I'm Confused? Is It Ibs Or Celiac?

[punt]

I'm a 37 year old male who has had chronic stomach pain for the last 20 years. The kind of brutal pain that sends you to the emergency room. I can expect that to happen to me about 5 times a year. I get diarrhea 3 out 7 days a week. I have to run to the bathroom at times. The other 4 days my stools are very soft it is a rarity that I have "healthy" stool, less than once a week. I was diagnosed with IBS which really means "I don't know what it is". So I have continued to deal with this IBS for the last 20 years. I am not underweight and my BMI is 26 which means I'm at the high end for target weight or low end for being fat. So that would make me think that I am not anemic which from what I have read is a cornerstone symptom for Celiac Disease. Unless there is someway for me to gain weight while being anemic?? I was having some pretty brutal headaches about 6 months ago so I went to a headache specialist and he ran a bunch of tests and took me off the pain meds from my FP and the paint went away but He said I was Vitamin D was low and to take supplements. Which I think is common for Celiac?

So about a year ago I tried that no carb diet for a month. Due to the restrictions of life I quit the diet after a couple of months. I don't know why I really went on it in the first place other than I never liked bread anyway. After my last "attack" at least that's what I call them cause I go to the er like a drug seeker I remembered that I felt better and didn't have the stomach pains or diarrhea as much when I was on that no processed, low carb, no bread diet.

So in the last 4 months I have been eating a gluten "avoidance" diet and I do feel better. So I have several questions for all of you and I appreciate your response ahead of time.

Is there levels of gluten intolerance? Can you be mild, moderate, severe or is it an all or nothing thing?

Is it possible to not have anemia with the disease? or Could I have anemia and be overweight, if only slightly?

Based on what I wrote above Do I just have severe IBS or is it something more?

[Gfresh404]

I'm a 37 year old male who has had chronic stomach pain for the last 20 years. The kind of brutal pain that sends you to the emergency room. I can expect that to happen to me about 5 times a year. I get diarrhea 3 out 7 days a week. I have to run to the bathroom at times. The other 4 days my stools are very soft it is a rarity that I have "healthy" stool, less than once a week. I was diagnosed with IBS which really means "I don't know what it is". So I have continued to deal with this IBS for the last 20 years. I am not underweight and my BMI is 26 which means I'm at the high end for target weight or low end for being fat. So that would make me think that I am not anemic which from what I have read is a cornerstone symptom for Celiac Disease. Unless there is someway for me to gain weight while being anemic?? I was having some pretty brutal headaches about 6 months ago so I went to a headache specialist and he ran a bunch of tests and took me off the pain meds from my FP and the paint went away but He said I was Vitamin D was low and to take supplements. Which I think is common for Celiac?

So about a year ago I tried that no carb diet for a month. Due to the restrictions of life I quit the diet after a couple of months. I don't know why I really went on it in the first place other than I never liked bread anyway. After my last "attack" at least that's what I call them cause I go to the er like a drug seeker I remembered that I felt better and didn't have the stomach pains or diarrhea as much when I was on that no processed, low carb, no bread diet.

So in the last 4 months I have been eating a gluten "avoidance" diet and I do feel better. So I have several questions for all of you and I appreciate your response ahead of time.

Is there levels of gluten intolerance? Can you be mild, moderate, severe or is it an all or nothing thing?

Is it possible to not have anemia with the disease? or Could I have anemia and be overweight, if only slightly?

Based on what I wrote above Do I just have severe IBS or is it something more?

I would definitely say there are different levels of gluten sensitivity. Some people don't even get symptoms after consuming gluten while others cannot even tolerate vinegars made from glutinous grains (all vinegars are said to be gluten-free since they are supposedly removed during the distillation process).

