My Symptoms

[cmac0351]

Here is my story:

About two weeks ago I was driving home from work when I started to feel light headed. The next day I was feeling a bit nauseous and stayed home from work. That happened to be my birthday, and my wife and I went out to eat for dinner (I was feeling better and hadn't eaten all day, just gatorade); I had chicken parmesan and lasagna. A few hours later I was light headed, had awful gas and heartburn ( I have struggled with moderate reflux for a long time). I vomited but didn't really feel much better after. I am not sure I had to vomit, I might have talked myself into thinking I needed to, if that makes sense.

I saw a doctor after a couple days who did the normal doctor thing. He thought I had something viral, then prescribed an antibiotic in case it was an infection. About that time, I started having diarrhea which lasted for about 3 days. Since then, I have been lightheaded off and on, and the diarrhea stopped, but every BM is very soft, not diarrhea, but not normal. It seems like too there are sometimes little black specs in the stool, though not many, and spread out.

I have in the last two days realized that the lightheaded feelings like I was going to pass out have been shortly after or within a couple hours of eating. The worst I felt was after eating two quarter pounders at MacDonald's. I remember I was driving home and really thought I was going to pass out. I have also been very tired lately. It seems like I get tired quickly after not much activity.

All of this appeared suddenly, and I can't think of anything similar in the past, except the reflux that has been there. Can Celiac manifest that quickly, one day fine the next you fell really bad?

Thanks for reading this long post,

Chris

[dhiltonlittle]

Here is my story:

About two weeks ago I was driving home from work when I started to feel light headed. The next day I was feeling a bit nauseous and stayed home from work. That happened to be my birthday, and my wife and I went out to eat for dinner (I was feeling better and hadn't eaten all day, just gatorade); I had chicken parmesan and lasagna. A few hours later I was light headed, had awful gas and heartburn ( I have struggled with moderate reflux for a long time). I vomited but didn't really feel much better after. I am not sure I had to vomit, I might have talked myself into thinking I needed to, if that makes sense.

I saw a doctor after a couple days who did the normal doctor thing. He thought I had something viral, then prescribed an antibiotic in case it was an infection. About that time, I started having diarrhea which lasted for about 3 days. Since then, I have been lightheaded off and on, and the diarrhea stopped, but every BM is very soft, not diarrhea, but not normal. It seems like too there are sometimes little black specs in the stool, though not many, and spread out.

I have in the last two days realized that the lightheaded feelings like I was going to pass out have been shortly after or within a couple hours of eating. The worst I felt was after eating two quarter pounders at MacDonald's. I remember I was driving home and really thought I was going to pass out. I have also been very tired lately. It seems like I get tired quickly after not much activity.

All of this appeared suddenly, and I can't think of anything similar in the past, except the reflux that has been there. Can Celiac manifest that quickly, one day fine the next you fell really bad?

Thanks for reading this long post,

Chris

i'd start by taking a probiotic for a few weeks, eat things that are easier to digest (no mcdonalds!!) and see how you feel. it is likely that the bacterial balance in your gut has gotten off from the antibiotic. if you're still feeling bad after a few weeks, maybe try some stool samples (lots of bad things can happen after a round of antibiotics) and a celiac blood panel would be a good idea just to check. it could very well be that you had an infection and you'll need time to recover from it and the antibiotics.

[T.H.]

I do know that celiac disease is 'triggered,' so at some point, you definitely go from a state of gluten being fine, to it causing problems, but I don't know how it manifests for those who feel the symptoms right away, I'm afraid.

However, food allergies do sudden onset as well, and can cause dizziness and nausea, too. I just went through that, and I had no known food allergies and then within days had similar symptoms: dizziness, nausea, etc...

But I'd wonder like the previous poster about damage done to your gut due to something bacterial or viral. And if you are not feeling better, you might want to go back to the doc. A bad gut infection or stomach flu can damage your ability to absorb nutrients and fluids for a while, so it might be that you are having trouble getting enough to eat and drink from an infection, too.

[cmac0351]

Thanks for the replies.

When I was taking the antibiotic, I was really tired and thought it might be the medicine, so I called my doc and he said i could stop taking it. I was only on it three days. I have taken antibiotics before for things with out any complications, although it does sound reasonable about the bacteria balance, as I do know the presence of bacteria is important for proper digestion.

