Endoscopy

[jimmyheard]

Hi folks, new member. Recently had my blood test which was high for whichever antibodies it is they test for and I have my endoscopy tomorrow morning at the hospital. How long does it take for the results to come back and just how uncomfortable is the endoscopy. any information would be greatly appreciated as i don't really know much about it all.

cheers

[Ilovehorses]

Sorry can't be of any help but interested to read replies as waiting blood results to come back. Bit worried re the endoscopy if I need it

[love2travel]

Welcome here!

I had both the endoscopy and colonoscopy and it was easy peasy. The surgeon gave me a memory-erasing drug so the last thing I remember before going "out" was the tube coming towards me then the next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery with my husband holding my hand. My step father had one done and opted out of the drugs and said it was fine but if I were you I would do the drugs if possible.

The worst thing about the procedure was the colonoscopy prep but it sounds as though you do not have to worry about that. Even that wasn't that bad - just lots of diarrhea and not eating for 48 hours was a bit tough. I had a colonoscopy at the same time to rule out other potential issues.

It took two weeks for my results to come back - resoundingly positive though I had no obvious glutening symptoms after being on my gluten challenge nearly four months.

You really should request that the doctor takes at least 8-11 biopsies - there is a very high false negative rate because often only 3 biopsies are taken. Have you heard/read on here that only 40% of biopsies in the US and Canada are done CORRECTLY? I was told that by a celiac specialist from Edmonton as well (a gastroenterlogist). That is just insane.

All the best!

[love2travel]

  On 8/29/2011 at 5:53 PM, Ilovehorses said:

Sorry can't be of any help but interested to read replies as waiting blood results to come back. Bit worried re the endoscopy if I need it

Just keep in mind that there is a very high false negative possibility with bloodwork - up to 30% unfortunately. But false positives are virtually unheard of.

[jimmyheard]

it's just a local anaesthetic i'm getting so i'll be awake during it. i'll just have to brave it. Not getting a colonoscopy though. That's maybe a good thing though!! I realise this is a US site but I'm over in the UK (Scotland to be exact, home of the deep fried mars bar) Any other UK users with any experiences?

[love2travel]

  On 8/29/2011 at 6:18 PM, jimmyheard said:

it's just a local anaesthetic i'm getting so i'll be awake during it. i'll just have to brave it. Not getting a colonoscopy though. That's maybe a good thing though!! I realise this is a US site but I'm over in the UK (Scotland to be exact, home of the deep fried mars bar) Any other UK users with any experiences?

You should be just fine. I just remembered that my sister had local and she found it an easy procedure (and she is squeamish).

You're in Scotland? Where? I LOVE Scotland. It is in my blood.

[jimmyheard]

I'm in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. Near England, but not in England. We're very particular about that!

Reading the literature i got from the hospital it says in most circumstances, your doctor can inform you of your test results on the day of the procedure, but results of any biopsies will take several days. Does that mean that they will be able to pretty much tell from looking at the villi if they are flattened when he's doing the endoscopy? Hadn't really expected it to be so quick, I thought I'd maybe be able to enjoy one last pint of (decent) lager before I found out.

[love2travel]

  On 8/29/2011 at 6:38 PM, jimmyheard said:

I'm in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. Near England, but not in England. We're very particular about that!

Reading the literature i got from the hospital it says in most circumstances, your doctor can inform you of your test results on the day of the procedure, but results of any biopsies will take several days. Does that mean that they will be able to pretty much tell from looking at the villi if they are flattened when he's doing the endoscopy? Hadn't really expected it to be so quick, I thought I'd maybe be able to enjoy one last pint of (decent) lager before I found out.

I know Selkirk - I've been to the Scottish Borders several times. Absolutely breathtaking. I cannot imagine living in such sublime surroundings.

Sometimes damage is visible to the naked eye - my doctor told me he wanted to wait until my biopsy results were back before he told me anything definitive.

But I did not go gluten free for another two weeks after I was notified of my results as I had a HUGE list of gluten-filled foods I wanted to have one last time. So, I'm sure you can have one more pint before you go gluten-free.

FYI - my initial bloodwork results were 71.0; recently down to 3.8 and anything under 7.0 is considered "negative" so an awful lot can be accomplished in just five months!!!

[jimmyheard]

  On 8/29/2011 at 6:56 PM, love2travel said:

I know Selkirk - I've been to the Scottish Borders several times. Absolutely breathtaking. I cannot imagine living in such sublime surroundings.

Sometimes damage is visible to the naked eye - my doctor told me he wanted to wait until my biopsy results were back before he told me anything definitive.

But I did not go gluten free for another two weeks after I was notified of my results as I had a HUGE list of gluten-filled foods I wanted to have one last time. So, I'm sure you can have one more pint before you go gluten-free.

FYI - my initial bloodwork results were 71.0; recently down to 3.8 and anything under 7.0 is considered "negative" so an awful lot can be accomplished in just five months!!!

The Borders is lovely but can get a bit boring with it being so small.

I wish I'd asked more questions when i was at the doctors but i guess i will find out more tomorrow. I just want to find out either way so I can start to move forward. I'm quite impatient at times.

[cahill]

Your blood work came back positive you have celiac's even if there is not enough damage yet to have a positive biopsy.

The endoscopy it self is not bad at all , for me the hardest part was the waiting

Welcome to the forums, great group of people here

[jimmyheard]

  On 8/29/2011 at 8:41 PM, a1956chill said:

Your blood work came back positive you have celiac's even if there is not enough damage yet to have a positive biopsy.

