History And Immune Test Results- Does This Rule Out Celiac?

[Civet]

I've wondered for a couple of years now if I may have celiac disease. I was diagnosed with IBS about two years ago and have a rather random list of other health problems. My gastro symptoms were mainly bloating, mild esophageal spasms, nausea, rather bad pains in the stomach area and mild constipation. Sometimes I would get mucus coming out, but overall my stools were either a bit hard or normal. My symptoms often seemed cyclical and would worsen around the time of my period, leaving me nearly incapacitated for several days a month but eventually I just started having symptoms all the time (albeit milder ones which made life difficult but not impossible). They did a CT scan for endometriosis and found a slight thickening of the lining of my endometrium which was most likely just due to where I was in my menstrual cycle. I was also checked for H. Pylori, anemia, and thyroid disease all of which came back normal. I was tested too with the basic IgA count (I believe TTA?) for celiac disease which came back negative though they never gave me any numbers on that. I almost forgot to mention, many of these stomach symptoms started a bit after I had a very bad bout of diarrhea (what I think was likely food poisoning).

My symptoms have been mostly managed by gas x and levsin (and antispasmodic) though if I forget to take these my symptoms noticeably start to return and my symptoms definitely worsen under stress despite the meds. So I suppose sound like IBS? I had a strange episode where a gastro doc prescribed me benefiber and a probiotic where I had extremely bad diarrhea, and somehow after that my constipation was not quite as bad (maybe I was backed up? I don't know). My other medical problems include chronic rhinitis and sinusitis, blepharitis, tinnitus following an ear infection, tendonitis, insomnia and psychiatric problems (anxiety and depression). Now they've also found a cyst or tumor (which appears to be benign) in my jaw bone. I've had multiple bad reactions to medications (I'm allergic to a few and others I have had either severe emotional reactions or have had other issues, like tendon damage). Recently I had an isolated dermatitis-type reaction to neosporin, which I have never had a problem with before and was actually using it on another area on my body without issue. I am also pretty certain I have lactose intollerance as my stomach symptoms are seriously worsened immediately after drinking milk or eating ice cream, but I seem to be able to ingest a moderate amount of dairy without any problems if I take those lactose enzyme tablets. Either way I'm starting to feel like I am falling apart.

Recently I started finding these strange strings in my stool. They are definitely not pinworms, they are way too large. They vary from 1.5 inches to maybe 4 or 5 inches long, they do not appear to be parasites unless they are parasites that have been ravaged by my digestive tract or something because they are flat, semi transparent and often have slightly ragged or stringy edges. Basically they look a heck of a lot like the strands you can pull off a stick of celery (and no I have not been eating celery or anything resembling this). I read somewhere that this could possibly be undigested fiber, is that true?

I've also noticed some other random objects in my stool. I was starting to wonder if this was from poor digestion and if that is due to malabsorption or what. Or if it is maybe indeed parasites? I do plan to get it checked out, but I am also wondering if this is a possible celiac symptom.

Anyway, I started seeing an allergist/immunologist and got my immune tests along with several other blood tests back recently. I've learned I am IgG2 deficient, which explains the sinus, eye, and ear infections, but nothing else.

Here are the Immunoglobulin results:

IGG: 1290 Ref: (562-1565)

IGM: 215 Ref: (30-246)

IGA: 341 Ref: (72-372)

IgE: 4.0 Ref: (3.0- 209.0)

IgG Subclass 1: 1000 Ref: (382-929) This one was slightly elevated

IgG Subclass 2: <9 Ref: (241-700) This is where I am obviously deficient

IgG Subclass 3: 79 Ref: (22-178)

IgG Subclass 4: 9.2 Ref: (4.0-86.0)

I was tested for a variety of other things, C3, CH50, Thyroid function, Hematology, and Mannose-Binding Lectin, all of which came back in the normal range.

