Don't Know What To Think

[Darby]

Haven't been near the board lately - we just got back from vacation. Vacation went well. I was kind of nauseaus a few days but I know it was from anxiety. I don't travel well because of a phobia (emetophobia).

Right before I left I had the GI Dr. do a blood test (EMA). They got the results back but since it's a holiday weekend, I won't find out til Tues.

The other blood tests -- antigliadin came back positive, tTG came back negative.

How am I feeling - I feel really good. I have not gone gluten-free. Stools are completely back to normal as long as I put Benefiber into my daily drinking water.

The first visit to the GI dr. (before the tests) gave me a phamplet on fiber and said that most people don't get enough fiber. So, she had me start on that.

Before the benefiber, my stool was kind of loose -- not diarrhea, just loose. Now, it's all firmed up. And normal.

No other symptoms. No more gas. I only get nauseaus when I get nervous about something.

So, I don't know.... I'll wait til I talk to them on Tues. and see what that blood result came back as.

[tarnalberry]

based solely on the antigliandin test coming back positive, I would encourage you to give the diet a good three month test drive. I say that because that test coming back positive means your body is producing antibodies to wheat protein (and not IgE antibodies, which would be a standard allergy). I'm not trying to say you really have celiac, just that the test makes it look like you do have a sensitivity to it.

[jknnej]

Hi Darby,

good to hear from you! I just got back from vacation, too.

I have to sit in an aisle seat on the plane b/c of emetephobia-LOL. At least I can joke about it....

I was nauseated for a few days, too. Been feeling like crap. I have a new GI doc appt. tomorrow and I'm looking forward to figuring what's up.

glad to hear you're feeling better.

Did you have your scope? How was it?

[Darby]

I didn't have the scope done because of the bloodwork and my "symptoms."

The idiot Dr. that I went to -- well, I wasn't comfortable with her. Too pushy and I didn't get a good feeling with her.

She refused to talk with me and treated me like I was real stupid. They were very nice as long as I agreed and did what they told me. Once I started to ask questions - they got nasty.

RED FLAG - RED FLAG....

[jknnej]

I'm getting mine done on Monday and looking forward to it. I want to get it over with!

My new GI doc thinks I don't have celiac disease but maybe acid reflux or H. pylori...

Either way I look forward to it being over with!

I left another dr. b/c I wasn't pleased with them, either. This new one was actually really good...on his wall there was an article from Phoenix Magazine where people had voted him best doctor! I can see that...he is so nice. After we were through he took me to the checkout area and pulled out and pushed in my chair for me! Never had a dr. do that before! I guess I lucked out because I found him randomly!

Glad to hear you're feeling better. It must feel really good. I can't wait for that!

Even if you don't have celiac disease we should keep in touch. It's nice to talk with another person with our phobia! It really helps me a lot!

[Darby]

The GI dr. called me today with the results of the rest of the bloodwork. Came back negative. I just re-read my post about the Dr. being a pill. It was actually her nurse. I never spoke again to the Dr. (who is female), only her nurse evil. I had several sort of arguements with nurse evil over the bloodwork and the endoscopy.

The nurse kept giving me different stories on my blood panel results. Long story.... I think the nurse told the Dr. that she didn't want to deal with me any longer and that SHE should talk with me.

I got the whole skinny today FINALLY! She said everything came back negative -- the EMA, the tTG. The only thing that came back positive was the anti-gliadin and she said that it came back as a 18 and 17 was normal.

I told her that since I've been taking the benefiber that I feel SOOOO much better and if the fiber could have that much of a change in me?? She said, "yes. with IBS, the treatment is added fiber to the diet and symptoms do go away."

So, we left it as is and I'm to go back in two months for a re-check.

I'm happy with that.

And yes, lets keep in contact -- since we both have the wonderful emetophobia.

Did I tell you that I had to take my compazine while on vacation? It was all from nerves. I got real nervous being away from home and had to take the meds a couple of days.

Funny thing is.... once we got into the second week and only had a few more days left, my stomach started to feel 100 times better. I HATE this phobia!!!! You'd think I'd be in heaven on Maui. I love it there but the phobia gets the better of me.