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Endoscopy Biopsy Results Negative For Celia Disease

Rudi

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Rudi Newbie
Rudi
Posted

I spoke to my wife's GI doctor's nurse and she informed me that my wife's endoscopy biopsy results were back, she said the following:

1. NEGATIVE for Celiac Disease

2. H-pylori positive - bacteria in my wife's stomach

The bacteria she believes may be the causing my wife's problems in her digestive system: she has been experiencing GAS, BLOATING, SEVERE STOMACH CRAMPS, diahrea, anxiety, feelings of vomiting, etc.

On Friday, we decided to go gluten free and eat only products that are gluten free. Prior to Friday my wife was only eating soup everyday adn that was even making her sick and aggravating her symptoms...since we switched to Gluten Free on friday and over the weekend we purchased gluten-free foods from Whole Foods...she has been feeling better, her symptoms gone and she has been sleeping better. Today, she went to work and she informed me that after eating her lunch (gluten-free soup, meat, and tortillas, and ginger ale) she has been feeling great.

I told the nurse that she has switched to gluten-free diet and that her symptoms are better and she is feeling better, and the nurse said that she can continue on the gluten-free diet if it helps.

My wife is going to be given 2 antiobiotics and an anti-acid med to get rid of the bacteria...I'm disappointed that the nurse just discounted celiac disease so quickly or didn't even dig deeper into whether she may be gluten intolerant...

Has anybody here had a endoscopy and biopsy that came back negative but is gluten intolerant or still may be at risk for celiac disease? Any advice on what other tests we can do or what we should do now?

Thanks in advance!

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Mtndog Collaborator
Mtndog
Posted

Hi- I hope the medications for H Pylori help your wife soon! That can cause a lot of really uncomfortable symptoms.

I saw 2 GI's before I got a diagnosis. The first one did the biopsy (he took ONE tissue sample- yeah, that will tell you a lot) from a huge organ! Then since that biopsy was negative he told me it was all in my head.

The second GI was wonderful- I told her about my biopsy results but how sick gluten made me so she decided that rather than torture me with a gluten challenge, she would just test me gentically. I came back positive for one of the two "recognized" celiac genes (HLA DQ8) and she diagnosed me based on my symptoms and the gene.

Looking back, I'm not sure why I was so determined to get a firm diagnosis because I was going to remain gluten-free no matter what. I guess I just wanted confirmation.

I think that there are probably a lot of people out there who have negative biopsies and truly do have celiac or cannot tolerate gluten. As far as I'm concerned, if it makes you feel better and helps your health, do it!

OptimisticMom42 Apprentice
OptimisticMom42
Posted

My dr. didn't run any of the recognised tests. After being told I was allergic to wheat and barley, I removed them from my diet. I have never liked rye so it wasn't an issue but oatmeal was. So I went back to the dr. and described my reaction to oats. He diagnosed celiacs then.

He never even suggested that I have testing done. If gluten makes you sick you have celiacs. If not eating gluten makes your wife feel better .......... :)

Nobody needs gluten to live.

RA

elye Community Regular
elye
Posted

Hi, Rudi, and welcome! :)

My husband had the classic symptoms of gluten trouble (horrid gas, bloating, cramps, trouble sleeping) for the twenty years that I knew him before he had the celiac blood panel and endoscope done. Both were "negative". He decided to splurge and get the stool testing done through Enterolab, and there, suddenly, were the antibodies.......lots of them. There was also a lot of fat in the stool, another strong indicator of malabsorption issues.

He then gave up gluten completely, and all of his symptoms were gone in a month.

You don't need a doctor's prescription or permission to go gluten-free. Were I your wife, I would stay on the diet and embrace a new, healthy, strong life!

gf-soph Apprentice
gf-soph
Posted

Hi Rudi

My diagnostic experience was not a good one. I started having intermittent GI problems in 2005, which became severe in 2007, I could only eat about 4 foods that wouldn't make me sick etc (all gluten free foods!). I returned positive celiac blood work, but a negative biopsy. My gastroenterologist told me flatly that gluten wasn't the cause of my problems, and not to bother cutting out gluten. I was too sick to think to look into it further, and just tried to live with my IBS 'diagnosis'. I continued eating gluten for another YEAR before a chance meeting with a GP (general practitioner), who looked at my blood work and symptoms and told me immediately that I had to go gluten free if I wanted to get better.

I am an example of how non-celiac gluten sensitivity can still cause substantial symptoms - iron and B12 malabsorbtion, weight loss, severe pain, constant gastric problems etc.

As others have said - if your wife feels better on the gluten free diet that is telling you something. A negative biopsy doesn't mean it's not worthwhile sticking to the diet, and your early results indicate it may be exactly what your wife needs. Unfortunately a lot of medical practitioners don't understand celiac properly, let alone gluten sensitivity.

Best wishes for your wife's recovery - you've found a great source of information to help her adjust to the gluten-free lifestyle.

ang1e0251 Contributor
ang1e0251
Posted

Well, first I would stay on a diet that makes me feel good (that's what I did), second, I would ask for copies of the blood work and biopsy. Sometimes the interpretation of the results can vary from dr to dr. Post the results here. There are some knowledgable people who can give you an opinion.

There are plenty of stories of people who had negative biopsies but benefited from a gluten-free diet. The dietary response is a huge part of the puzzle. There is just no denying the cause and effect.

By the way, make sure she is eating yogurt every day she has antibiotics. That will help her gut keep the good flora and fauna so she doesn't have another digestive issue down the road.

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