Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Coeliac Versus Gluten Intolerance


Midget

Recommended Posts

Midget Newbie

After 10 years of suffering and believing I had IBS, my doctor is sending me for testing for coeliac disease next week.....however if these come back negative I don't know whether it's worth me trying a gluten free diet as it could be gluten intolerance rather than coeliacs???

Here are my symptoms: (Sorry of its graphic)

Diarrhoea which is usually urgent, once I need to go, I HAVE to go, several times a time except when I occasionally become constipated for about two days- (Probably not true constipation but I feel there is stool in my rectum that I cannot push out)

Bloating accompanied by abdominal pain eased by having a bowel movement

Wind- serious offensive wind

Left upper abdominal pain

Gastric reflux

Excruciating pain upon eating (about once per week), this leaves me doubled over in agony for about 20 minutes before I can stand up- then it eases to a dull ache for a few hours but this is at least manageable.

I am pale, and exhausted all the time.

do you think if the test comes back negative for coeliacs, then It could just be gluten intolerance? I'd appreciate any advice or comments you have as I'm getting desperate really. I do eat a lot of gluten in my diet so worry about how i'll adjust to a life without it.

Thanks

Midget


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



MySuicidalTurtle Enthusiast

Well, despite what tests say, if you feel better off gluten then why not stay off. The diet is worth trying and after you get used to it, it is pretty easy!

happygirl Collaborator

Welcome to the board. Wait and see what the results are, have a discussion with your doctor, and consider trying the diet to see if your symptoms improve. If the tests are negative, and you go gluten free for a period with no improvements, then you'll know its not gluten and need to pursue another path.

Midget Newbie

Thanks guys will have to wait and see now I guess, I have been stuffing myself with gluten though as if i'm gonna have to give up big macs and krispy kreme doughnuts, I may as well have one last one! My bowels are not thanking me for it though I must confess!

Went to have the blood test today but the nurse couldn't draw blood so have to go to hospital Tuesday for the test. I just want to know now though. I think I will cut out gluten if it is negative and then reintroduce different aspects of gluten to see if its possiby just wheat intolerance as bread seems to have the biggest impact on me.

We'll see.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,666
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    bailey1023
    Newest Member
    bailey1023
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Inkie
      Thank you for the information ill will definitely bring it into practice .
    • Scott Adams
      While plain, pure tea leaves (black, green, or white) are naturally gluten-free, the issue often lies not with the tea itself but with other ingredients or processing. Many flavored teas use barley malt or other gluten-containing grains as a flavoring agent, which would be clearly listed on the ingredient label. Cross-contamination is another possibility, either in the facility where the tea is processed or, surprisingly, from the tea bag material itself—some tea bags are sealed with a wheat-based glue. Furthermore, it's important to consider that your reaction could be to other substances in tea, such as high levels of tannins, which can be hard on the stomach, or to natural histamines or other compounds that can cause a non-celiac immune response. The best way to investigate is to carefully read labels for hidden ingredients, try switching to a certified gluten-free tea brand that uses whole leaf or pyramid-style bags, and see if the reaction persists.
    • Scott Adams
      This is a challenging and confusing situation. The combination of a positive EMA—which is a highly specific marker rarely yielding false positives—alongside strongly elevated TTG on two separate occasions, years apart, is profoundly suggestive of celiac disease, even in the absence of biopsy damage. This pattern strongly aligns with what is known as "potential celiac disease," where the immune system is clearly activated, but intestinal damage has not yet become visible under the microscope. Your concern about the long-term risk of continued gluten consumption is valid, especially given your family's experience with the consequences of delayed diagnosis. Since your daughter is now at an age where her buy-in is essential for a gluten-free lifestyle, obtaining a definitive answer is crucial for her long-term adherence and health. Given that she is asymptomatic yet serologically positive, a third biopsy now, after a proper 12-week challenge, offers the best chance to capture any microscopic damage that may have developed, providing the concrete evidence needed to justify the dietary change. This isn't about wanting her to have celiac; it's about wanting to prevent the insidious damage that can occur while waiting for symptoms to appear, and ultimately giving her the unambiguous "why" she needs to accept and commit to the necessary treatment. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
    • Scott Adams
      Welcome to the community! Generally, for a gluten challenge before celiac disease blood tests, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is considered safe and should not interfere with your antibody results. The medications you typically need to avoid are those like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) that can cause intestinal irritation, which could potentially complicate the interpretation of an endoscopy if you were to have one. However, it is absolutely crucial that you confirm this with either your gastroenterologist or your surgeon before your procedure. They know the specifics of your case and can give you the definitive green light, ensuring your surgery is comfortable and your celiac testing remains accurate. Best of luck with your surgery tomorrow
    • Xravith
      Thank you for the advice. I’ve actually never checked for nutritional deficiencies, but for as long as I can remember, I’ve always taken vitamin and mineral supplements — otherwise my symptoms get worse. This week I stopped eating gluten to confirm whether my symptoms are really caused by it. Starting next week, I’ll reintroduce gluten — it’s sad to go back to how I was before — but at least I’ll be able to take the necessary tests properly. I think the diagnostic process will be long, but at least I’m happy that I finally decided to address this doubt I’ve had for years.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.