Gi Says Blunted Villi Normal?!

[CamiJ]

I just had my endoscopy/colonoscopy this week. I've had negative results on my celiac panel bloodwork. The GI said that he saw areas of blunted villi during my endoscopy. However, he said that since he has come across blunted villi in normal, healthy intestines before, blunted villi was not of particular concern, and not conclusive for celiac disease. My biopsies have been sent to the pathologist now, so hopefully they will be knowledgable about the difference between "normal" blunted villi, and blunted villi due to celiac. Is there a difference? Does my GI know what he's talking about? I thought that all blunted villi was a concern. Just what does the pathologist look for anyway?

[ravenwoodglass]

I have never heard of blunted villi being normal. Hopefully the pathologist will pick up on the diagnosis but even if he doesn't you may want to give the diet a shot. If after a couple of months gluten-free you have still not had any relief then do continue to look further. For optimum healing you shoud delete dairy for a couple of months at first also, with blunted villi they may not be forming the enzymes you need to digest dairy. Once the villi heal some of us are able to add dairy back in with no issues.

[Ridgewalker]

I just had my endoscopy/colonoscopy this week. I've had negative results on my celiac panel bloodwork. The GI said that he saw areas of blunted villi during my endoscopy. However, he said that since he has come across blunted villi in normal, healthy intestines before, blunted villi was not of particular concern, and not conclusive for celiac disease. My biopsies have been sent to the pathologist now, so hopefully they will be knowledgable about the difference between "normal" blunted villi, and blunted villi due to celiac. Is there a difference? Does my GI know what he's talking about? I thought that all blunted villi was a concern. Just what does the pathologist look for anyway?

I'm wondering what criteria he used to proclaim those other intestines "normal" and "healthy," if they contained blunted villi. Or is he assuming that villi blunting must mean nothing in a person whose blood tests are negative... Faulty logic, is what that is...

[kbtoyssni]

huh?

[CamiJ]

I'm wondering what criteria he used to proclaim those other intestines "normal" and "healthy," if they contained blunted villi. Or is he assuming that villi blunting must mean nothing in a person whose blood tests are negative... Faulty logic, is what that is...

That's just what I thought! Really, how many people with optimal digestive health go to a GI and ask to have an endoscopy done? He's probably never even seen a healthy intestine! Anyway, I go back and forth on this because part of me says that he is the one with the medical degree, and he should be an expert in digestive health. I've read a library book about celiac, and I've done about a million searches on the internet. I can't exactly proclaim infinite knowledge on the subject. I want to trust a doctor, any doctor, but I'm not having great results so far. Up until now, I've just had a bunch of different diagnoses - each with a medication that didn't work, and nothing that really solved my problems. Anyway, my GI said to not change my diet, so I'm doing the opposite. I went gluten free (and casein free) the day of the endoscopy. So, I'm on day three now, and it's going okay. I'm still having a lot of abdominal issues, but maybe that's to be expected if I have all this blunted villi...

[Ursa Major]

Good thing your biopsies have been sent to a pathologist, who hopefully will know what he is talking about. Clearly, your GI does not.

There is no such a thing as 'normal' blunted villi. If they are blunted, something is causing that, and it is NEVER good news. And if there are blunted villi, the intestine is NOT healthy. What a moron! My advice is, to switch GIs if you still need one. This one is a dud.

[Guest lorlyn]

My 11 year old daughter had positive blood work then on her biopsy her villi had just started to turn red and they diagnosed her with Celiac. The diet has helped with her problems so I am happy to know what was wrong with her.

[CamiJ]

I have never heard of blunted villi being normal. Hopefully the pathologist will pick up on the diagnosis but even if he doesn't you may want to give the diet a shot. If after a couple of months gluten-free you have still not had any relief then do continue to look further. For optimum healing you shoud delete dairy for a couple of months at first also, with blunted villi they may not be forming the enzymes you need to digest dairy. Once the villi heal some of us are able to add dairy back in with no issues.

Yeah, I have a question about cutting out dairy - Does eating dairy prevent the villi from healing? Or, is it just that I won't be able to digest it very well until the villi heal? I've been lactose intolerant for years, so I'm used to taking Lactaid with nearly every meal anyway. I cut the dairy the day I cut gluten because I suspected possibly an allergic-type reaction to it (and wheat) - if not celiac. Along with the abdominal symptoms (diarrhea, gassiness, pain), I've been having sinus/allergy type reactions. I get stuffy and a sinus headache. So, since I've cut gluten and dairy (a few days ago), I'm still having digestive issues and sinus issues every time I eat. So, I think I can rule out an actual allergy (unless it's to something else that I haven't thought of). I heard Dr. Oz (on Oprah) say once that sinus issues could be caused by inflammation of the digestive organs. That would make sense - if my villi are so damaged due to celiac, I probably will continue to have sinus issues until it all heals, right? So, can I eat dairy with Lactaid, or should I stay away completely for awhile?