Your Opinion On My Symptoms?

[cricuteer]

When I was a kid I remember having horrible stomach pains often and an ultrasound for it even, then for a very long time they went away.

About a year and a half ago I started randomly having symptoms that included diarrhea and stomach pain but only when I was really really really nervous or stressed. This past July I went through a stressful situation and that week I started having continuous stomach pains, then diarrhea/constipation that alternate although leans more toward constipation. To be kind of forward (sorry), I also have a lot more gas although I remember as a kid I was that way a lot too.

When all this started I had gained a lot of weight, became unhappy with myself and my life and have been very depressed. I worry so much about my 'condition' that it almost seems to make it worse.

So.....

I did go to the doctor's in October and they said it was IBS. My thoughts all along was that it was IBS too because it was pretty random and my stress/anxiety seemed to bring on the symptoms. After reading into lots of things about Celiac and Gluten Intolerance I felt like maybe it could be something I should consider too. Unfortunately I am uninsured and work only part time and cannot afford blood testing or biopsies. Knowing that Celiac can do major damage I decided about a week ago to do a trial of gluten-free diet to see if it helped make me feel better.

It's been 4 days, and I feel worse than ever. Being strict about gluten-free, I have had more diarrhea than ever, more fatigue, and my stomach is 'gurgling' far more often and more painful than it has in my entire life. Is this a normal progression, or could this indicate that gluten-free is not only not necessary for me but potentially harmful if it's something else?

I more than understand these things take time, but I find it weird that these drastic changes have occurred since I started this little trial.

[orchid1]

When I was a kid I remember having horrible stomach pains often and an ultrasound for it even, then for a very long time they went away.

About a year and a half ago I started randomly having symptoms that included diarrhea and stomach pain but only when I was really really really nervous or stressed. This past July I went through a stressful situation and that week I started having continuous stomach pains, then diarrhea/constipation that alternate although leans more toward constipation. To be kind of forward (sorry), I also have a lot more gas although I remember as a kid I was that way a lot too.

When all this started I had gained a lot of weight, became unhappy with myself and my life and have been very depressed. I worry so much about my 'condition' that it almost seems to make it worse.

So.....

I did go to the doctor's in October and they said it was IBS. My thoughts all along was that it was IBS too because it was pretty random and my stress/anxiety seemed to bring on the symptoms. After reading into lots of things about Celiac and Gluten Intolerance I felt like maybe it could be something I should consider too. Unfortunately I am uninsured and work only part time and cannot afford blood testing or biopsies. Knowing that Celiac can do major damage I decided about a week ago to do a trial of gluten-free diet to see if it helped make me feel better.

It's been 4 days, and I feel worse than ever. Being strict about gluten-free, I have had more diarrhea than ever, more fatigue, and my stomach is 'gurgling' far more often and more painful than it has in my entire life. Is this a normal progression, or could this indicate that gluten-free is not only not necessary for me but potentially harmful if it's something else?

I more than understand these things take time, but I find it weird that these drastic changes have occurred since I started this little trial.

this is not uncommon. please go to https://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/index.php?showtopic=53093