Gluten Intolerance Or Ibs?

[browneyedsue]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to this site. I have had digestive issues for the past 15 years. I have had every test known to man (except for celiac testing) and all have come back normal. My doctor diagnosed me with IBS and told me to try and control stress, excersie, drink plenty of water and eat a lot of fibre.

I have done all these things for years and years but am unable to get relief. My biggest complaint is Bloating, distention, pressure and constipation with no urge.

Does my history sound familiar to any of you that are gluten sensitive? I'm not convinced I have celiac disease but am thinking I may be sensitive to gluten. Any information you could give me would be helpful, I have begun trying to eliminate gluten but as you know it lurks in just about everything. Some getting started tips would be nice.

Thank you in advance for all who respond. I just want to feel better!!!

[rinne]

Hi. If you have had the same doctor for fifteen years and they have done every test except Celiac then I would suggest finding another doctor.

The simplest thing to do to see if changing your diet will make you feel better is to change it radically for a period of time. Bloating and C say that your digestion is challenged and so many foods are challenging to digest, dairy, nightshades, soy and corn to mention a few. I suggest going to a very basic diet (meat, chicken, fish and veggies) for a week and then introducing foods back in and seeing how you react to them. If you google elimination diets or paleo diets lots of information will come up.

My feeling is that unless we take responsibility for our health we won't have it. Doctors know very little about diet and the real impact it has on our health. They are trained to run tests and if the tests don't show anything they have nothing to offer. Stop! They have antidepressants!

I too had tests run that didn't show anything but in my case I have a sister and brother diagnosed with Celiac by endoscopy and so going gluten free was a no-brainer. Plus, I always knew I had a problem with wheat and mostly avoided it.

I think many people may be suffering digestive disorders today because of antibiotic use years ago, I think it takes time for the bad bacteria to over run the gut. That may be true for you rather than Celiac but in either case a gluten free diet will bring relief and that is a good place to start.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

IBS is a syndrome (that's what the "S" stands for--"Syndrome). A syndrome is a collection of symptoms whose cause is not yet known or understood.

If you compare the symptoms of IBS and the symptoms of celiac disease/gluten intolerance, you'll find that the symptoms are identical. Not similar. IDENTICAL.

Unfortunately, your experience is the norm--the doctor diagnoses IBS and prescribes medication to mask the symptoms. Not to address the cause, mind you, but to mask the symptoms.

Now, this doesn't mean that ALL cases of IBS are caused by gluten. Some are caused by other food intolerances. Some are caused by vaccines making the immune system go crazy. Some are caused by intestinal parasites, bacterial infections, or Lyme disease.

But a whopping number are caused by GLUTEN. And doctors ought to lose their jobs for failing to rule it out, as it's the easiest one to rule out. You don't even need blood work to rule it out. You can just try the diet and see if it works.

But be aware that, if you DO want blood work or a biopsy to "prove" on paper that you have celiac, you do need to be eating gluten up until the test, as being gluten-free makes you stop producing the antibodies to gluten.

On the other hand, some here have opted out of a written diagnosis, as the insurance companies have been known to use a diagnosis of celiac disease to deny coverage.

[browneyedsue]

Once beginning a gluten free diet how long before I should see a change in my gut?

Also, I worry about inadvertently consuming gluten in products that I am unaware it is lurking in like maybe gum, breath mints, coffee creamer, etc. I know label reading will become second nature and the gluten ingredients will jump out at me, I guess practice will make perfect.

Any suggestions on big NO NO items that I may fall prey to without knowing it? Thanks