Anyway, thank you for sitting through all that. I have heard that an IgA deficiency can obscure the results for the celiac test, does celiac disease also obscure the IgA results? What I am wondering is if it is possible that I may have both IgA and IgG deficiency along with celiac, or if my test results show that the IgA levels are fine and that celiac is unlikely.

[OptimisticMom42]

First, I'm sorry you are having so many health problem. I hope you will be feeling better soon. Maybe some of the others here who are more knowledgeable about the range of symptoms will have a better answer for you but my advice would be to use the elimination diet to determine any food intolerances you suspect you may be having.

[Civet]

First, I'm sorry you are having so many health problem. I hope you will be feeling better soon. Maybe some of the others here who are more knowledgeable about the range of symptoms will have a better answer for you but my advice would be to use the elimination diet to determine any food intolerances you suspect you may be having.

Thanks OptimisticMom42, I hope so too.

I've tried cutting out dairy in the past since I seem to have a problem with dairy and saw no real improvement. I did that for the recommended two weeks. I tried cutting out gluten for about a month and didn't notice too much difference either except that I didn't always need to take gas x, and I am not sure if this was because I was not eating gluten or if it was simply because I was eating healthier. I felt pretty badly after going back on gluten, but I did it in a bad way, ate fast food which made me pretty sick (stupid, I know, but at the time I didn't feel like I saw any change on the diet so it didn't matter). I was also going through a very stressful time and I was having a hard time telling what was from stress and what wasn't, so I guess not the best elimination challenge there and maybe something worth trying again under better circumstances.

[Civet]

Does anyone else have any thoughts?

[Korwyn]

sound like IBS? I had a strange episode where a gastro doc prescribed me benefiber and a probiotic where I had extremely bad diarrhea, and somehow after that my constipation was not quite as bad (maybe I was backed up? I don't know). My other medical problems include chronic rhinitis and sinusitis, blepharitis, tinnitus following an ear infection, tendonitis, insomnia and psychiatric problems (anxiety and depression). Now they've also found a cyst or tumor (which appears to be benign) in my jaw bone. I've had multiple bad reactions to medications (I'm allergic to a few and others I have had either severe emotional reactions or have had other issues, like tendon damage). Recently I had an isolated dermatitis-type reaction to neosporin, which I have never had a problem with before and was actually using it on another area on my body without issue. I am also pretty certain I have lactose intollerance as my stomach symptoms are seriously worsened immediately after drinking milk or eating ice cream, but I seem to be able to ingest a moderate amount of dairy without any problems if I take those lactose enzyme tablets. Either way I'm starting to feel like I am falling apart.

Well a number of the symptoms you describe are identical or similar to ones that I've had (chronic rhinitis, GI issues, psych, neuro, and muscular issues). Have you had a endoscopic biopsy done, been tested for Lyme disease, and I would strongly suggest you tell your Dr. about the flat stringy things in your stool. That sounds very much like tapeworm segments.

[Civet]

Well a number of the symptoms you describe are identical or similar to ones that I've had (chronic rhinitis, GI issues, psych, neuro, and muscular issues). Have you had a endoscopic biopsy done, been tested for Lyme disease, and I would strongly suggest you tell your Dr. about the flat stringy things in your stool. That sounds very much like tapeworm segments.

I haven't had an endoscopic biopsy done, the only celiac test I've had was the blood test which was negative. I guess I am wondering if it sounds like I am a possible candidate for celiac and if I should pursue that line of testing. I'm finding that with all of these health issues I have to be the one to call the shots with my doctors or I am just going to get talked around and overmedicated. : / . I'll be honest, I was really hoping I'd find "one thing" to explain all of my problems. Preferably something I could do something about. Now that I know about the IgG2 deficiency however that seems less likely.

I was bitten by a tick last summer (well after all my symptoms had started) and was tested for and also preemptively treated for Lyme disease "just in case". The results for Lyme came back negative both before and after the treatment so I should be Lyme free.

The stringy things in my stool don't appear to have segments, so I am not sure if they could be tapeworm. I will see my doctor about them, though I may need to take care of the jaw cyst first.