Levels of poor absorption vary in each individual. I myself am gluten sensitive, which is not diagnosable as "Celiac" since I do not have the damage to my small intestine. Many people view gluten sensitivity and Celiac as virtually the same thing. So just because there is not damage to the small intestine, that does not rule out gluten sensitivity/Celiac --> "Some researchers, professionals and patients find there are many serious manifestations of The Gluten Syndrome other than "villi damaged celiac disease" and IgE "wheat allergy". Damage is believed in many cases to focus in other organs or systems beside, meaning not necessarily including, intestinal villi, Therefore villi biopsy may be negative but damage may be to other tissues, organs, nerves, etc." --> #2 Open Original Shared Link.

Since there might not be damage, there might not be malabsorption. So to answer your question it is very possible. Many of my vitamin levels were within normal range, but I suspect that was due to the fact that I was eating a ton of vitamin/mineral enriched cereal at the time of testing.

This should answer the second part of your question --> "Most people diagnosed with Celiac disease are normal weight or overweight rather than underweight."

In my opinion IBS always has a cause, it is just a matter of figuring out that cause. So I would definitely say it is almost always something more.

[mushroom]

I'm a 37 year old male who has had chronic stomach pain for the last 20 years. The kind of brutal pain that sends you to the emergency room. I can expect that to happen to me about 5 times a year. I get diarrhea 3 out 7 days a week. I have to run to the bathroom at times. The other 4 days my stools are very soft it is a rarity that I have "healthy" stool, less than once a week. I was diagnosed with IBS which really means "I don't know what it is". So I have continued to deal with this IBS for the last 20 years. I am not underweight and my BMI is 26 which means I'm at the high end for target weight or low end for being fat. So that would make me think that I am not anemic which from what I have read is a cornerstone symptom for Celiac Disease. Unless there is someway for me to gain weight while being anemic?? I was having some pretty brutal headaches about 6 months ago so I went to a headache specialist and he ran a bunch of tests and took me off the pain meds from my FP and the paint went away but He said I was Vitamin D was low and to take supplements. Which I think is common for Celiac?

So about a year ago I tried that no carb diet for a month. Due to the restrictions of life I quit the diet after a couple of months. I don't know why I really went on it in the first place other than I never liked bread anyway. After my last "attack" at least that's what I call them cause I go to the er like a drug seeker I remembered that I felt better and didn't have the stomach pains or diarrhea as much when I was on that no processed, low carb, no bread diet.

So in the last 4 months I have been eating a gluten "avoidance" diet and I do feel better. So I have several questions for all of you and I appreciate your response ahead of time.

Is there levels of gluten intolerance? Can you be mild, moderate, severe or is it an all or nothing thing?

Is it possible to not have anemia with the disease? or Could I have anemia and be overweight, if only slightly?

Based on what I wrote above Do I just have severe IBS or is it something more?

Welcome to the forum.

Celiacs are not necessarily underweight or anemic. These both in my estimation qualify for the urban myth category. Many celiacs are even overweight because their bodies seem to go into conservation mode because they are not absorbing all the nutrients they need (vitamins and minerals, e.g.) because of their leaky guts and diarrhea. It is my belief you are more likely to have osteoporosis/osteopenia than anemia. And your vitamin D was low.

Many celiacs have absolutely no GI symptoms at all. And of those that do, most have at some time or another been diagnosed with IBS. Some just have the skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis, some have migraines and/or other neurologic symptoms, some have other auto-immune diseases, and some are really taken by surprise because they had absolutely no symptoms at all.

You admitted you felt better when you did no-carb. Was that Atkins? And you were probably still getting hidden gluten due to its ubiquity.

So there is no one-size-fits-all way to diagnosis. If you have not been tested for celiac disease, I think you should ask your doctor to do so. It could well provide the answer to your questions.

p.s. cross-posted with Gfresh404.

[punt]

Welcome to the forum.

Celiacs are not necessarily underweight or anemic. These both in my estimation qualify for the urban myth category. Many celiacs are even overweight because their bodies seem to go into conservation mode because they are not absorbing all the nutrients they need (vitamins and minerals, e.g.) because of their leaky guts and diarrhea. It is my belief you are more likely to have osteoporosis/osteopenia than anemia. And your vitamin D was low.

