Get Tested Or Not To Get Tested?

[dmarks]

Hello,

I am new to this forum and new to the gluten-free world. I think I may have a gluten sensitive gut or possible Celiac's. My doctor has refused to test me for food allergies or Celiac's b/c he feels the tests are not accurate. I would go to another doctor but we are military and it would be out-of pocket to go to a civilian specialist. Also, I don't even know who to go to because we live in Hawaii.

My brief history of diagnoses is: Diagnosed with asthma as a teenager although all pulmonary function tests x3 are negative for asthma and the inhalers only help me for about 5 minutes during a run and then I wheeze anyway....some days I can run better than others. I also get wheezy after a carb loaded meal....I eat carbs a lot because I am an athlete. I always felt I didn't have real asthma and an allergist even said my symptoms didn't add up but he put me on inhalers anyway. When I run and start to wheeze, it is on the inhalation....not the exhalation which is what asthmatics experience. Anyone experience the same thing?

Had gallbladder taken out in 2005 due to constant stomach cramping. Ultrasound revealed some sludge in my gall bladder and "microcrystals" but no stones. Surgeon said it should be removed anyway....so, no more gall bladder.

Been diagnosed with anxiety and put on a SSRI for a year but only made me more tired so I weaned off of it and it still didn't improve my symptoms anyway. In March 2009, diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and given suppositories to take for 21 days and the GI symptoms improved slightly but then came back after the meds were stopped. I have joint soreness frequently in my ankles, hips and knees and I always thought this was from running but I stretch, take pilates so they shouldn't be this sore.

I also get these small sores on my hands that are tiny bumps that start off clear and look like blisters and then get red, but they are not really itchy....same sores on the inside of my foot by my ankle bone on both feet. The ones on my feet itch from time to time.

I am about to start a gluten-free diet and see if this helps my gut and my asthma. Anyone know how I can find a doctor in Hawaii that can diagnose me correctly or do I even need a diagnosis? Can I just go gluten-free and see it my symptoms go away? I am also considering doing a gentle herbal colon cleanse to expedite the process of cleansing my gut of the gluten as I switch....has anyone done this and had success?. This has been a very frustrating 5 years for me and I am excited that I may actually be on to something that makes sense!!! Any help or insight would be appreciated.

[Matt007b]

Not much help...but this is what i'm doing....

... I'm in the same boat you are, I had my gallbladder removed in 2007 with zero stones or sludge..(low ejection rate) and suffer from some pretty bad anxiety - which I never had before. I was a 100% healthy pilot before this disaster started in 2005. I did the blood test which was inconclusive (doctor said on a scale 1 to 6 I was a 2....whatever that means.. ). After 3 stool tests finding white blood cells in my stool, chronic low potassium blood levels and bad and negative colonoscopy/endoscope (didn't do the biopsies..wish I had!) He suggested going on a elimination diet, and avoid all the major offenders for 3 weeks and then introduce one by one.

Doing an elimination diet really helped me, found out soy was a huge factor causing nausea..but even after going soy free for almost a month or so I'm still bloated,constipated..insomia..some anxiety..tired..

So i'm going gluten free, I don't have enough money to go back in for another endoscope. I've heard most people suggest going gluten free for a few months at least. Just be warned if you do go gluten free, and then do decide to test yourself via blood tests or endoscope they'll probably be negative. You have to be consuming gluten for a good amount of time weeks months i'm not sure for accurate tests..and even those are not accurate!

anyway hope we both feel better!

[dmarks]

Not much help...but this is what i'm doing....

... I'm in the same boat you are, I had my gallbladder removed in 2007 with zero stones or sludge..(low ejection rate) and suffer from some pretty bad anxiety - which I never had before. I was a 100% healthy pilot before this disaster started in 2005. I did the blood test which was inconclusive (doctor said on a scale 1 to 6 I was a 2....whatever that means.. ). After 3 stool tests finding white blood cells in my stool, chronic low potassium blood levels and bad and negative colonoscopy/endoscope (didn't do the biopsies..wish I had!) He suggested going on a elimination diet, and avoid all the major offenders for 3 weeks and then introduce one by one.

Doing an elimination diet really helped me, found out soy was a huge factor causing nausea..but even after going soy free for almost a month or so I'm still bloated,constipated..insomia..some anxiety..tired..

So i'm going gluten free, I don't have enough money to go back in for another endoscope. I've heard most people suggest going gluten free for a few months at least. Just be warned if you do go gluten free, and then do decide to test yourself via blood tests or endoscope they'll probably be negative. You have to be consuming gluten for a good amount of time weeks months i'm not sure for accurate tests..and even those are not accurate!

anyway hope we both feel better!

Thanks...i just found out my gmother was allergic to milk and eggs....i may try to get back in with the allergist that did skin testing or environmental allergens and see if he will test me for food allergies. I just started gluten-free a few days ago so i am hoping i can figure out exactly what it is so i don't have to go gluten and dairy free....appreciate your input and feel better. Keep at it....you will get to the bottom of it.