Struggling With Ibs/cd

[luvalble54]

I'm new to the site and am looking for information and support...

My names Val and i was diagnosed with IBS-D at 12 yrs old. I'm currently 21 and have been struggling since with pretty debilitating GI issues. At 12 i lost 25lbs because of what my MD said was IBS-D. I know that he came to this conclusion because of a lack of anything else to call it. However, i was never tested for celiac disease. Recently, it's gotten worse, so my mom told me about Celiac Disease. After a week of a strictly wheat/gluten free diet I've felt great, except for that fact that it left me constipated. I decided to eat some breakfast this morning contained wheat (nutri-grain bar/WHEAT THINS!) and three hours later i was in the bathroom and really sick. I've made an appt with a Gastroenterologist that i saw for liver issues, and I'm hoping to find out if this is really celiac disease and now IBS-D.

Has anyone had similar issues or experiences? It hard for me to trust MDs, after all the things I went through when i was younger. I feel like if they cant come to a concrete conclusion, they settle for what seems most fitting.

Also, i read that celiac disease is an autoimmune disease, is that true? I currently have Hashimoto Thyroiditis which is also autoimmune, and im wondering if there could be a connection.

Thanks to anyone who reads and/or replys.

[KaitiUSA]

Yes Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disease. Also thyroid is highly connected(I have graves disease-which is hyperthyroid) Liver problems(which you mentioned) can also be connected with celiac. It is commonly misdiagnosed for things such as IBS as well. There are over 200 symptoms with celiac and you don't have to have the same ones...in fact some people have no symptoms at all. I think that you shoud definitely be tested.

These are the common tests you should ask for

(blood tests)

-Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgA

-Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgG

-Anti-Endomysial (EMA) IgA

-Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) IgA

-Total Serum IgA

This is a great place for support and answers when you need them

If you need any help just let me know....

[Carriefaith]

After a week of a strictly wheat/gluten free diet I've felt great, except for that fact that it left me constipated. I decided to eat some breakfast this morning contained wheat (nutri-grain bar/WHEAT THINS!) and three hours later i was in the bathroom and really sick.

That's great that the diet made you feel better. BUT... In order to get accurate results on the celiac blood test or a biopsy of the small intestine, you have to be eating gluten. If you've been gluten free for awhile (like 2 weeks) you may get a false negative.

I think you should get tested especially when you got so sick after having gluten.

[luvalble54]

thanks for the info. out of curiosity, what do all those tests test for and mean?! im usually good with medical terminology, but am not at all familiar with these tests.

also, this gastro appt is just to discuss the possibility of celiac disease. i've felt so much better this week that i dont want to go back on reg diet if he doesnt want to/wont test for celiac disease. id rather go back in 3 weeks when i KNOW he agrees with me.

i know celiac disease is genetic, but do you know anything about the rates of celiac disease found in twins? ive heard 70% of identical twins (which i am, have a sister named Karin ) both have if one does, but ive also heard percentages closer to 40%. my sister has had symptoms her whole life as well, but not as severe as mine. She seems to be the luckier twin when it comes to health. ive always been a little skinnier and a lot sicker. anyway..thanks again!

[angel-jd1]

Identical twins means you have EXACTLY the same genes. That means that she has the gene for celiac. She may not have had an environmental trigger to set it into action OR she could be asymptomatic. Either way she really should get tested because she has the genes.

-Jessica