Newbie - Celiac Symptoms?

[zsf86]

Hi all, I’m new here and just looking for some advice.

Since Febuary I have gone from being healthy and happy to constantly feeling unwell , looking unwell and generally feeling really down. (i'm 23, female)

I rrecently moved to a new country and after having abnormalities show up on Liver function tests for my immigration medical, I thought I should tell my Dr about the other problems that I have been having but tried to ignore on the hope that they would right themselves.

My symptoms include:

headaches

bloated stomach

stomach aches/cramps

foul-smelling gas

fatty/pale stools

irregular bowel movements, which go from constipation to diarrhea

occasional bowel incontinence

tiredness

forgetfulness

mood swings

depression

weight gain

not had a period for 6 months, was previously very regular monthly

spots on face especially around chin/mouth

rash on back and chest

rash on scalp which is sore, burning, itchy

excessive hair loss

a bald patch on the back of my head

The Dr tested me for lots of different things including Celiac. The tests came back that I have hypothyrodism and also malabsorption. So I have been put on Levothyroxine and vit b, vit b12, vit d, calcium, iron, folic acid supplements for all of the deficiencies. The celiac and lactose intolerance tests both came back negative. So I was sent away by the Dr and told we’ll get your thyroid levels sorted first and that i have to go back in a month for blood tests to check that the levels are right and he’ll look into my other problems then. I feel like I have been fobbed off.

Anyway, I have been taking all of these pills for over two weeks now and although i’m not feeling as tired as i was all of the other problems are still there. Infact my scalp is so sore and i’m losing that much hair its really getting me down. I feel like my family are fed up of me saying i’m not well so i try to hide it. And I don’t know that many people here so its hard to find people to talk to.

After reading things on the net it seems i have so many celiac symptoms. Could i still be celiac although the blood test was negative? Does anyone know if hypothyroidism, malabsorption and celiacs can be connected? Or am I just going mad? Surely puttling me on all these supplements will increase my levels of these vitamins etc but there must be an underlying reason for the malabsorption which isn’t going to just go away.

Anyway sorry for the long post, its just nice to get it all off my chest. Any info or advice would be great

[ravenwoodglass]

"After reading things on the net it seems i have so many celiac symptoms. Could i still be celiac although the blood test was negative? Does anyone know if hypothyroidism, malabsorption and celiacs can be connected? Or am I just going mad? Surely puttling me on all these supplements will increase my levels of these vitamins etc but there must be an underlying reason for the malabsorption which isn

[autopilot]

Hi all, I

[ravenwoodglass]

Oh my.... I am in shock....Oh my........................ Sorry, I just found this board and site etc. I really just heard of Celiac disease. My doctor just told me he wanted to test me for this. So I looked it up. And I read your list of symptoms and I am in shock... I never thought - in a million years- that ALL of my crazy symptoms - my bizarre array of "problems" - verbatim!! Your list... I have had these ALL - exactly as you describe - for 10 years. (these years have included 6 hospitalizations for heart failure, pulmonary edema etc. - just got out 4 days ago - with a renewed hope when one of my new doctors talked about celiac and gluten etc. The hair, skin, hiding, weakness, loss of a life of any kind, family that wonders, I wondered - went to a shrink, isolating - tired of explaining but no explanation. I am so shocked I want to read more on this site but I have to go and collect my thoughts, myself. Am I dreaming this? Unbelievable.... Thank you..........

Hi and welcome to the board. It is shocking when we realize all the problems that can come from gluten. When I was diagnosed I was just happy the horrible, painful daily and nightly D was gone. When my doctor said alot of my other issues would improve I frankly didn't believe him. While none of us really want to be celiac the diagnosis can make for miraculous seeming changes when we have been on the diet for a bit.

I am glad your doctor is testing and hope he has told you not to go gluten free until your tests are done. Even if you have negative testing do make sure to give the diet a go after all testing, including endoscopy if you choose one, is finished.

[zsf86]

Thank you for the replies. Well I'm, back at the Doctors in two weeks for my thyroid etc check so i will see what the Dr says then. I have tried not eating gluten before and i do notice a difference, but i have been holding back on going totally gluten free without knowing that this is actually the cause. I'd just like to know for sure and be able to tell people that I do have something wrong and then be able to change things and get better. My biggest problem is the fact that I am still on a visitors visa and i am having to pay ridiculous amounts just to see the Dr so I would hate to think how much a endoscopy would cost.

Does anyone know if there is a connection between hypothyroidism, malabsorption and celiac?

Thanks again

[ravenwoodglass]

Does anyone know if there is a connection between hypothyroidism, malabsorption and celiac?

Thanks again

Yes there is. If you check out the Related Disorders section of the board you will find numerous posts on this. Also if you do a search lots will come up.

I don't know where you are but if you look into Enterolab they can do stool and gene testing and although they can't diagnose celiac they can tell you if you are making antibodies and if you have malabsorption.

You might want to check out this page from the home page. It has info and a lot of links that may be of value to you.

https://www.celiac.com/articles/1106/1/Celi...toms/Page1.html

[Twiggy]

Hi i am Hyopthyroid,i have been on levothyroxine for 6 years....sadly for me it looks like i have been a silent ceoliac since my teens (am 39 now)the road to recovery is generally slow for thyroid patients.I suffered all mannor of symptoms beore diagnosis of thyroid and i'm sure if my ceoliac was diagnosed all those years ago i wouldnt have sufferd at all.I did suffer hair loss and weight gain absence of periods,severe constipation extreme fatigue and muscle cramps/aches.The connective tissues in some of my joints became detatched and caused hurrendous pain.I cried with relif when i was diagnosed because i was starting to think i was loosing the plot...i wasnt!

There is a definate link with thyroid and ceoliac as they are both auto-immune conditions and if you have one you should be automaticaly tested for the other...good luck.x

[ang1e0251]

I am so glad you are getting treated at least for your thyroid. When I lived in a foreign country, I can't even imagine being so sick. You have been given great advice I just wanted to add that I'm thinking of you and please keep us posted.

[zsf86]

Thank you all for your advice. Its so nice to know that other people have the same symptoms as me and that I'm not going crazy (well in my opinion ) I'm in NZ, i guess that the testing through entrolab is in the states?

I will see what the Dr says in two weeks, then work out where to go from there.

Thanks again.