Looking For Diagnosis, Being Scoped Friday

[FarmCat]

Hello

[ravenwoodglass]

Well, I

[elye]

Many people are coming to believe, as I do, that the only truly accurate diagnostic tool for this illness is dietary response. False negatives on the blood panel are not uncommon, and since one has over twenty-two feet of lower intestine, diagnostic damage of the villi can be easily missed. Ravenwoodglass is right -- whether you are gluten intolerant or now celiac, the treatment is the same: complete removal of gluten from the diet. Lack of symptoms means nothing.....I was asymptomatic when diagnosed (with the exception of low iron), but the endoscope showed fairly flattened villi.

It sounds to me like you have your diagnosis from the way your body and brain are feeling after consuming gluten. Listen to that body o' your'n - - I think it's screaming at you!

Welcome to the board! This is a great place. . . . . . ....

[FarmCat]

Thanks for the welcomes and the good wishes. Ravenwoodglass, I love the quote in your signature. When I first saw it a few days ago it brought tears to my eyes. I have felt that way so many times while I was trying to work out what foods I could eat. I would start to get foggy and dizzy and shake my head and tell myself that tomorrow was another day.

So, people here strongly feel that gluten intolerance and celiac disease aren't really any different, and that the answer is to strictly avoid gluten, period. I was trying to avoid coming to that conclusion, but with the way I am feeling today I can't help it but agree. I had a bit more gluten for breakfast and that is going to be my LAST. The scope is tomorrow, I'm not supposed to eat anything after midnight tonight anyway, and laying off the gluten now isn't going to affect the test any! As my chiropractor said to me today, gluten really screws up my central nervous system. Right now I get lightheaded if I get up and move around, my brain is foggy, if I try to talk too fast my tongue trips over words, and I am having chills. I am finally getting it through my thick head that even though small amounts of gluten don't noticeably bother me, anything that affects me like this in larger amounts has got to be Seriously Bad even in tiny amounts.

When I feel better I'm sure I'll come back with lots of questions. In the meantime, I'm glad to know that all you experienced folks are here.