Is Celiac My Magic Bullet?

[AerinA]

Hi everyone.

Sorry in advance for a long post...

Basically, I'm one of those people with a really, really, really complicated medical history. I was born with a kidney deformity, got that taken care of. I've had problems with ADHD my whole life, had migraines since 4th grade, I don't remember ever NOT feeling sleepy (not quite narcoleptic but close), most recently had thyroid cancer. Every time they come up wtih some new diagnosis for me I think "hey, maybe THIS will fix my brain fog!" or, "maybe I'll start to be less sleepy now!" My immune system has always been terrible too, and I have a bad habit of nearly bleeding out on the surgical table. I'm so tired of feeling like a dysfunctional human being, like my body is falling apart--I probably couldn't list all my symptoms if I tried, since I don't know what's causing what, I don't even think I could make a comprehensive list.

Most recently, I changed endocrinologists due to my synthroid not absorbing at all, and my previous doc not really paying attention (my TSH was 27 even taking my meds every day ?!?!) She immediately found that I had undetectable levels of D2 as well, though I had small amounts of D3. She says she strongly suspects celiacs, but doesn't want to put me through a biopsy. I haven't yet gotten to scrutinize the results of the blood work they did, whatever it was.

Based on my lifelong symptoms, I'd say that a lot of things would be explained by celiacs, but I'm overweight (used to be under but... with the thyroid issues it's hard to know the real cause of that), tend to have IBS problems but NOT the classic multiple bathroom trips (tends to be the opposite), and I have had so many other conditions (and surgeries, and treatments, and everything else) that I have no idea if I'm barking up the wrong tree. A biopsy doesn't sound like the end of the world, but what if it's negative? I've been at a loss for a really long time, it would be SO nice if going gluten-free fixed stuff, but I hardly dare to hope for it. Anybody have input or experience similar things? Any advice at all would be much appreciated.

[mushroom]

I think you need to get a copy of your blood test results to find out what tests they did and what the results were. If they did not run the celiac panel they should do so. If they did you need to know what the results were, especially iif she strongly suspects celiac disease.. One doesn't normally have a biopsy just for low vitamin D.

[ravenwoodglass]

Do get a copy of the test results. If they are positive it sounds like your doctor will consider you diagnosed. Since there is a chance of a false negative with the biopsy anyway some doctors are diagnosing without one. After you are done with all the testing you choose to do give the diet a good strict try no matter what the results of testing.

[T.H.]

...and if the tests and biopsy are both negative? There is absolutely nothing stopping you from trying the diet yourself, either. A number of people here have tested negative for celiac disease, both blood and biopsy, but had symptom improvement (or complete reversal) on a gluten free diet.

Re: the symptoms? I don't have the big D, either. I never thought I had gut issues, but now I notice I get the opposite when I get gluten, too.

[eatmeat4good]

I've been overweight too and that is also a symptom of Celiac, not just the weight loss. It has to do with swelling and inflammation. Your thyroid medication not being absorbed is another indicator. I just read the book by Peter Green, Celiac A Hidden Epidemic. In this book he discusses exactly what happened to you in the case of your Thyroid med not being absorbed and he describes two cases where women were diagnosed with Celiac because their astute doctors recognized the medication was not being absorbed.

Ask for a full Celiac Panel and if you want the biopsy ask for it. After everything else you have been through, it seems ridiculous that your Dr. "doesn't want to put you through that" particularly if it will give you a diagnosis. However, like they said above, if your Dr. is willing to diagnose you without the biopsy based on your bloodwork, then you will be able to get on with eliminating gluten from your life and start feeling better.

What you are describing as brain fog began to lift for me withing the first two weeks of being gluten free.

You just may have your answer now.

Do dare to hope.

[AerinA]

Thanks for the input, everyone.

I've been on the diet for a month now, I still haven't seen my doctor again post-blood work so I haven't gotten to analyze it, but I'm feeling much more awake and "with it" now, so I'm staying on the diet regardless of what it says. It can only get better from here.

[eatmeat4good]

That is wonderful!

Thanks for posting, I was wondering how you were doing.

I hope everything continues to get better.

It is really amazing how incredibly ill one can be from gluten.

At 4 months into this diet, I continue to get better everyday.

Take care.