Question Regarding Endoscopy

[lymie]

Hi all! This is my first post here although I've been reading around here off and on.

My husband and I have been eating gluten free for about a month now, not specifically because we suspected we have celiac, but rather it was recommended to us to try it by our doctor who treats us for lyme disease. He has had great patient response in those who have given it a try for at least three months. Since we had nothing to lose and plenty to gain, we decided to give it a shot even though it's not easy, as you all know quite well.

Anyhow, my husband has a lot of issues including GERD, stomach pain, bowel discomfort and bloating besides other things (asthma, for one). He also has had calves that ached badly every day for probably a year (like cramping pain). Since the gluten-free diet, the calf pain has TOTALLY went away. I'm not so sure about the rest as of yet. But, we are still learning some things so who knows if we've made many mistakes along the way.

When at our family doctor about 3 weeks ago, he was mentioning a pain in his side that is there all the time and she ended up sending him for a colonoscopy & endoscopy. We don't have all the results yet but they said he had stomach ulcers and they were trying to determine why the lining in his stomach is deteriorating. They sent off biopsies and were testing for a few things, including celiac.

My question is, will celiac show up on the biopsies if he has it since we've been gluten-free for a month?

[ravenwoodglass]

False negatives are not uncommon even on a full gluten diet so after being gluten free for a month he has even stronger chances of having a false negative result.

[lymie]

Thanks. That's what I suspected. I guess it sort of doesn't matter- he feels better so it's helping him to eat gluten free. It just would be nice to know, ya know?

[Loey]

Hi all! This is my first post here although I've been reading around here off and on.

My husband and I have been eating gluten free for about a month now, not specifically because we suspected we have celiac, but rather it was recommended to us to try it by our doctor who treats us for lyme disease. He has had great patient response in those who have given it a try for at least three months. Since we had nothing to lose and plenty to gain, we decided to give it a shot even though it's not easy, as you all know quite well.

Anyhow, my husband has a lot of issues including GERD, stomach pain, bowel discomfort and bloating besides other things (asthma, for one). He also has had calves that ached badly every day for probably a year (like cramping pain). Since the gluten-free diet, the calf pain has TOTALLY went away. I'm not so sure about the rest as of yet. But, we are still learning some things so who knows if we've made many mistakes along the way.

When at our family doctor about 3 weeks ago, he was mentioning a pain in his side that is there all the time and she ended up sending him for a colonoscopy & endoscopy. We don't have all the results yet but they said he had stomach ulcers and they were trying to determine why the lining in his stomach is deteriorating. They sent off biopsies and were testing for a few things, including celiac.

My question is, will celiac show up on the biopsies if he has it since we've been gluten-free for a month?

I'm responding to the ulcer part of the post because I was just diagnosed with one after I had a capsule endoscopy last week. I have to have it biopsied. I was bedridden for 6 weeks last spring, had a battery of tests and was literally given the results (Celiac) the night before we moved to a new state. I went to the local GI to get my son genetically tested before he left for college (phew- he's OK - one less thing to blame mom for). My old GI wanted me to have the new GI give me the capsule endoscopy ASAP. She felt the Celiac had been undiagnosed for a long time. I had to fight to get him to listen to me (I was better initially on the diet and had a severe flare 5 weeks ago). He's FINALLY taking me seriously and is no longer dismissive. I wish I could have the biopsy sooner (I have to wait another 3 weeks) but my new town is tiny (as is the hospital) and he wants a special anesthesiologist. A woman at the health food store in town suggested probiotics for the ulcer.

As for whether the Celiac shows up after you've been gluten free for a month- I'll leave that to the many experts on this forum. I found this forum two weeks ago and it's been a lifesaver for me (someone who is sick, unemployed, home most of the time right now and in a new town/state where I don't know anyone yet). Unlimited info and laughter will always be found here. Hope you stick around!

I hope your hubby feels better soon. I know exactly how that pain feels!! There's a GI Clearinghouse that I posted on a different Forum but it has free pamphlets and get them to you right away. I received mine within 4 days. If the pamphlet isn't free it's only $1.

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Loey

[lymie]

Thanks, Loey. Sounds like you've been thru some rough patches!

My husband and I left for vacation out here in Montana (a 20-some hour drive for us) the day after he had the colonoscopy/endoscopy and he has still been having bowel upsets and diarrhea and that's been 5 days ago now. He thinks it's from the testing but I have been trying to figure out if he's somehow gotten into some gluten that we didn't detect...We will have to see I guess. I hope it goes away for him. They put him on Prilosec (I think) for the ulcers. He was on a different medication for a few years because our insurance wouldn't cover the proton pump ones and obviously it was not helping!

Sarah