Do I Not Have Celiac Disease?

[jimbob2225]

Hi, hope you can help me...

Basically I'm and 18 year old male and I think I have coeliac disease, because I match a number of the symptoms....however, in July I did a self test for the condition (Open Original Shared Link) , and it was negative. Does this mean I don't have it?

Thanks for your time!

[twe0708]

Hi, hope you can help me...

Basically I'm and 18 year old male and I think I have coeliac disease, because I match a number of the symptoms....however, in July I did a self test for the condition (Open Original Shared Link) , and it was negative. Does this mean I don't have it?

Thanks for your time!

A self test? Why not just get a blood test so you know for sure? Or just go on a gluten free diet and if you feel better, even if you have the blood test and it tells you your not, then stick with gluten free.

[JillianLindsay]

Hi Jim and welcome,

No test is 100% conclusive for celiac disease. Even the same test done at your DRs office can still show a false negative. The best way to diagnose celiac disease is through an endoscopy (a camera down your throat into your stomach/small bowel). You have to continue eating gluten in order for these tests to be accurate.

Others just choose to go gluten-free to see if it helps. Some feel better very quicly and for others it can take 6 months or up to a year, everyone heals at a different rate. Some need more evidence before taking on a high-maintenance diet, and others are just happy to feel better!

My advice would be to see your family DR first about your symptoms and let a professional make an attempt to diagnose you, but that's easy for me to say because I live in Canada, land of free health care

What are your symptoms? If you care to share them here, perhaps people on this forum can be of assistance.

Good luck!

Jillian

Hi, hope you can help me...

Basically I'm and 18 year old male and I think I have coeliac disease, because I match a number of the symptoms....however, in July I did a self test for the condition (Open Original Shared Link) , and it was negative. Does this mean I don't have it?

Thanks for your time!

[jimbob2225]

A self test? Why not just get a blood test so you know for sure? Or just go on a gluten free diet and if you feel better, even if you have the blood test and it tells you your not, then stick with gluten free.

it was a blood test....but would one with the doctor's be more accurate? And I heard you should get diagnosed first before cutting out gluten?

thanks

[JillianLindsay]

it was a blood test....but would one with the doctor's be more accurate?

Probably, if only because your DR and the technicians would know how to do it properly, however it still can show a false negative.

And I heard you should get diagnosed first before cutting out gluten?

IF you need a diagnosis, then yes, you should continue eating gluten! If you want to test out the gluten-free diet without going through the medical testing, then you can do a trial and see if you feel better. Some aren't able to "rest" until they have an answer, so this isn't a good option if you want an official diagnosis. In that case, a healthcare professional needs to give you one.

[modiddly16]

I had a diagnosis but that's only because Celiac Disease wasn't as commonly know about as it is now. If going on a gluten free diet helps you feel better and be symptom free, I wouldn't need a doctor's diagnosis to feel healthy!! If making changes to your lifestyle helps, then I say go for it!

[jimbob2225]

Hi Jim and welcome,

No test is 100% conclusive for celiac disease. Even the same test done at your DRs office can still show a false negative. The best way to diagnose celiac disease is through an endoscopy (a camera down your throat into your stomach/small bowel). You have to continue eating gluten in order for these tests to be accurate.

Others just choose to go gluten-free to see if it helps. Some feel better very quicly and for others it can take 6 months or up to a year, everyone heals at a different rate. Some need more evidence before taking on a high-maintenance diet, and others are just happy to feel better!

My advice would be to see your family DR first about your symptoms and let a professional make an attempt to diagnose you, but that's easy for me to say because I live in Canada, land of free health care

What are your symptoms? If you care to share them here, perhaps people on this forum can be of assistance.

Good luck!

Jillian

Thanks for the reply. I'm actually in England so healthcare is not a problem. However, I'm a bit reluctant to go, basically because I went like 10 times to the doctors a few years ago, and their best diagnosis was chronic fatigue (rubbish in my opinion!).

Well the main problem was fatigue that started around 5 years ago - I took a bit of time of school then. However, other problems include

-sickness in the morning occassionally, that I can only just stomach breakfast!

-small heart tremours or something

-mild diziness

-the normal bowel problems - diarrhea, gas, bloated, small stomach cramps etc

-leg ache (especially when younger)

- occassional headaches

-myopia (although this may just be a unrelated problem)

-...and maybe a few more I can't remember.

also, the doctor said I had low iron, and tried to put me on lots of iron which didn't help!

that's more or less it I think

Thanks so much for your help

[Dagwood]

I had a diagnosis but that's only because Celiac Disease wasn't as commonly know about as it is now. If going on a gluten free diet helps you feel better and be symptom free, I wouldn't need a doctor's diagnosis to feel healthy!! If making changes to your lifestyle helps, then I say go for it!

I know that gluten free makes me feel much better but have decided to get endoscope and colonoscopy just to make sure everything is ok. I will continue to be gluten free regardless of diagnosis.