Need Advice/help/ideas

[smile]

I dont know what to do anymore. For over a year Ive had stomach problems eg feeling sick, frequent bowel movements, tiredness etc. I was diagnosed with IBS, at the time I had two blood tests taken and was told my IgA was raised, but it was nothing to worry about. I have also been losing weight and an underweight. I just cant seem to gain weight, my arms, legs and wrists are very thin. Since then Ive seen a specialist who suggested I had crohn's, after a blood test, colonscopy and barium follow through everything came back normal apart from two areas of inflammation in the terminal ileum. So now Im left having no idea what is wrong. This has just been going on for so long and its depressing. I dont know whether I should ask for blood tests again and maybe the camera down the throat thing. Also Im in the uk, can you be put out for the camera down the throat, I dont think I ccould be awake for that. I have a phobia of being sick and a strong gag reflex. I just dont think I could be awake. Im just fed up of knowing that something isnt right, but been told there is nothing wrong.

[Marz]

Symptoms sounds familiar, definately could be celiac.

Raised IgA levels? Did you get a copy of those tests by the way? If it was total IgA, that would be useless but raised IgA anti-gliadin specifically would be cause for concern !

did the tests done check for celiac disease? If not you can head to a doctor and insist on getting tested, especially with being underweight and chronically sick. Most docs won't know what to test for, so you may need to specify the tests you want, or request full celiac panel.

Option 2 if you don't get anywhere with the doctors would be to just try the gluten free diet? You'll have to be strict to see the results properly though, just eating a little gluten will keep inflammation going. Lots of good advice here, or just google "starting gluten free diet" for tips to avoid gluten ingestion and cross contamination

feel free to post any questions.

[smile]

Thanks for your reply. I was never told whether it was the total IgA or not. I actually did try going gluten free for a while. It was back in april and I did it for a number of weeks, possibly about 9-10 weeks. As soon as I started it and for a good while my bowel movements went from 5+ a day to once or twice, sometimes even skipping a day. I still felt sick on the odd day and a rash that I had constantly on my chest cleared up. Now Ive been eating gluten again since the start or June and its lately that the bowel movements have increased, just these past few days the rash has appeared again (its not DH, no one knows what it is). I managed to gain a few pounds, but have lost it again. I have a specialist appointment at the end of the month, but not too sure if I should see my gp before then to ask for a blood test. I dont know if Ive been eating gluten long enough for it to be tested. Ive definately eaten more than 4 slices of bread a day, plus biscuits or cake etc.

[Hyacinth]

HI!

I'm new to gluten-free, and this forum, but what you are describing is the very image of what happened to my dad. He was sick for so long, and thin just like what you're saying you are. Doctors kept telling him he was fine. When he went off of gluten it took him like 6 weeks to even start feeling better. But once he did start getting better, it was like magic. I had my dad back again! Now he is feeling so much better, and has lots more energy.

He has to be really really careful though. If he eats something that even touched something that touched something with gluten in it, he'll be sick for 6 more weeks. Everything in his kitchen had to be thrown out and replaced, can opener, cutting boards, toaster, pots and pans, everything. And the counters had to be scoured too. He can't even be in the house if my mother is baking with wheat flour, the flour dust can make him sick.

I would suggest that you see an allergy specialist right away. It could improve your life drastically.

Hyacinth