Eosinophilic Esophagus

[FlyGirl]

So, I had my endoscopy last week. Prep was 2 weeks of gluten after a 5 month total abstinence. I started adding gluten slowly and felt pretty rough the first week, but the second week was actually easier--and I was eating a lot more gluten the second week. A complicating factor was that due to an excess of mosquito bites I was taking allegra & benedryl the second week. Perhaps that can reduce food allergy symptoms as well?

In any case, I'm waiting for the results. However, I have to say that I think Celiac is unlikely based on the pictures of my small intestine. It looks delightfully healthy, despite my best efforts to aggravate known food sensitivities. Since I was feeling better, not worse the second week, I decided to 'go for broke' and had garlic bread and pizza the night before the endoscopy. Dairy has a history of making me quite ill as well.

Curiously, among the pictures provided by my excessively techie GI guy from the tour of my gullet, were clear shots of a very swollen esophagus, described as possibly eosinophilic esophagus. Seems there are two known causes for this. One is GERD, which I have a 10-year history of, and the other is food allergies, eosinophilic esophagus.

Anyone else had this unexpected finding of a swollen esophagus? Does gluten consumption get easier for anyone else 'with practice'? Has anyone else found that taking antihistamines affects the reaction?

Thanks!

[happygirl]

www.apfed.org is a good resource for those with eosinophilic disorders, if that ends up as your diagnosis.

[Darn210]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but two weeks back on gluten (after 5 months gluten free) most likely is not enough for an accurate Celiac biopsy. My daughter's doc said two months.

That being said, I don't know why your symptoms weren't as bad the second week. If you have a (wheat?) allergy, the benedryl could have played a role. It wouldn't have with Celiac. Also, EE could indeed be your problem instead of Celiac. My daughter's GI thought she had EE and that is why she was scoped (found Celiac instead ). Her primary symptom was GERD that improved but did not go away even though she was being medicated (Prevacid). If you could tell from the photos that your throat was swollen, I would hope that your doc would have biopsied the area to determine if EE is your diagnosis.

Good Luck.

[AMQmom]

Wow! I am glad that you wrote about EE - my 7 year old was diagnosed Celiac in April and EE in May (when she was scoped). Her's is food allergy (allergic to all grains, corn, legumes and more!!!) She is both celiac and EE. I have also heard that you needed to be on gluten for a longer period of time, but I am no expert. I am not sure of your age - our doctor told us that there is a period for teens that tends to make them not feel the effects of gluten (even though damage is still being done to the intestine). Maybe that is why you are feeling fine? I know that Clariton helps my daughter's throat feel better after swelling, but not sure how it works with her gluten feelings. It is hard for me to offer you information on her feelings because she never knew what it was like to not live with celiac or EE.

[FlyGirl]

Got my results tonight, they found nothing. The assumption is that the swelling is from GERD. No evidence of EE or of any other issues. So that's good. Neither Celiac or EE sounded like much fun.

I can try and see if an extra dose of Prilosec fixes it. I would love it if my 'food issues' are all in my head!

[AMQmom]

I am so glad to hear about your results! Hope that you feel better soon! - Julie

[Amyleigh0007]

I am being tested for food allergies and my doctor told me to stop taking my allergy meds (Claritin D) one week before the tests. It can mess with the results. I know that info is too late for you but it might help someone else.