Chronic Fatigue And Coeliacs

[Billygean]

Hi all

I'm new to this so not sure if I'm writing in the correct place. Basically just looking for some advice on whether I should get tested for Celiacs. Bear with me, my symptoms are varied and strange!

Last summer I got food poisoning and most days since that I felt sick and on a few occasions vomited. I was previously fit and healthy so it was baffling, and, after putting me on Omeprazole for a month or so my doctor basically said it was an IBS sort of reaction and to ignore it. Previous to this I had surgery (foot) a couple of years before and from that date - who knows why - had lots of IBS type symptoms. Cramping, regular diarhoea etc. It should probably be noted that when I had the surgery I was at uni and eating a lot of pasta/pizza/bread, and over the summer when I was sick a lot I was eating sandwcihes every day and pasta almost every night.

In november and december 2007 I had what I thought were two gastric flues and these took several weeks each to recover from.

I was not well for a few months with the sickness but was functioning. I got diagnosed with mononucleosis/glandular fever in early January. I strugged on throughout January and February and I think pushed my body way too hard and ended up in bed late february and basically have not surfaced since.

My doctor took bloods to check my white blood cells and thyroid. These are normal so he diagnosed post viral fatigue.

I am however not getting much better at all. I know CFS is a very slow progressing recovery but I am generally still sick often, diarhoea often, have some mouth ulcers - say one a month - and VERY hungry in the mornings and get hunger like pangs and cravings throughout the day. If relevant I have had a lot of spleen pain, stomach aches, and a host of UTIs that my doctor can't explain.

I have a low platelet associated rash a few months ago (like tiny red pin pricks all over my body) which doctors couldn't explain when my platelets came back normal. I wonder if it's to do with vitamin deficiency.

Spoke to my cousin who was diagnosed with CFS and it turned out to be coeliacs and he thinks I should get tested. I have a family history of autoimmune conditions: cousin with coeliacs, aunt and nan with thyroid function problems, aunt with addissons, father with vitiligo.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am sort of hopeful it is celiacs because it is at least slightly more controlable than CFS.

Billygean...

[fedora]

hi,

you have symptoms and a family history. I would definately get tested. Please realize that you should be eating gluten until after you get the blood tests and/or biopsy. Also realize that they can give you false negatives. If you do have negative results I would still try out the gluten free diet

[Lisa]

Here are the test that your doctor should order for Celiac Disease:

Anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) both IgA and IgG

Anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA) - IgA

Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTG) - IgA

Total IgA level.

[Billygean]

Thanks, guys. Went to see my GP today and she was 'amazed' my specialist didn't test for it. I woke up in the night ravenous as well and have lost weight so am really hopeful it's this. otherwise I'm not sure what will explain my symptoms and going back to plain old chronic fatigue will be a bit of a come down...

Billygean