Many celiacs have absolutely no GI symptoms at all. And of those that do, most have at some time or another been diagnosed with IBS. Some just have the skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis, some have migraines and/or other neurologic symptoms, some have other auto-immune diseases, and some are really taken by surprise because they had absolutely no symptoms at all.

You admitted you felt better when you did no-carb. Was that Atkins? And you were probably still getting hidden gluten due to its ubiquity.

So there is no one-size-fits-all way to diagnosis. If you have not been tested for celiac disease, I think you should ask your doctor to do so. It could well provide the answer to your questions.

p.s. cross-posted with Gfresh404.

Thanks for all the input I really appreciate it. As far as when I was on the modified adkins, It was for the most part gluten free. That was because the what ever I read said not to ingest gluten on the adkins because it has some neutralization effect on weight loss. So can I take modest gluten like removing the croutons before i eat lettuce? As you all know absolute avoidance is nearly impossible unless you eat at home a lot. I travel 5 days a week for my job and don't have that luxury.

Thanks!

[gfb1]

[snip] As you all know absolute avoidance is nearly impossible unless you eat at home a lot. I travel 5 days a week for my job and don't have that luxury.

Thanks!

another of the soon-to-be-'urban myths' .... imho.

many restaurants now have gluten-free menus; just ask when you go out (outback springs to mind). and even mcdonalds is pretty good about limiting crosscontamination (e.g., doublequarterpounderwithcheeseWITHOUTthebun) and their fries may be the ultimate in badforyoubutgoodforthesoul-foods (with lots of ketchup; also gluten-free).

while doctors may be late getting on the celiac wagon, in our experience chef's are VERY aware. not to mention health-food-type places; nearly all the privately owned restaurants we frequent either have a gluten-free selection or are more than happy to accomodate us, once my wife patiently (and she is MUCH more patient (and nice) than i) explains that she is celiac.

so.... don't assume you're in trouble, or its hard. it is a lot easier than it used to be.

[Hermindseye]

This is my first time posting in this forum, but I just wanted to say that yes, you can be anemic AND fat. When I was at my highest weight ever, I was severely anemic (like 3 years ago). I just got diagnosed celiac a couple weeks ago, but only after hounding the crap out of my Docs to get me tested. Prior to being diagnosed, if I even over-ate, just a little, I would gain 2-3 lbs that day. Just ridiculous. Now I am gluten free, and eating just as healthy as before, and eating when I'm hungry and stopping when I'm full. What a concept. Have lost 5 lbs. Right now my weight is stable, and I don't fear weight gain in my everyday life, like I used to. So we'll see how this goes.

[punt]

This is my first time posting in this forum, but I just wanted to say that yes, you can be anemic AND fat. When I was at my highest weight ever, I was severely anemic (like 3 years ago). I just got diagnosed celiac a couple weeks ago, but only after hounding the crap out of my Docs to get me tested. Prior to being diagnosed, if I even over-ate, just a little, I would gain 2-3 lbs that day. Just ridiculous. Now I am gluten free, and eating just as healthy as before, and eating when I'm hungry and stopping when I'm full. What a concept. Have lost 5 lbs. Right now my weight is stable, and I don't fear weight gain in my everyday life, like I used to. So we'll see how this goes.

Wow I had no idea! If I overeat just a tad I gain weight very quickly. Now that I have been on a gluten avoidance diet I have lost 20 lbs in the last 4 months. I'm not eating as much but I am not eating completely healthy either. So the next step is to get me tested but since I have been eating gluten only by way of cross contamination will the test even work? I don't want to go back and eat wheat just to get tested, I don't enjoy ER visits. I had 3 beers about a week ago and I had diarrhea and stomach pains all day the next two days. Not pleasant.

[Libbyanne]

So the next step is to get me tested but since I have been eating gluten only by way of cross contamination will the test even work? I don't want to go back and eat wheat just to get tested, I don't enjoy ER visits.

