Eating Gluten Before The Biopsy

[Bell]

My biopsy should be at about the end of January, and so I'm supposed to be eating gluten until then. I've been off it for about 2 months so far, and want to stay off through christmas, just because I want to be happy! But here are some questions:

how much gluten is enough to have an effect?

how can I limit the other effects than the villi being damaged?

Gluten often makes me constipated, but then feel "poisoned" and then get diarrhea/sickness at about 4:30 in the morning. How can I avoid this? It has been a real relief to sleep through the night for the last month or so

Should I take any vitamins? The consultant mentioned B12?

Eating gluten gives me brain fog and a sort of manic, unfocused energy at the same time. Any advice on relaxing?

Also, what happens at the biopsy? The doctor today said they would be looking "up one end and down the other" . This sounds hideous.

Thanks in advance!

[WW340]

I have read everywhere from the equilivent of one slice of bread, up to four slices of bread are needed daily for the gluten challenge, and that it should be for 6 weeks to ideally 3 months prior to testing. I don't know what is truly the minimum you would need to ingest, maybe somewhere inbetween.

I also had the symptom of awakening at 4:30am extremely ill. I had terrible stomach pain and would throw up. But even before diagnosis, I found on my own that I didn't have that experience in the morning if I eliminated whole wheat. I gave up triskets, shredded wheat, rye crisps, and switched to white bread. I was still having diarrhea and many of the other symptoms, but at least I did not have the violent morning symptoms.

You might be able to find what makes you react the worst and try to avoid that item, while still consuming fairly significant amounts of gluten.

The colonoscopy prep is the worse part of both procedures. You will have to take something to cause your colon to empty completely, and you will be on a clear liquid diet the day before the procedure and nothing to eat or drink the morning of the procedure. The EGD does not require any prep except for nothing to eat or drink overnight prior to the scope. They generally sedate you for the procedure, and you likely won't remember much of it. You might have a sore throat afterwards.

I would try to eat things I enjoyed for the period of time, at least try to make it as enjoyable as you can, even knowing you are going to be making yourself sick. Good luck, have a donut for me.

[ravenwoodglass]

If your biopsy is the end of January you really need to be eating gluten now. The chance of false negative is high with that short of a challenge.

That said I wish I could give you some tricks to make the challenge easier. Perhaps others will have some hints.

The one thing I do want to say is that you should keep track of your symptoms from the day you start eating gluten again. Keep a detailed record. If you should become violently ill contact the doctor immediately and talk to him directly about the effects. The gluten challenge in itself is a valid diagnostic tool and for some of us can make us extremely ill. I was one of those.

[ang1e0251]

Don't worry about the endoscopy. I had it and my DD had it at age 14 and it was no sweat. I was scared but I didn't even know they had done it or that I had been under. It was over and I was asking when the dr would come!! I didn't have a sore throat, my DD was just a little unsteady on her feet from the drugs but then we went to the mall for lunch!

[Bell]

I actually did eat some gluten yesterday (licorice. I missed it! I did know what to expect, and was just testing... afterward went for Indian food knowing there was a high chance of being cc). Anyway, I was up at 4:30, threw up, D for a few hours and then I went to work. How can I do this for a month? My head is so much clearer being off gluten too. I can read a book or watch a film ... before my concentration levels were non existent. The other thing is, I'm self employed, with no help if I'm sick. I haven't got money in the bank to cover for that.

I do know I should be eating substantial amounts of gluten every day, but I'm visiting my boyfriend's family for christmas. I cannot bear to think of the toilet shame... Besides, his mum has already started to plan me gluten-free alternatives.

Thanks for the advice about white bread. I have realized too that any kind of fibre upsets things, even well cooked vegetables and fresh fruit. When I go back to the gluten, I'm going to have to be deliberately "unhealthy" for a while! I've only been gluten free for about 2 months so far, so I hope the damage shows OK.

thanks everyone.