Anyone Get A Capsule Endoscopy?

[jasonD2]

I just visited with a wonderful GI doc in NYC and he wants me to determine if i really do have celiac once and for all so he recommended a capsule endoscopy and may even want me to do a gluten challenge. I guess at this point i really would like a 100% confirmation. He also wants to retest my celiac genetic profile since the test does produce false positives. He also said he can tell if bacterial overgrowth is causing all my issues, which I believe it is. Anyway, would like to get some feedback on this

thanks

Jason

[Roda]

I have not had had the capsule endoscopy, but I did just have a CT enterography exam of the bowel. They both can give good info but each has it's advantages/disadvantages.

[burdee]

I just visited with a wonderful GI doc in NYC and he wants me to determine if i really do have celiac once and for all so he recommended a capsule endoscopy and may even want me to do a gluten challenge. I guess at this point i really would like a 100% confirmation. He also wants to retest my celiac genetic profile since the test does produce false positives. He also said he can tell if bacterial overgrowth is causing all my issues, which I believe it is. Anyway, would like to get some feedback on this

thanks

Jason

Sorry, I haven't had that test, but I'm so glad to hear you found a great GI doc in NYC. However, I'm surprised you doubt you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance. If you've been abstaining from gluten, the endoscopy will be negative. Of course, doing a lengthy gluten challenge could do enough intestinal damage to have a positive endoscopy result.

HOW can that doc tell if you have 'bacterial overgrowth'? Will he do stool tests? Can he identify and treat the specific bacteria which causes 'all your problems'? Has that doc seen all your previous stool test and treatment history?

Good luch with your new doc!

SUE

[nora-n]

There was someone here who had a negative antibody test and a positive biopsy, and it turned out it was bacterial overgrowth instead. Gluten free did not help.

About the gene test, a lot of people have the DQ2 and 8 genes, maybe a third of the population, so a positive gene test does not diagnose anyone with celiac,obviously.

The DQ2 gene test is quite accurate, but the DQ8 gene test is a bit less accurate.

One can repeat the test with another method if it matters.

[jasonD2]

Interesting- I wonder if bacterial overgrowth can cause a false positive stool anti-gliadin antibody response as well?

[ravenwoodglass]

Interesting- I wonder if bacterial overgrowth can cause a false positive stool anti-gliadin antibody response as well?

I don't think so. It might cause similiar symptoms but the antibodies to gliadin are antibodies to gliadin. Bacteria can usually be found through stool cultures if you suspect you have a bacterial problem.

[jasonD2]

Can overgrowth lead to allergies such as gluten?

[T.H.]

I had both the capsule endoscopy and the genetic test, both. It was very useful, I think. I had a positive gene test. And my doc found inflammation in mid-gut that hadn't been detected on either colonoscopy or endoscopy. He noted all areas of inflammation, and that's been very useful in figuring out where I'm having trouble absorbing what nutrients (different things get absorbed more in certain areas of the gut. Who knew?). I've had problems since then that might have been of concern but he said that he wasn't too surprised, considering where my damage actually is, so that's been comforting, actually.

I don't know if he was looking for bacterial overgrowth. I'd be curious what the signs of that are. Obviously the doc can't see the bacteria itself - a certain type of damage or inflammation, perhaps? Might be interesting to find out what your doc says is the clue to detecting too much bacteria.