Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • 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

Are Most People Gluten Sensitive Before Onset Of Celiac's?


StacyA

Recommended Posts

StacyA Enthusiast

I'm discovering my story is rare in America - I was diagnosed within two months of onset of sxs. My PCP thought I had giardia in June (sudden diahrrea, night sweats, pain, wt loss, major fatigue) - the sxs cleared A LOT with flagyl - so I think her dx was right, but the diahrrea and gas and major bloating continued so she sent me to a GI doc who did bloodwork. My numbers were high enough for celiac's he didn't need a biopsy. So I'm thinking the giardia triggered the celiac's. I don't really think I had full-blown celiac's before June - those symptoms were sudden and extreme - but I think I was gluten sensitive all my life before then. I'd vomit most times after Chinese food (but not every time, so I didn't think it was the MSG). I had unexplained hives as a child (the Cleveland Clinic couldn't even figure them out.) I have mild asthma and I've always had a sensitive GI system. Is it common to be gluten-sensitive before celiac's is triggered?


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



nu-to-no-glu Apprentice

You very well may have had celiac all this time, but some of your symptoms may have gotten progressively worse. If you dig around on this site, you will see this is the case for many. This is due to increased damage to your intestines caused by eating gluten. If you look on the home page, there is loads of information to help you better understand.

OptimisticMom42 Apprentice

I think most of us had a good case of hind sight visible gluten sensitivity. I had migraines as a child. The dentist said I was brushing the enamel right off of my teeth! That's one kind of funny! I'd like to go back in time and yell, "What kid brushes to much? Maybe I never had any enamel!"

jststric Contributor

I was reading not long ago that "sudden" intolerances and possibly even Celiacs seem to POSSIBLY be triggered suddenly by a traumatic event or experience. ????? It sounded stupid as I first read it...I mean, we're NOT a bunch of head cases!! But I thought back to when all my problems seemed to suddenly start and it was JUST AFTER we made a move I was NOT happy about. Now, we've moved ALOT and I took this one as well as I THOUGHT I had taken the rest of them, but I did have to leave somewhere I loved and the place we moved to is not in ANYONE'S top 50 places of places to live. But I hadn't FELT that UPSET by it all. But all hell broke lose with all kinds of new food-intolerances that I still wrestle with nearly 4 yrs later. So, I would say it's not out of the realm of POSSIBILITIES.

OptimisticMom42 Apprentice

My first go-round with celiacs, I dropped to under 100lbs and a size 3 was to big, I'm 5'6". I was going through a divorce and working at a job I hated. The dr's decided I was depressed. I set some ground rules for the ex, changed jobs and got better for almost 10 yrs.

This time round, I suddenly became dairy and soy allergic when my eldest child was arrested and jailed for a stupid fuss over a really stupid girl. This wasn't an overnight at county, he's in the big house.

So, yes, in my case stress may have triggered my celiacs.

Being a control freak, I can understand how moving, against my wishes would stress me out.

Take care,

RA

missybean Apprentice
I think most of us had a good case of hind sight visible gluten sensitivity. I had migraines as a child. The dentist said I was brushing the enamel right off of my teeth! That's one kind of funny! I'd like to go back in time and yell, "What kid brushes to much? Maybe I never had any enamel!"

I have a question. I was diagnosed with DH but I'm questioning that because mine seems so mild compared to all pics of DH I have seen. Mine don't look like blisters. Do they have to look like blisters to be DH?

Susanne50 Newbie

I had only the mildest of symptoms-- bloating after bread products, slight knot under ribs-- until I went under general anesthesia for surgery twice in two weeks. Then major symptoms came on with a vengeance. 15 lbs lost in two weeks, couldn't eat anything, thought I was dying. There's no other answer except that the physical stress on my body from those surgeries triggered the full-blown onset.

Susanne


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      130,236
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Elaine Brostrom
    Newest Member
    Elaine Brostrom
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Zuma888
      I just got my test results after a less than 2-week gluten challenge consuming about 5 g of gluten per day on average.  Anti tTG-IgA: <0.2 AU/ml (<8 is negative) IgA: 180 mg/dl (Reference range is 70-400) I previously had been on a gluten-free diet for around 3 years or so, with occasional cheating and not being strict about cross-contamination. I am however still suffering from the effects of the gluten challenge (food sensitivities, slight brain fog, weird stool, fatigue, swollen thyroid, bodyaches). Is this likely to be NCGS rather than celiac disease given the test results and my history? Note: I have one copy of HLA-DQ8.
    • trents
      How long have you been strictly gluten free? Certainly, it would be good to look into vitamin and mineral deficiencies and supplementation. The B vitamins, magnesium and D3 are all very important to neurological health. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to reverse gluten-induced neurological damage damage if it has gone on for a long time. 
    • nataliallano
      Thanks Trents I'm strict with my gluten-free diet now. I just don't feel any better. I'm going to get tested for vitamins and minerals to see if I need some supplements. For sure I got some damage that doctors call Menier's and the only way they treat it is with medicine that does damage my body more than it helps.   
    • Zuma888
      Thank you Scott for your helpful response! Based on this, would you say someone who is on a gluten-free diet - but not strict about cross-contamination and occasional cheating - and tests negative for tTg-IgA while having normal total IgA is not likely to have celiac, even if they have been 'gluten-free' for years?
    • Scott Adams
      That’s a really insightful observation about antibody testing and the gluten challenge! You’re absolutely right that antibody levels can remain elevated for months or even years after going gluten-free, especially if there’s ongoing cross-contamination or occasional slip-ups. The immune system doesn’t reset overnight—it can take time for antibodies like tTG-IgA to normalize, which is why many doctors recommend waiting at least 6–12 months of strict gluten-free eating before retesting. For someone who’s been gluten-free for less than two years or hasn’t been meticulous about avoiding cross-contact, there’s absolutely a chance they’d still test positive, since even small amounts of gluten can keep antibodies elevated. This is partly why the gluten challenge (where you eat gluten before testing) exists—it’s designed to provoke a measurable immune response in people who’ve been gluten-free long enough for antibodies to drop. But you raise a great point: the challenge isn’t perfect, and false negatives can happen if the timing or amount of gluten isn’t sufficient to trigger a strong antibody response. This is why diagnosis often combines antibody tests with other tools like genetic testing or endoscopy. Your question highlights just how nuanced celiac testing can be! For people with celiac disease hidden gluten in their diets is the main cause of elevated Tissue Transglutaminase IgA Antibodies (tTG-IgA), but there are other conditions, including cow's milk/casein intolerance, that can also cause this, and here is an article about the other possible causes:      
×
×
  • Create New...