My Brother Got Tested Yesterday...

[FootballFanatic]

So about 2 months after I got sick, my brother started having pains in his intestines and stomach. At first we thought it might be appendicitis or a hernia because he said it felt more like a muscle pain, but the more I talked to him we realized it's probably intestinal spasms....(what you take levsin, etc. for)

It finally sent him to the doctor yesterday and they blood tested him. I am kind of worried that if he has Celiac Disease it will show a false negative like mine and he will continue to go on hurting...

But I guess why I'm writing is because I feel so guilty because I almost want him to have it. Yes, mostly because I want him to feel better, but I also don't want to feel so alone.

If he had it he would be lucky because he doesn't really have trouble with foods so he could eat anything he wanted gluten-free (unlike me who is stuck to a bland diet of the same 3 meals daily)

But am I a horrible person for hoping that I'm not alone and that he's with me? And what do I do if it's negative? I feel very passionately that what he's experiencing is Celiac Disease - the symptoms he has fit perfectly. Plus we've had all the same ailments all our lives.

[Ridgewalker]

  FootballFanatic said:

But am I a horrible person for hoping that I'm not alone and that he's with me? And what do I do if it's negative? I feel very passionately that what he's experiencing is Celiac Disease - the symptoms he has fit perfectly. Plus we've had all the same ailments all our lives.

NO, you're not a horrible person! Most people would feel the same way, it's just that you admitted it!

If it does come out negative, is there any chance that he might do the diet just on a trial basis to see what happens?

I know a lot of people won't do that if they feel like they don't have to. I've never understood that. After all, one little month out of your life isn't much when it gives the chance for a huge health improvement.

(((Hugs)))

[ravenwoodglass]

No your not a horrible person at all. We discovered that everyone in my family had it after I was diagnosed. Use yourself as an example if his blood test comes back negative and get him here to read some of the posts. There are lots of us here who test negative on blood work, some have even had a postive biopsy with negative blood tests. Relying on blood tests almost killed me and I am certanily not alone in that. Chances are really pretty good with one gluten avoiding person in the family that there are many more. It is reccommended that all first degree relatives be tested when one family member is positive so encourage not just him to be evaluated but the entire family, even if they don't 'think' they are symptomatic.

[kbtoyssni]

Don't feel guilty for wanting your brother to find the answer to his health problems and get better! Since you have celiac it's very likely that's what he has, too. And in terms of diseases to have, I have to say celiac is one of the better ones. If you say gluten-free, you can lead a very healthy, drug-free life.

Would your brother consider going gluten-free even if the blood test comes back negative? There's a high rate of false negatives so it's worth trying the diet to see if he feels better.