New To Forum, Not Dx Yet With Celiac

[HydraWoman]

I have had the blood test and it was negative but my regular doctor thinks I should see a GI doc and get an endoscopy and I am due for a colonoscopy. I will be calling the GI doc he referred me

to next week to make an appointment.

I take Bentyl for irritable bowel syndrome, which I was dx with after my last colonoscopy. I take 10mg four times per day. I also chew pepto bismol tablets several days a week. I have issues with very loose and frequent bowel movements....sorry to give the gory details and I am looking for answers lol.....I have abdominal cramping almost every day. I am overweight also but my sugar and other blood levels are good, except for high triglycerides.

Even if I do not have Celiac disease my family doctor thinks going gluten-free would be a good thing for me to do. I first heard about gluten-free diets when reading up on alternative mental health treatments. I have mental illness and take Lexapro and Lithium. I have read a lot lately that changing your diet to exclude gluten can improve your mental health.

I have been trying a variety of gluten-free products lately and I know I have a lot to learn. Any suggestions or advice for me would be much apprecited. Living with bipolar disorder is not easy but I function very well and I have been in treatment for several years. I am hopeful of the idea that changing my diet may improve my symptoms of ibs and bipolar. Thanks so much.

[ravenwoodglass]

You have a good GP who seems to up on all the systems that gluten can impact. After you are done with all the testing you choose to do give the diet a good strict try. Since your going for a colonoscopy having the endo done at the same time is a good thing to do. Try to get the test scheduled for as soon as you can and keep eating gluten until it is done. Gluten can have a negative impact on the brain and nervous system, my impact was severe, and it does take some time to heal. However for me being gluten free completely did away with my depressive symptoms. Those only reappear after a glutening and only last for 24 hours. Unfortunately the rest of my 'gotcha' symptoms take about 3 weeks to resolve.

If you put celiac and neurological into a search engine there will be a lot of info that backs up what your doctor has told you.

[HydraWoman]

Thanks. I will be seeing my regular physician on Monday, so he can do the referral to the GI doc. I want to try and get an endo and a colonoscopy together. From what I understand I should continue to eat gluten until I get the testing done. Really glad I found this forum. Lots of good information here.

[HydraWoman]

I will be having a colonoscopy and an endoscopy on September 4th and I am anxious to get these tests done and proceed from there. I am still eating gluten a few times per day but I have also purchased some gluten free products to try them and see what I like for future use. Wow, the expensive is amazing! It just frustrates me how it is so expensive to eat healthy but I think about the long run of feeling better and hopefully losing some weight. I will let everyone know what my results of the testing is and what my doctors and I think is the best plan of action.

I have had a colonoscopy before so I know what to expect but I have not had an endoscopy and I am a bit nervous about having that test but I know I need it right now.