient labeling.

[ravenwoodglass]

Hi .. I don't know if I have Celiac or not yet , I'm going to take my blood test this coming Wednesday ( bloody doctor is busy )

I just wanna ask if there is anyone in the same boat as me , well .. I barely have any fats around my body especially my FACE ! cheeks are so sunken and eyes sunken too , I LOOK OLD ! so .... Malabsorption maybe? I have had this thinning for quite some time ( since 3 years ago ! ). I look asif I'm aging prematurely.

I do eat alot and constantly hungry , but it seems I get bloated easily when eating even just abit. Stomach always comes out a gurgling sound. Very gassy , and the released gas smells like my stool's strange smell.

- Sunken cheeks , sunken temples ( above eyes , side of the head ) , sunken eyes.

- Sunken buttocks ( both side sucks in from the side , like a poked bursted balloon ) ,

- Knee looks funny because lack of fat I think ( sucked in , like old man's leg ) , kinda feeling imbalance at times.

- Currently having weird stool ( yellowish almost green , very strong strange smell , the stool seems spoiled , rotten like but not exactly rotten ... seems undigested ... maybe nutrients & fats are in there ??) for 8 weeks already .. ( since I first notice .. might have been YEARS and I didnt know , because now I'm living by myself .. so I have become much more observant)

- Constantly feel dehydrated ( feels dry inside and constantly , always want to drink alot of water) , always feeling fatigued , have joint pain , stiff muscles

- Urine have same strange smell as stool (almost ) , it is very yellowish and bubbly ( diabetes check came back fine ) ( last did general blood test 8 weeks ago )

What I'm most concerned would be my fat loss , I feel closeup I look old , haggard and wrinkly ( horrible thing for my age ). I'm just a 19 years old boy !

My face look pinched and I don't look too pleasing , probably more like intimidating. My facial expressions seems unnatural .. when I make them .. wonder if the lack of fats cause that.

So does celiac cause fat loss ?

I have posted pictures .. ( sorry if my face digust you ... but .. I really need help and clarification )

Pic 1 (Warning Gross ! but I really feel sad)

Pic 2 =(

A better picture .. further away from cam

First off I know that being ill can really mess with our self image, you are far from disgusting even if a bit thin. It does sound like you are having some malabsorption issues and do make sure you are getting enough fluids.

All of your symptoms could be a result of celiac. Are you in the US? The reason I am asking is because there are certain 'gluten intolerant' genes in the US that are in reality celiac genes in other parts of the world. If you happen to be a DQ9 like I am you may end up with a false negative with blood testing. I was blood test negative even when close to death. DQ9 is not a recognized celiac gene in the US but it is one in Japan and the Middle East.

Often a GI doctor will want to endo you if your blood work is positive but many will not bother if your blood work does not show up. Some of us don't feel a need for a doctors confirmation of whether or not gluten is poison to us and if you are one of those after your bloodwork is drawn you will want to try a good couple of months on a strict gluten free diet to see if it helps. If you are going to want to have an endo exam you will need to continue eating gluten until the endo is done, but be aware that the endo can only confirm that you have celiac not that you for sure don't. No matter what the results of testing you have done do a trial of the diet afterwards. You can also go with Enterolab, you would not have to be still eating gluten foods and they can also test for antibodies to casien (milk protien), eggs, soy and yeast and check for malabsoption issues. They can also tell you what genes you carry.

You have come to a great place for info and for support. Don't lose heart, if gluten intolerance or full blown celiac has 'reared its head' it can be a bit hard to get used to the diet and all the little things that go with it. You say you are living alone right now, that can be hard when we are not feeling well but if you need the diet sometimes it is easier to get a clear answer when we are the only ones eating in a house. It can also make it very hard and lonely in the early stages, especially if you go through gluten withdrawl, which many of us do. Be aware that when you start the diet you may have some ups and downs emotionally because of the withdrawl and because of the neurotoxic effects that gluten has. This is normal depression and anxiety and usually does not need medicating and resolves pretty quickly as long as we are strict with the diet. My DS and I have used acupucture to get through the rough spots, and we still do when needed. Don't know if you have tried it but it may help if needed.

Post any query you may have, no matter how gross or odd you might think it. Honestly when you said your picks were disgusting I thought you had posted pics of your stool until I looked Believe it or not it has been done. We are here for you and I hope you get some answers soon.

[djsurreal]

Thank you for the kind words. Does anyone else face the problem of fat loss ? I don't like looking gaunt , I want to look healthy !

Btw blood test taken yesterday , gonna take a while for the results.

[ravenwoodglass]

I am glad you were able to get the blood test done. Regardless of the outcome of the tests be sure you try the diet. Fat loss is real common with celiac, especially in the areas you are referring to. If you google celiac and click on Images you may be able to find some pics. If celiac is causing your loss it should resolve once you are on the diet. If you plan on getting an endoscopic exam done you will need to keep eating gluten until that test is done. When all the testing you choose to have done is finished be sure to try the diet no matter what those tests say.