I Feel Like A Hypochondriac...

[emerald-eyes]

I have already seen one GI doctor, but he seemed extremely disinterested in me. I had an endoscopy and a colonoscopy done by him. The only thing he said he saw was gastritis and that I probably just have IBS or maybe I'm lactose intolerant. He didn't even take a biopsy of my small intestine, because he claimed that it looked normal. How can he say it looked normal without a biopsy?! I got extremely frustrated with him because I was sure all my symptoms pointed to celiac. I even stopped eating dairy for a while and still had symptoms, so I know it wasn't just lactose. I would tell him all this but he would write off everything I said and it seemed as if he was not listening to anything I said.

Finally, last fall I decided to go gluten-free. I started feeling great! My stomach was flatter. I started losing weight easier. I had more energy. My bowels were almost back to normal. I was finally feeling pretty good about myself.

Now, a sveral months later I got a new PCP and she has referred me to a new GI. I stopped going gluten-free to see what would happen and so hopefully something might show up if I had more tests done. Next week I have the appointment. I am afraid though that the same stuff will happen and that I will never figure out what is wrong with me. Any suggestions of what I should tell/ask the doctor?

As soon as I started eating gluten again, everything came back...

Here are my symptoms:

- bloating (I look pregnant when eating gluten)

- gas all the time

- headaches/migraines (not sure if it is related)

- irregular bowels (sometimes constipated, sometimes diarrhea, almost always odd colored soft stools with undigested food)

- tired/light-headed (even with enough sleep I don't have the energy I used to)

- extreme fatigue about an hour after eating

[tarnalberry]

Also tell him how long you've been gluten free, the change in symptoms, how long you've been back on gluten, and the change in symptoms after that.

[michelley65]

How long were you gluten free before feeling better?were you totally gluten free,or just most of the time?I am not totally..but 95 percent of the time..and feel better until I goof up and eat it.Its so hard to do this diet..I just started almost two weeks ago.You sound exactly the same as me!!!I have gas almost immediately after eating gluten,along with the prego belly!!!I was tested negative for celiac a year and a half ago..but the doctor ordered another test thismorning.Is there any hope?

[Ahorsesoul]

Call this GI and ask if he is a specialist in Celiac Disease. If not, ask them who is or find one and make an appointment with that doctor. Not all GI doctors understand celiac disease.

Think of it this way. If you have bone cancer you would not want to make your medical appointment with a skin cancer doctor. He would know less about bone cancer than skin cancer.

You could post a message under Doctors on this site to see if anyone in your area knows a good doctor. Put your town and state in the Topic Title so people in your area will know to read your request.

Let us know how it goes.

[plantime]

I think most of us have felt like hypochondriacs at one time or another, until we got a diagnosis. Make sure you tell your new GI about your dietary challenge, how you felt before, during, and after. Please keep in mind that the dietary challenge itself is a test, and that feeling better while on it gives a positive answer. It does not tell you the proper name of the problem, but it tells you if changing your diet is the answer. Also remember that you don't need a doctor to give you permission to eat in a way that makes you feel better.

Good luck!