Could It Be Celiac?

[Lei]

Alright, I'm a 24 year old female and have had problems for awhile, but never made any connections between them... Here are the problems I've had.

When I was a child up to about age 17 I would pass out/seizure when I got too upset (Saw someone/self getting a needle, about to get a needle) and as I got closer to 17 sometimes I would just randomly faint if I got really upset or stood up for too long.

Food- In my teens my stomach would get extremely upset (Cramping/diarrea) after eating things like spaghetti/pizza/fast food. I always figured I was just lactose intollerant since I drank milk with some of these meals but now I realize that I can't eat chicken tenders, fast food, spaghetti, pizza, honey mustard and I don't even know what else without getting cramps (The worst I have is when I eat honey mustard with chicken tenders, its unbearable). The cramping/diarrea could last quite a few hours and be several times.

Dermatitis - I was told before that I have contact dermatitis to metals (I can't wear earings or necklaces without developing a rash and I've been on the phone alot lately and now have a rash on the side of my face where the phone touches). Also..for the last year or so I've had a problem with my foot itching and getting small clear little tiny bump blisters on my toes/between them, as well as getting them on the palm of my hand and some on my fingers...a few on my arms.

The other day I was driving to college, no problem...was going down a street where I had to make a right turn. Next thing I know I'm halfway there and I don't remember making that turn or driving up the other street. Also I'll be in class during a lecture watching the teacher and listening...then I'll realize I haven't heard anything they've said for the last five-ten minutes. I also find myself struggling with understanding homework (though its been clearly explained) or when I look at pages with alot of text I just get so flustered I can't begin to read it.

Pain/Tingling - Sometimes at night I'll be laying down and my hand will go numb/tingle and my upper arm will start aching (muscular).. I'm not sure if this is related since I was recently diagnosed with Arthritis in my spine.

Irritability/depression - I've had problems with depression since I was a teen, but for the last few years I've had problems with getting highly irritabily, mostly at night. It's really odd, everything could be fine and then I'll just get this feeling like I'm overwhelmed and just get snappy with people.

Anemia - Since I don't have insurance I'm not sure if it's still a problem, but a few years back I got a blood test and the doctor told me I was slightly anemic? Before hand I had been experiencing some hair loss.

Most days I'm so tired I can't even make myself get out of a chair, do laundry, just simple stuff really. Of course I'm sure this could be related to the depression/anxiety.

I'd appreciate it if people could give me their opinions on if this is possibly celiac disease. The only reason I even thought about this was because I was watching Dr. Oz (Which I normally do not.) and they were talking about Celiac...and I thought "Wow, this explains most of my problems".

I do have some joint pain, but again, I'm not sure if it would be associated with this. I'm 5'9''ish and about 255lbs, so my fatigue/join paint/general laziness could be just that I have gone up and down between 180-250ish a few times since I was 18.

One last thing. I sometimes take vitamins but they usually upset my stomach. The other day I tried to take one in the morning and I ended up throwing up several times. Of course I didnt eat a meal before hand....So probably my own fault, lol.

Thanks for any info!

-Kathryn.

[ravenwoodglass]

Your first step should be to go to the doctor and ask for a full celiac panel with a total IGA. If your blood work is positive your doctor may want you to have an endo to confirm celiac. If you go gluten free before testing you will show up a false negative in testing. Even on gluten there is a risk of 20% for a false negative. After you have had all the testing you choose to do give the diet a try, strictly no matter what the results. You do sound like your in the right place. One other option is to go to a derm when your blistery rash is active and ask for a biopsy to look for DH, the skin form of celiac. The biopsy needs to be beside the lesions. A diagnosis of DH is a diagnosis of celiac.

[sb2178]

Since you don't have insurance (unless you have good savings), look for a free screening day. They are posted here and there. If you can't find one, investigate clinics with sliding scales, public hospital clinics, or work on getting on some insurance (you're young enough to join a parental plan, if they have it). Most states have some department that could help point you in the right direction.

You could potentially just do the diet, but it's better to have a look at your labs at least. You can have bloodwork drawn or go to a dermatologist and have a biopsy done next to your rash. The biopsy is very specific and must be done correctly, so do a little research before you go that route. The medical system can else check out possible complications like other nutritional deficiencies and your thyroid function.

Since you might have kids (now, or in the future), you want to be able to know what their risk. It's also helpful to know for sure that you MUST stay away from gluten or else. I've seen people with "gluten intolerance" eat it, and then they end up sick. Being told for sure is different than "well, probably..." for most people.

[cassP]

some vitamins make me almost throw up too. taking with meal helps- but most of those generic type vitamins you can get a the grocery store/drugstore/ or even vitamin stores make me absolutely sick to my stomach! i can only take certain brands. it may take u a while to find what works for u

[MegRie]

I am so glad I found this. I have been super sick lately and have no idea what is going on. My mom called me today and said she was watching Dr. Oz and it reminder her of me. For years now I have been saying, "There must be some underlying problem that is causing all of these other little problems." Maybe this is it. I don't have insurance so I can't get tested, but I think I'm just going to do the diet and see if it helps. I felt like I was going crazy and everyone though that I was just making things up, but this would explain so much.

A lot of times I'm trying to work and I feel like my head is foggy and my eyes won't focus. I've always been a bright and studious person so when this happens it is really frustrating and makes me feel like my brain doesn't work anymore. Sometimes it is so hard to get up and do anything because I don't have any energy or drive, and I'm sick to my stomach a lot, particularly nauseous.

I don't know if this is even what is wrong with me but it would explain so much! Knowing something like this exists is so relieving