This is my question too! I went gluten free for three weeks and still was having some of my symptoms. My doctor (who is very skeptical that I am Gluten Sensitive or have Celiacs) really wants me to do a colonoscopy to test for Crohn's. I'm not against doing this and have decided I will but I would like to kill two birds with one stone and have them do an endoscopy also to test for Celiacs. So...my question is if I've been gluten-free for 3 weeks, how long do I need to eat gluten before doing the biopsy in order for it to be accurate. I know I've heard 3 months but does anyone know if it needs to be that long if I've only been off gluten for 3 weeks?? I don't want to have to go through swimsuit season bloated all the time but like I said...if I'm already going in for one procedure I would like to get them both done.

I appreciate any advice! Thanks!

[JW88]

I used to have many of the same symptoms as Punt. Doctors never could diagnose me with anything, even after numerous tests. They just kept saying, "it's stress."

Well, after ten years or so, someone (not a Dr.) suggested I might be allergic to wheat/gluten. That was what it was. I dropped the gluten, and felt great right away. I should add that I did undergo a withdrawal period that lasted about a week, but which I understand could last up to a few months.

Here are a few other possibilities for these symptoms (which I have discovered through trial-and-error, first-hand experience, and research):

1) Lactose Intolerance - I can't have many dairy products because they cause abdominal cramping and diarrhea. The D is worse with milk that it is with gluten.

2) Other food allergies - Just because you weren't allergic or sensitive to it before doesn't mean you never will be. I've developed most of my food allergies as an adult. And chocolate acts as a laxative to me. I can't eat chocolate without having to be near a bathroom for the next few hours.

3) Candida overgrowth - We all have Candida in our bodies, but many people have body's or diets with a tendency to allow overgrowth of Candida. When overgrowth happens, the whole body feels it.

4) Parasites - Some parasites are small (and some even classify Candida as a parasite) and can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. I'm finding that naturopathic docs are more sensitive to the troubles parasites can cause than medical docs are.

5) Hiatal hernia - A hiatal hernia disrupts the body's Vagus nervous system, which has a negative effect on the entire body, especially the digestive tract (at least that's been my experience, since I have a hiatal hernia and many of my problems are lessening now that I'm getting treated for it).

6) Soy - The soy we use in this country is not the same as what is used in Asia. Ours is unfermented and MUCH harder on the digestive system, causing cramps, gas, and diarrhea in those with sensitivity. If you eat a lot of soy products, this could be the trigger.

7) Toxic colon - It's a longshot, but maybe all you need is a good colon cleanse. Dr. Natura makes one that I've used in the past (pre gluten-free days, since I'm pretty sure it contains wheat/gluten). You can also look into colonics, which are a much healthier and comfortable way to cleanse the colon.

8) Artificial Sweeteners - I won't go into all the details of my research about artificial sweeteners, but I do know that they are VERY bad for you. Any nutritionist worth their salt will tell you that artificial sweeteners (AS's) should be avoided like the plague. They wreak havoc on the body's natural order and digestive system, and metabolize into substances that are toxic (formaldehyde is one such chemical AS's convert into). People have reported "curing" substantial ailments, including arthritis, migraines, digestive disorders (there's a list of 96 or so ailments AS's have been associated with causing) simply by eliminating all AS's from their diet. If you eat/drink a lot of "sugar-free" this or "diet" that, perhaps you should purge this crap (and AS's are just that - CRAP) from your home and see how you feel in 3 months.

So, I hope some of these suggestions help point you in the right direction to ultimately find out what's wrong with you so you can eliminate it.

Good luck!

[JW88]

Wow I had no idea! If I overeat just a tad I gain weight very quickly. Now that I have been on a gluten avoidance diet I have lost 20 lbs in the last 4 months. I'm not eating as much but I am not eating completely healthy either. So the next step is to get me tested but since I have been eating gluten only by way of cross contamination will the test even work? I don't want to go back and eat wheat just to get tested, I don't enjoy ER visits. I had 3 beers about a week ago and I had diarrhea and stomach pains all day the next two days. Not pleasant.

I lost about 10 pounds within a few months of going gluten-free. This usually indicates an allergic response, and that your body was in a constant state of inflammation because it was constantly being exposed to the allergen. Now that the allergen is gone, the body can release all that fluid/mucous that was causing the added weight.