Are These Celiac-Related?

[Marie1976]

My stomach problems are what led me to the doctor in the first place. My blood tests say I have celiac, and I'm getting an endo on Thursday to confirm the diagnosis.

Now I am having sinus headaches for the last couple weeks, is this possibly celiac-related? And will they postpone my endo if I'm having sinus issues? (I'm now at the point where I want to get the endo over with and start the gluten free diet because I've been so miserable.)

My other problem is that my legs have been itching so bad that I'm getting bruises from scratching. And I'm getting blister-like bumps on my fingers. Is this dermatitis herpetiformis? (Don't know if I spelled that right.) For some reason I was under the impression that celiacs have gastric problems OR skin problems. Is it possible to have both?

[maryphyl]

My stomach problems are what led me to the doctor in the first place. My blood tests say I have celiac, and I'm getting an endo on Thursday to confirm the diagnosis.

Now I am having sinus headaches for the last couple weeks, is this possibly celiac-related? And will they postpone my endo if I'm having sinus issues? (I'm now at the point where I want to get the endo over with and start the gluten free diet because I've been so miserable.)

My other problem is that my legs have been itching so bad that I'm getting bruises from scratching. And I'm getting blister-like bumps on my fingers. Is this dermatitis herpetiformis? (Don't know if I spelled that right.) For some reason I was under the impression that celiacs have gastric problems OR skin problems. Is it possible to have both?

I don't know about your sinus headaches but it is definitely possible to have both skin and innards troubles, I do. mary

[eatmeat4good]

Yes, you can have gastrointestinal and DH if you have Celiac. I have all 3: Gastrointestinal, Dermatitis Herpetiformis, and Neurological problems if I get any gluten. The skin sores take the longest to resolve.

[Marie1976]

OK thanks. I don't know why I thought it would be one or the other - skin problems or GI problems. (Maybe because having both isn't fair? Ha ha.)

The other new symptom I've had lately is my eye keeps twitching, which is weird and annoying. Don't know if that's celiac or something else wrong with me.

I have been making a conscious effort to eat gluten to prepare for the test. Maybe all the extra gluten is causing more symptoms to crop up? That's the only explanation I can come up with...

[eatmeat4good]

Yes, that very well could be. The eye twitching would be neurological...so you could have symptoms in all three categories...watch for clumsiness, anxiety, depression, and be aware they can be Celiac too. And if you don't test positive..just remember gluten intolerance is just as serious. I wouldn't want you to miss getting relief from being gluten free just because you don't test out as a Celiac. A lot of us here don't. The longer you are on gluten, the more you can expect to have more symptoms. I hope they stop for you soon and you can get back to healing yourself.

[Marie1976]

Yes, that very well could be. The eye twitching would be neurological...so you could have symptoms in all three categories...watch for clumsiness, anxiety, depression, and be aware they can be Celiac too. And if you don't test positive..just remember gluten intolerance is just as serious. I wouldn't want you to miss getting relief from being gluten free just because you don't test out as a Celiac. A lot of us here don't. The longer you are on gluten, the more you can expect to have more symptoms. I hope they stop for you soon and you can get back to healing yourself.

So the blood tests could say positive for celiac but if the biopsy is negative, does that mean it's intolerance and not celiac? I'm confused...

I'm starting to see the connection between eating gluten and not feeling well, so I'm going to go gluten free right after the test Thursday. (Do you know how long it usually takes to get the biopsy results?)

I have had anxiety/depression for a long time. I will be so happy if cutting gluten helps with that.

[eatmeat4good]

Sorry if I confused you. I didn't mean to. The way I understand it, a positive test is postive for Celiac no doubt about it. BUT if you test negative on blood and or biopsy then you might be in the percentage who do not test postive but still react to gluten whether it is Celiac or Gluten Intolerance.

I never did the testing, except the food challenge and that was answer enough for me. I'm just relating what I have read about the testing not being 100% accurate in picking up and diagnosing all Celiacs. But a positive is a postive. Don't know how long the test results take to get back. It probably depends on the lab.

Oh yes, anxiety and depression can sometimes be eliminated very quickly by going gluten free. I hope this happens to you. It was true for me.

[Debbie B in MD]

Yes, you can have gastrointestinal and DH if you have Celiac. I have all 3: Gastrointestinal, Dermatitis Herpetiformis, and Neurological problems if I get any gluten. The skin sores take the longest to resolve.

I'm 3 for 3 also. Lucky us eatmeat4 good. My skin is a problem that hasn't resolved yet from being gluten free for 3 months, but I am still having some neuro issues (burning, tinglung muscles) from my lunchmeat gluttening fiasco almost 2 weeks ago. It is improving, but not gone yet.

[Marie1976]

Thanks everybody! Endo tomorrow -- wish me luck.