Waiting For Results...

[Chalsh]

I just had my upper endoscopy sergury to test for Celiac Disease 4 days ago. Sense then, I have gone on a gluten-free diet because the doctor said it was "pretty likely" I had Celiac. But I feel like the diet is making me crazy. I have sudden drastic mood swings where one moment I'll be crying, then I'll be laughing, and the next I'll be wishing I could punch a whole in something. Not only that, but I'm always hungry now. Even after a huge meal.

This is why I want to hurry up and get my results. The chance that I might actually not have celiac frustrates me because this diet could be for nothing. How long will it be until I get my results? My symptoms are mouth ulcers (several at once. 6 at one point), stomach pain, bloating, a rare occasion of really bad GERD, depression at times, and often fatigued- how likely do you think it is that I have celiac? And one more question, how long after you eat something with gluten does it take to experience celiac symptoms? I still get bloating occasionally, so I wonder which foods it is that's doing it.

[sb2178]

Pretty possible. Sounds like a typical list of symptoms complete with "withdrawl." I found free access to chocolate to be helpful in fighting the urge to eat something I shouldn't. Or pick some other treat to help get you through the worst of it.

Are you still eating dairy? You'll probably feel better without it. It could easily be contributing to discomfort.

Symptoms vary from person to person. I think they even vary from exposure to exposure. Low level contamination hits me at 12-36 hour post-dose with lower GI issues and then GERD for a few days. Actual quantities of gluten hit me in about 30 minutes with pain.

[Chalsh]

Thanks for the reply. I coincidentally received my results today and was diagnosed with celiac. I am still eating dairy at the moment because that's just about the only gluten free food in my house. I might go dairy free after talking to a nutritionist though.

[Roda]

This happened to my 6 year old. For the first week he had very bad mood swings. He was also an eating machine for about two weeks or so. Every time I turned around he wanted food especially, like you said, after a meal. It slowly tapered down and now he seems fine unless he get into unintentional gluten(thanks summer day camp) or cc'd. Now he is growing like a weed (growth spurt). I am suprised that my 6 year old can out eat his 10 year old brother. I don't worry about how often he eats as long as they are good choices. He doesn't have a weight issue and is very lean so I don't fret.

[mushroom]

Now that you have the celiac diagnosis it is important to get rid of the lactose for a few months because the area that the gluten damages in your small intestine is the factory for making the enzyme to digest it You should consider giving it up right away if your want to heal fast. Almond milk, hemp milk, both good substitutes. Beware of Rice Dream though because it is processed with barley.

There is hemp and doconut ice cream if you have a craving. Earth Balance makes a great non-soy spread (and I would advise avoiding soy at first too because it is often a co-offender with gluten.

Your moodiness is undoubtedly due to withdrawal symptoms, because gluten acts like an opioid on the brain, and you can expect them to last for 2-3 weeks. You just have to grin and bear it, I'm afraid, and ask family and friends to be forgiving

And it's not your brain that is hungry, it is your body that is hungry for all the nutrients it hasn't been able to absorb while gluten was doing its number on you. So first thing you need to do is go back to your PCP or your GI and get nutrient testing, especiallly Vts. D, B12, folate, and ferritin/iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and also get your thyroid function checked. These are the typical things that gluten throws out of whack. If your D is low, you should get a bone density scan to make sure you don't have osteoporosis. If you do, you should be able to rebuild bone with D, Calcium, magnesium and zinc, and not take fosamx or Boniva or whatever.

Welcome to the celiac club and fire away with any questions you have.