Could I Have Celiac?

[vcupride11]

Hello everyone and thanks so much to those who reply!

For the past however long, I have been dealing with constant diarrhea. At first back in my mid-late teen years it (diarrhea) would only occur when I overate or got "too stuffed." But now, at 20 yrs old, I will be lucky if I can go a couple days without diarrhea. I am SO sick and tired of having to live my life constantly running to the bathroom after I eat. BUT the curveball with me is, my diarrhea seems to only occur after dinner; I'm usually OK after lunch or breakfast. (There have been some instances after breakfast but it's very rare). A lot of people (doctors etc) say it's all because of stress from college, but my rebuttal is when I'm on breaks (Summer and Christmas) away from college, with nothing to stress about, it STILL happens.

So after talking to my grandma about it two days ago (this isn't the first time I've told her about it), I happened to mention that my boyfriend's aunt was just diagnosed with Celiac, and my grandma said "oh, I have Celiac!" and this took me by surprise because this may be my answer!! However, she doesn't suffer from diarrhea or any gastro problems, she just has a vitamin B12 deficiency or something like that. But she is officially diagnosed with Celiac (blood work confirms it and she received an endoscopy that confirmed it as well).

So after hearing that my grandma has it, and from researching that it could be a genetic disease, I thought that perhaps I may have it. But what really stumps me is it doesn't happen every time after I eat gluten-containing products; does that matter? The other day, I ate a lunch that I know for sure contained gluten and I got so bloated it looked as if I were pregnant! But I didn't have diarrhea. Today for lunch I just had some cous-cous rice and I feel fine.

Another thing that stumps me is why this always happens mainly after dinner? I have taught myself to stop eating when I feel satisfied, but sometimes that doesn't matter at all; I still have diarrhea. Could I possibly have Celiac, or does it seem more like IBS?

[skyyblues]

Hello - I am new here too. I am replying to your post because you sound like me. Only difference is now I am 45 and have had a horrible rashes for the last 2 1/2 years. I have been to so many doctors, allergists, dermatologists, etc..... and no one did much of anything but put me on steroids. I finally found a general doctor and when he saw me during a bad outbreak he asked if I had ever been tested for Celiac Sprue. I said no and he ran blood work. It came back negative but after reading up on it I was pretty sure that is what I have. I went gluten free for 2 weeks and wow!!! I never knew what it was like being able to eat without knowing where the bathroom was. I tell you this because you should be tested to see if it is before you suffer and get worse. I am back on gluten right now so the docs can further test me. It has already been terrible and it is only 27 hours. 27 days till the endoscopy not sure I will make it. I am already positive I have Celiac Sprue but the tests will rule out anything else as I am older.

Take care and good luck to you!!