The endoscopy it self is not bad at all , for me the hardest part was the waiting

Welcome to the forums, great group of people here

What about false positives? I have been preparing myself for the worst and i'm sure i'll take it in my stride. I was a chef for a number of years so i'm not worried about cooking for myself. eating out will be an issue i know. And I will miss lager in the pub and the fish and chip shop after a night out but i reckon i will mainly feel relieved.

[psawyer]

  On 8/29/2011 at 8:54 PM, jimmyheard said:

What about false positives?

False negatives are quite common. False positives, although possible, are rare.

[jimmyheard]

Well, the endoscopy wasn't too bad. bit of a sore throat and a lot of gagging, but i'm pleased it's over. Just got to wait a couple of weeks for the results. Gonna try my first gluten-free day tomorrow.

[Ilovehorses]

Glad it went ok, were you offered a sedative?? Xx

[jimmyheard]

  On 8/30/2011 at 4:30 PM, Ilovehorses said:

Glad it went ok, were you offered a sedative?? Xx

Cheers, they offered me a general anaesthetic but I just opted for the throat spray for numbing which I'm glad. Went shopping for my first gluten free food today as well. Some nice chocolate macaroons and some bread for my sandwich tomorrow. I didn't think my local shop would have much as it's quite small but was pleasantly surprised. Gonna head to the bigger shop in Galashiels on my lunch break tomorrow to pick up some gluten free beer as well. Determined not to get down about it too much. I've felt down for so long over the last year or so that I'm looking forward to feeling better instead. Although I realise it'll not quite be as simple as that, I want to try and stay positive.

[Ilovehorses]

Definately, I'm trying to stay positive too. Just want to know if I'm positive or not at the minute, then I'll be able to deal with it! How long did it take for your initial celiac bloods to come back??

[jimmyheard]

  On 8/30/2011 at 8:23 PM, Ilovehorses said:

Definately, I'm trying to stay positive too. Just want to know if I'm positive or not at the minute, then I'll be able to deal with it! How long did it take for your initial celiac bloods to come back??

It took 3 weeks to get the blood tests back but i think it was only supposed to take 2. I just couldn't make the earlier appointment. That is on the NHS in the UK though so no doubt it will be quicker for other places. The NHS is free after all.

[Ilovehorses]

Yeah I'm in uk too so I'll expect it to take what my GP has said which is two weeks xxx

[jimmyheard]

  On 8/30/2011 at 9:24 PM, Ilovehorses said:

Yeah I'm in uk too so I'll expect it to take what my GP has said which is two weeks xxx

After I got my results which I think was on a Thursday, I got my letter through from the hospital on the Saturday and my endoscopy was arranged for the following Monday which was a lot quicker than I expected.

[Ilovehorses]

Blimey, that was quick!! I called my GP surgery this am re my routine bloods. Apparently my doctor has looked at them so according to the receptionist they must be ok.

[cahill]

  On 8/31/2011 at 11:36 AM, Ilovehorses said:

Blimey, that was quick!! I called my GP surgery this am re my routine bloods. Apparently my doctor has looked at them so according to the receptionist they must be ok.

Get a copy of them to be sure. I dont know about the UK but in the US we are able to get a copy of our test results upon request . Just because the receptionist thinks they are "OK" doesnt make it so. Make sure by looking at them your self.

[Ilovehorses]

This was only the 'routine' bloods, the celiac ones arn't back till next week as seems to take 2-3 weeks in uk. If I've not heard by next wednesday I'm going to make a appoint to see GP as if it's not celiac I need to find out what's causing this persistent stomach ache. I definately think I've become intolerant of gluten but whether it's celiac disease or not I don't know xx

[jimmyheard]

  On 8/31/2011 at 7:35 PM, Ilovehorses said:

This was only the 'routine' bloods, the celiac ones arn't back till next week as seems to take 2-3 weeks in uk. If I've not heard by next wednesday I'm going to make a appoint to see GP as if it's not celiac I need to find out what's causing this persistent stomach ache. I definately think I've become intolerant of gluten but whether it's celiac disease or not I don't know xx

Keep at them anyway. A good doctor certainly makes a difference. My own GP is terrible and I've not met anyone who has a good word to say about her. Her advice to me was just, change your diet. It took me going to a different GP who was prepared to do anything else. Hope everything goes ok for you.

[Ilovehorses]

I'm very lucky in that my GP is (touch wood) very good. How did your first gluten free day go?? What are you going to eat in a day? I was in the supermarket today thinking I might not be able to have this and this etc.... Got me down a bit :-(

[jimmyheard]

  On 8/31/2011 at 8:14 PM, Ilovehorses said:

I'm very lucky in that my GP is (touch wood) very good. How did your first gluten free day go?? What are you going to eat in a day? I was in the supermarket today thinking I might not be able to have this and this etc.... Got me down a bit :-(

I had a productive evening cooking. I bought some gluten free bread flour and just followed the instructions to make a cheese and tomato pizza. It was alright for a first attempt and i could definitely improve on it. Didn't really enjoy the bread that I had for my sandwich though, but I don't think it was the freshest. And I've got some pitta bread which I'll have with half of a poussin that i got today and some of the tomato sauce left from the pizza for lunch tomorrow. I felt the same walking round Tesco thinking I won't be able to have this and that. It was hardest walking past the pastry section as i love the donuts they do. But then I got home and started cooking and I was over it. Don't feel down, concentrate on the good things.