Awaiting Endoscopy Results

[stiner]

Hello everyone!

I am completely new to this website, but found this forum when doing a lot of research about the disease. It seems like everyone is sharing similar stories - so I just wanted to share mine as each story is a little different.

A little background - I am a 25 year old female. I have always considered myself to have a sensitive stomach and to be lactose intolerant. Milk always bothers me, but I can usually get away with cheese and some other milk products.

About 5 or 6 years ago, i started to get hives regularly. They can be extremely bad for months at a time or close to non-existent for months at a time. For the past couple of years I have discovered claritin/zyrtec so they are not so bothersome anymore.

I also have been one to have extremely random skin rashes. For instance, my last rash was on my bicep and around my armpit and lasted for several months off and on. I thought at first it could be DH (after doing research) but my rashes usually aren't that itchy, but they are painful when I do itch them. I am thinking I may have developed a certain tolerance for "itchiness" since I have been dealing with hives for so long, if that makes sense.

Now - recent developments in the past several months - I have had a ton of diarrhea (~70% of the time), and have had a lot of cold sores in the mouth as well as chelitis. I also developed iron-deficiency anemia - which did not get better after taking Feosol for about 6 weeks. My doctor said my iron levels stayed exactly the same - and told me to double my iron intake. I now take 2 Feosol tablets daily.

My doctor also did a Celiac profile blood test, testing the IgA levels and antibodies. The test came out inconclusive as my IgA levels were low. She sent me to the GI doctor who recommended me for an upper endoscopy. I went yesterday and he said everything "looked fine" but that he would be contacting me next week in regards to the biopsies he took. I am getting a little anxious/nervous in regards to the results. It would almost be a relief if all of these symptoms were all related.

I think I just wanted to share my story with everyone and if anyone has any comments/enlightenments - please post and share your similar experiences!

[IMWalt]

She sent me to the GI doctor who recommended me for an upper endoscopy. I went yesterday and he said everything "looked fine" but that he would be contacting me next week in regards to the biopsies he took. I am getting a little anxious/nervous in regards to the results. It would almost be a relief if all of these symptoms were all related.

I think I just wanted to share my story with everyone and if anyone has any comments/enlightenments - please post and share your similar experiences!

Me too! I just got back from my endoscopy. Doc said everything looked fine except for something in the antrum campatible with mild gastritis. I will get the biopsy results in two weeks. My blood work was all negative. My daughter has confirmed celiac disease. All the tests don't matter to me, because as of now I am going back to a gluten-free diet. I tried it a couple months ago for 5 weeks, and ALL of my symptoms went away (cramps, bloating, gas, fatigue). I don't know about my anemia yet. I will wait until my next physical for that. I do know that a year of ferrous sulfate supplementation barely improved my low RBC and other iron-related counts.

All I know is that while I was eating gluten again to get ready for the tests, my sore belly, cramps, etc all came back. Loose stools, going 3+ times a day, etc. When I ate gluten-free, I was a completely different person. So tonight I am making the gluten-free bread recipe I found here, and I am looking forward to feeling good again.

Walt

[ravenwoodglass]

Welcome to the board. You can now start the diet to see if it helps as you are done with the endo. You may have your answer by the time you go for the results. If you do end up with a negative result on the biopsy do be sure to give the diet a good strict try for a couple of months anyway, biopsies sometimes miss the damaged areas so a dietary trial is still needed no matter what the result.