Gluten Challenge Questions....

[kpryan]

Hi there! Had a few questions for all you experts! I'm a 34 year old female with 2 kids. While I've had stomach issues my whole life, they worsened after the birth of my first child and that's when I thought it might be celiac or an intolerance. I went gluten free on the advice of my allergist and felt immediately better. I was blood tested a few months later (after going on a gluten challenge for 2 weeks) and the IgA and IgA deficiency tests came back normal. Despite this I went back on gluten free and felt great.

In 2009, after the birth of my 2nd child, I started to have the same bloating, gas and diarrhea issues and connected it to dairy. I went dairy free and again felt good. In total, I've been gluten free for about 2.5 years. Though I am sure, like all people, there was a learning curve so I would think that I had been getting traces of gluten for a good part of that time.

However in the last few months, I've had severe bloating issues where my stomach extends so much that I look pregnant. I finally decided to go to a gastro (who I really liked). He wanted to do an endoscopy to check for other issues and said that if I wanted to I could eat gluten for a month and that way they could do a biopsy while they were there.

I was scared to eat gluten again but decided to do it bc I would like an answer and I would like to know for sure for my daughters.

So I started eating it again 2 weeks ago. I do admit that I thought I'd be sicker. My biggest complaint is the bloating....my stomach is extremely bloated and I even had to bring out an older bra bc the band size on my current one was too tight! Other than that, I have been tired and headachey (thought I've been getting less sleep bc of my youngest and the weather has been very rainy so that could account for the headaches). I have had various intestinal issues...but not at the frequency I had expected. One other interesting symptom I have had since eating gluten again is cystic acne...

I am also hoping that 1 month is long enough....but I don't think I can go much longer than that.

So i guess my question is that, has anyone done a gluten challenge and not been as sick as they expected??

And also, my gastro put me on Nexium and upon some reserach it looks like excess acid sometimes produces the same symptoms as celiac....has anyone heard of this?

Thanks so much for your help! I just hope to get an answer at the end of this...this bloating just cannot be normal.

[cassP]

didnt read your whole post, sorry, starved, gotta cook

BUT i saw "Nexium" and wanted to read that part-> those proton pump inhibitors can really mess you up if you take them longer than a week or two- i, personally would only take maybe Zantac IF i had an ulcer.

as far as i know Celiac isnt necessarily linked with excess acid- BUT, many of us have had Acid Reflux while on Gluten. Acid Reflux is caused by that Esophageal flap weakening and opening up..

so, you've got 2 more weeks on gluten challenge???? ok, so, you're taking Nexium to deal with all the acid reflux- if i were you, i would personally alternate between Zantac and Tums.... and try to only sleep with your head elevated.. and then once you're done with the challenge- i would get off the proton pump inhibitors.

sorry- i didnt mean to preach

[vegan lisa]

Nexium caused that same kind of bloating for me. I took it for 6 months and totally regret it. My reflux is much worse now (3 months off Nexium) than before I ever started taking it; my GI said that Nexium has these side effects and that apparently it makes reflux worse for some people.

Interesting about the results you are getting from your gluten challenge. I am surprised. I'm new to figuring this all out myself, though. Keep us posted, I'm interested in your story.

Lisa

[kpryan]

I have to say that since starting the Nexium, I don't have the painful internal gas anymore and no heartburn (although it was just mild before)....so that's an improvement!

The bloating is still bad but that i think that is due to the gluten. 11 more days! Then I'll have my endoscopy and go back gluten-free... Then depending on what he finds and how the bloating is, I'll re-evaluate the nexium. But aside from the bloating, the nexium seems to help.

Nexium caused that same kind of bloating for me. I took it for 6 months and totally regret it. My reflux is much worse now (3 months off Nexium) than before I ever started taking it; my GI said that Nexium has these side effects and that apparently it makes reflux worse for some people.

Interesting about the results you are getting from your gluten challenge. I am surprised. I'm new to figuring this all out myself, though. Keep us posted, I'm interested in your story.

Lisa