Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Endoscopy?

jststric

By jststric
in Doctors

Recommended Posts

jststric Contributor
jststric
Posted

I am scheduled to have my first colonoscopy a week from Monday. I'm going to be 52 in a couple of weeks. My doc first mentioned getting it done 3 yrs ago and I have just put it off and put it off and put it off. So humiliating. But now she AND my gyno is BUGGING me to get it done, so I'm finally doing it. Question, is a colonoscopy the same thing as the endoscopy I've read many of you having done?? Is there anything I should definitely ask the doctor??? I have been self-diagnosed gluten-intolerant (along with alot of other food groups) for about 4 yrs now. I didn't waste too much time with doctors telling me negative findings when this all started. I saw this doctor once when my typical allergy tests didn't come up with much and he did a blood test that came up negative. Now, maybe 3 yrs later, I'm unclear what that test really was. Anyway, Merry Christmas and a Happy Birthday to me....with a colonoscopy. :P

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Ox on the Roof Apprentice
Ox on the Roof
Posted

A colonoscopy checks out your lower GI track. An endoscopy checks out the upper part. You could always request a two for one special. :lol: Unfortunately, I had them done at different times and they didn't bother to check for Celiac. :huh:

Emilushka Contributor
Emilushka
Posted

I'm assuming you're getting the colonoscopy as the regular screening for colon cancer, which is done in everyone over 50. That's not the same as looking for Celiac damage. The colonoscopy is a camera inserted in the anus and projected up through the large intestine all the way past the appendix to the very end of the small intestine. For those over 50, the docs are looking for polyps or growths - really any sign of cancer. They'll only biopsy if they find something.

The endoscopy is a camera inserted through the mouth and esophagus (throat) to the stomach and then the beginning of the small intestine. Even with a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy you miss a bunch of the small intestine. When looking for Celiac damage, the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine may be biopsied. With the camera, the docs can visualize really dramatic damage and the biopsies can reveal smaller changes.

If you were to be tested for Celiac Disease, you'd need to go back to eating gluten before getting scoped. Without an indication for the upper endoscopy your insurance might not cover it. Be careful with just electing to have procedures done unless you have super-awesome insurance that covers everything. Getting stuck with a bill for $6,000 will hurt.

jststric Contributor
jststric
Posted
  • Author

Wow, thanks for the warning! I have DECENT insurance, but does ANYONE have GREAT insurance anymore??? Nope, $6K isn't for me!

Emilushka Contributor
Emilushka
Posted

The Celiac damage is more commonly small intestine, so the colonoscopy isn't for Celiac detection. The colonoscopy you were recommended is for cancer detection. Everybody gets them unless they're stubborn.

  • 3 weeks later...
beefree11 Newbie
beefree11
Posted

I am scheduled to have my first colonoscopy a week from Monday. I'm going to be 52 in a couple of weeks. My doc first mentioned getting it done 3 yrs ago and I have just put it off and put it off and put it off. So humiliating. But now she AND my gyno is BUGGING me to get it done, so I'm finally doing it. Question, is a colonoscopy the same thing as the endoscopy I've read many of you having done?? Is there anything I should definitely ask the doctor??? I have been self-diagnosed gluten-intolerant (along with alot of other food groups) for about 4 yrs now. I didn't waste too much time with doctors telling me negative findings when this all started. I saw this doctor once when my typical allergy tests didn't come up with much and he did a blood test that came up negative. Now, maybe 3 yrs later, I'm unclear what that test really was. Anyway, Merry Christmas and a Happy Birthday to me....with a colonoscopy. :P

Hope everything went well for you. I think my three days of prep was the worst part of it all. But now I have these lovely color pics of my um, "stuff"!! lol

My gastro DID do the celiac test on me of which it was negative. Only found some minor issues: reflux, GERD, ibs.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,538
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Josiemc
    Newest Member
    Josiemc
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Unusual bright yellow but odourless discharge

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Yes, I, too, have osteoporosis from years of malabsorption, too.  Thiamine and magnesium are what keep the calcium in place in the bones.  If one is low in magnesium, boron, selenium, zinc, copper, and other trace minerals, ones bone heath can suffer.  We need more than just calcium and Vitamin D for strong bones.  Riboflavin B 2, Folate B 9 and Pyridoxine B 6 also contribute to bone formation and strength.   Have you had your thyroid checked?  The thyroid is important to bone health as well.  The thyroid uses lots of thiamine, so a poorly functioning thyroid will affect bone heath.  
    • Celiac50
      Unusual bright yellow but odourless discharge

      By Celiac50 · Posted

      That sounds so very likely in my case! I will absolutely ask my doctor on my next bone check coming up in March... Thanks a lot! 
    • trents
      Unusual bright yellow but odourless discharge

      By trents · Posted

      Calcium levels as measured in the blood can be quite deceiving as the body will rob calcium from the bones to meet demands for it by other bodily functions. Also, supplementing with calcium can be counterproductive as it tends to raise gut pH and decrease absorption. More often than not, the problem is poor absorption to begin with rather than deficiency of intake amounts in the diet. Calcium needs an acidic environment to be absorbed. This is why so many people on PPIs develop osteoporosis. The PPIs raise gut pH. And some people have high gut PH for other reasons. Low pH equates to a more acidic environment whereas high pH equates to a more basic (less acidic) environment.
    • Celiac50
      Unusual bright yellow but odourless discharge

      By Celiac50 · Posted

      Kind thanks for all this valuable information! Since my Folate was/is low and also my Calcium, there IS a chance I am low in B vitamins... My doctor only measured the first two, oh and Zinc as I has twisted her arm and guess what, that was mega low too. So who knows, until I get myself tested properly, what else I am deficient in... I did a hair mineral test recently and it said to avoid All sources of Calcium. But this is confusing for me as my Ca is so low and I have osteoporosis because of this. It is my Adjusted Ca that is on the higher side and shouldn't be. So am not sure why the mineral test showed high Ca (well, it was medium in the test but relative to my lowish Magnesium, also via hair sample, it was high I was told). But anyway, thanks again for the VitB download, I will look into this most certainly!
    • ElisaAllergiesgluten
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By ElisaAllergiesgluten · Posted

      Hello good afternoon, I was wondering if anyone has ever brought their anti-allergy pills? I have been wanting to use their Cetirizine HCI 10mg. They are called HealthA2Z and distributed by Allegiant Health.I’m also Asthmatic and these allergies are terrible for me but I also want to be sure they don’t have any sort of gluten compound.    I have tried calling them but to no avail. Has anyone ever used them? If so, did you had any problems or no problems at all?    thank you
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.