Confused And Frustrated. Help?

[aloberg1]

Hello,

I was hoping to get some information from this board. I have been browsing it for a while and I have some questions regarding gluten intolerance.

I have had GI issues most of my life and was diagnosed with IBS-constipation, puffiness and bloating, stomach distention and pains, depression and anxiety, and "leaky gut". I have not gotten any help really unless I suggest it to my doctors but the naturopath is slowly helping. I had the celiac blood test IgA but it came back negative (after already having been g.f. for a while and then just adding it back for a few weeks).

I have questioned gluten for a while now and have had a somewhat gluten-free diet, but I still drank beer occasionally. I am working with a naturopath and in Nov07 had done a detection diet. i had some reactions to wheatberries and 3 days later I tested soy (tempeh) and I had awful stomach pains for days and felt awful. I just recently tested again with another detection diet and tested barley. I had some slight reactions and still slight reactions to edemame. The symptoms seem to change. Looking back at my journals i felt awful for so long, mostly when I was having some sprouted wheat/regular breads and then also a lot of processed gluten free foods. I felt wonderful on the elemination diet though and found that especially w/o coffee I have been sleeping much better but once I stopped watching so carefully what I was eating i began to feel icky again.

Yesterday I decided to eat wheat and gluten just to see how I would react. (I just finished my detection diet) I ate an apple fritter, pizza (no cheese), tuna melt (no cheese) and vegan carrot cake. I had so much gluten yesterday and I tried to avoid dairy so that didn't interfere with my testing.

I feel ok today. My ears are really plugged and I feel tired, but no major stomach cramping, not super puffy like i have been in the past. I suppose it isn't even quite 24 hours since i began my gluten binge.

Do I sound like I am making this all up or that I really don't have a reaction to gluten? Shouldn't I be getting very sick by now? Should I eat gluten for like 6 months and get tested again or do yet another elimination diet? Will I end up getting sick as the day goes on or have I "healed" somewhat from being gluten-lite for at least 6 months?

Any input would be so much appreciated!

Thank you for your help and thank you for this website!

andrea.

[RiceGuy]

Well, the symptoms you describe do indeed sound like Celiac. However, keep in mind that something like 30% of Celiacs have no outward symptoms, so you cannot necessarily rely on how you feel. Some people have a reaction several days after ingesting gluten, others react within seconds. And yes, it can certainly creep up on you over time.

At the very least it seems that you do have a sensitivity to certain foods, and this does often accompany Celiac. Some might suggest continuing gluten for at least a week, while others may suggest even longer.

Welcome to the board!