Yesterday and today, I decided to try out a gluten free diet and my reflux is completely gone, as is gas and bloating. I typically have problems after most meals with heartburn and bad gas. I don't remember my throat feeling this good in a long time. I usually wake up with thick mucous and raspy voice, but not today.

My lightheaded feeling seems to be mostly gone too, but the symptom that remains is fatigue. I am tired most of the time still and it doesn't take much to wear me out when I feel good.

If I do have a problem with gluten, how long does it take to feel better once you go gluten free?

[dhiltonlittle]

Thanks for the replies.

When I was taking the antibiotic, I was really tired and thought it might be the medicine, so I called my doc and he said i could stop taking it. I was only on it three days. I have taken antibiotics before for things with out any complications, although it does sound reasonable about the bacteria balance, as I do know the presence of bacteria is important for proper digestion.

Yesterday and today, I decided to try out a gluten free diet and my reflux is completely gone, as is gas and bloating. I typically have problems after most meals with heartburn and bad gas. I don't remember my throat feeling this good in a long time. I usually wake up with thick mucous and raspy voice, but not today.

My lightheaded feeling seems to be mostly gone too, but the symptom that remains is fatigue. I am tired most of the time still and it doesn't take much to wear me out when I feel good.

If I do have a problem with gluten, how long does it take to feel better once you go gluten free?

you very well could have a problem with gluten. however, i'd suggest that you keep eating it until you get properly tested.

as far as being tired, you may also want to get your thyroid levels checked.

this can also cause lots of stomach issues as well as fatigue and goes hand in hand with celiac.

not to freak you out, but i was 100 percent healthy and came down with hypothyroidism and celiac after a flu and a round of antibiotics. the previous poster is correct. for both of these things if you have the genes, all it takes is a trigger. stress, illness, whatever.

[cmac0351]

Ok, I have had some tests done recently; here are the results.

IgG = <3 U/mL

IgA = 30 U/mL

I also have elevated bilirubin (3.6 mg/dL) as well as SGOT/AST (50 IU/L) and SGPT/ALT (97 IU/L). They have done an ultrasound on my liver and found a couple of abnormal spots which the radiologist thinks looks like fatty liver. They have now scheduled an MRI for that.

I saw a gastroenterologist, and I have an endoscopy and colonoscopy scheduled for next Wednesday.

I stopped eating gluten and seem to feel a little better, no lightheadedness or nausea, but I am still week, tired, and now have a mild pain in some of my joints; wrists, knees, a little in the elbow; and I have very little appetite. I have lost about 10 pounds over the last 3 1/2 weeks.

The doctor wants me to eat gluten containing foods between now and Wednesday, but I am really scared of eating them thinking I might feel really bad. I feel lousy enough as it is.

[cmac0351]

So I have been eating gluten the last two days because of the test coming up, and boy do I feel terrible! I am burping up some stuff that really stings my throat. I REALLY want to stop, but I am afraid to mess up the test result. I am actually looking forward to having to fast before the test. Seriously, I feel like I can't make it until Wednesday; I am just praying it goes by quickly.

[Skylark]

Hang in there! I hope you get some answers soon. Either way, you're free to stop eating gluten once the testing is done.

Did you want help with the test results by the way? I couldn't understand what the tests were because you didn't say what kind of IgA or IgG. Also, you need to know how they relate to "normal" for that lab.

[cmac0351]

Thanks, I didn't know there were different kinds. I am all new to this. I do know that above 17 was considered positive and below 11 is negative for both IgA and IgG. The only other thing the test says is gliadin antibody.

Hang in there! I hope you get some answers soon. Either way, you're free to stop eating gluten once the testing is done.

Did you want help with the test results by the way? I couldn't understand what the tests were because you didn't say what kind of IgA or IgG. Also, you need to know how they relate to "normal" for that lab.

[Skylark]

Thanks, I didn't know there were different kinds. I am all new to this. I do know that above 17 was considered positive and below 11 is negative for both IgA and IgG. The only other thing the test says is gliadin antibody.

OK, so you have positive anti-gliadin IgA. There are other antibodies they test for, including anti-TTG and anti-endomysial which are the autoimmune antibodies. Anti-gliadin IgA is an antibody that often shows up with celiac, but some people without intestinal damage have it too.

Most folks with anti-gliadin IgA are gluten-sensitive in some way or another because it does mean your immune system recognizes gluten as foreign. If you're lucky you won't have all the autoimmunity and intestinal damage. Going back to gluten-free makes sense once you have your endoscopy done even if it comes out normal.