Celiac Maybe? Ibs? What Is It? Help

[horsesrule1]

Hi all,

Will Celiac disease show up on a CT scan? I just had a CT scan done b/c of generalized abdominal pain and all they found was swollen lymph nodes in my abdomen. The only other testing I have had was a CBC which was normal. They also tested for mono which was negative. How can a person have swollen lymph nodes but a normal WBC?

I have been experiencing non-specific abdominal pain, fatigue, cramping, bloating, constipation, and gas. Do these symptoms sound like it could be Celiac?

This has been going on for years, but no one has found what is causing it. Lately it has gotten worse to the point where I don't want to eat (I've lost 3 lbs in the last month which is ok since I am slightly overweight). I am miserable and really at a loss as to what to try next. I've tried lactose free- didn't help. It seems like no matter what I eat I feel bad. I only feel better when I don't eat anything. I was told by a previous doctor that it was IBS.

I have a Dr appt, but they couldn't get me in for 3 more weeks...

Also, I am a vegetarian. Do you know of any good links for gluten-free vegan diets?

Thanks.

[mushroom]

Hi all,

Will Celiac disease show up on a CT scan? I just had a CT scan done b/c of generalized abdominal pain and all they found was swollen lymph nodes in my abdomen. The only other testing I have had was a CBC which was normal. They also tested for mono which was negative. How can a person have swollen lymph nodes but a normal WBC?

I have been experiencing non-specific abdominal pain, fatigue, cramping, bloating, constipation, and gas. Do these symptoms sound like it could be Celiac?

This has been going on for years, but no one has found what is causing it. Lately it has gotten worse to the point where I don't want to eat (I've lost 3 lbs in the last month which is ok since I am slightly overweight). I am miserable and really at a loss as to what to try next. I've tried lactose free- didn't help. It seems like no matter what I eat I feel bad. I only feel better when I don't eat anything. I was told by a previous doctor that it was IBS.

I have a Dr appt, but they couldn't get me in for 3 more weeks...

Also, I am a vegetarian. Do you know of any good links for gluten-free vegan diets?

Thanks.

I see that you are a new member; welcome to the forum.

The only recognized methods of diagnosis for celiac are blood tests, small intestine biopsy, or biopsy of a rash which shows dermatitis herpetiformis. Nothing will show on a CT scan. You can run a google search for gluten free/vegan recipes, but if you intend to pursue a diagnosis for celiac you need to keep consuming gluten or else you will invalidate the testing, whether blood or biopsy, because without gluten--if you are celiac--healing will take place and you will cease making the antibodies which the blood tests use for diagnosis. Your symptoms certainly sound like that diagnosis could be a possibility for you. By the way, a lot of celiacs report swollen lymph nodes as a symptom, and most of us prior to diagnosis have been told at some time or another that we have IBS.

[RiceGuy]

I agree with what has already been said. It does sound like Celiac is a possibility. As for the recipes, there are always discussions of such on this board, so a search should bring up plenty. And of course, ask any questions you may have.

Incidentally, the best tests available are often falsely negative. So no matter what any test results say, it is always a good idea to try the gluten-free diet. If you do so before testing, it's probably best to limit it to a few days or a week, because the antibodies will generally decline at around two weeks, making any test results unreliable.

Welcome!