Could I Have Celiac?

[melanie-c]

I know about celiac, but honestly I never thought I would ever be thinking could I have it. I've even read Elizabeth Hasselbecks book before, but always though - thank goodness I don't have to worry about all that.

Years ago my doctor said I had IBS, but either I learned to live with it or things I did made it manageable or better. It wasn't unusual for me to eat something (especially mid-day) and my stomach to go into a fit and swell up from bloating, get cramps and have a diarehha episode.

I'm a vegan now, and when I first went off dairy I felt so much better in the stomach area. Only occasionally would the attacks happen. Now I'm getting attacks again and I have other odd symptoms. Some of the symptoms I suppose I've always had, I just have varying degrees and feel better worse sometimes or just don't associate them together.

In fact, I'm having a light attack right now with lots of tummy grumbling, slight cramping and bloating.

1. Attacks after eating - Bloating to the point that my bladder hurts (have interstycial cysitis), gas, diaherra, stomach cramping and pain.

2. Brain fog

3. Always tired, even after awaking - no energy

4. Loose stools (stick to the side of bowl) - Mostly every morning like clockwork, and sometimes more times during day.

5. low iron levels

6. lots of gas (although I eat a lot of fiber) and veggies

7. Stomach Rumbling

8. Pains on right side of body (right shoulder, right knee)

9. My allergies that are usually end of may to June have not stopped this year, so I feel mucousy, congested all the time now. I had a cough from early July till the end of August from it.

I tend to stick my head in the sand and think it can't be something I'm eating, but I'm really starting to think otherwise. The mental fog lately is horrible and I'm tired of feeling sick and tired.

Any chance I could have celiacs - With my allergies not going away, I'm wondering if I have a food sensitiviy. Any thoughts? I'm thinking I want to try a food elimination and see what happens.

[AVR1962]

If you could get a doc to run a test for you would be the best bet however if you are just wondering and want to experiement you could always go back on gluten later if you thought this could be the answer. The symptoms listed would definately be worth trying to go gluten-free to see if they improved.

[eatmeat4good]

All of your symptoms listed are consistent with Celiac.

Including the interstitial cystitis.

I was very surprised when mine went away as soon as I got rid of gluten.

It was the first thing to disappear and it has never come back not even once in the year that I have been gluten free.

Don't stick your head in the sand.

You might be one of us and you could be feeling sooooo much better soon.

Testing is up to you, but I decided it wasn't worth it given that I was going to go gluten free regardless of what the tests said. It has made a world of difference to me.

I used to read about Celiac and think "That must be awful..I'm glad I don't have to deal with that!" Now when I think about all the people eating gluten and not knowing wheat is damaging them and causing all of their symptoms I think, "I'm so glad I know about Celiac and I don't have to deal with that!" I feel like one of the chosen few now that I know what gluten does.

It's hard to put all the pieces together before you know what is causing your symptoms, but once you try the diet and the symptoms go away, it is really wonderful to be "one of us."

[Goof]

Agreed! Talk to your doctor, and go get tested. But don't change your diet beforehand. Otherwise, it can affect the results, and you'll have to go back on gluten for several weeks. I had many of the same symptoms. Once I went gluten free, the difference was huge!!

[melanie-c]

All of your symptoms listed are consistent with Celiac.

Including the interstitial cystitis.

I was very surprised when mine went away as soon as I got rid of gluten.

It was the first thing to disappear and it has never come back not even once in the year that I have been gluten free.

Wow - I would have never thought Interstitial Cystitis and Celiacs could be related.

Hmm now I'm not sure what route to go - just trying to give up gluten (and I also want to try giving up soy) and seeing how I feel or going to get tested. Maybe I'll try to make a Dr's appt next week.

Also a little back-ground on my IC

I was diagnosed when I was 16 back in the mid 80's, so I've been living with this

for years now. Back then I used to have installations of DMSO that did help it.

The time in between installations got further and further apart and I'd only go

and have them when I would get flare-ups that were really painful. I eventually learned

the pain would go away the next morning if I just didn't go for a treatment.

It's something I've learned to live with over the years. I don't think it's as bad as it

was when I was younger, but the pain is still there but not all the time and I have

to go to the bathroom a lot more than normal people (6-10 times before going to bed at

night just try to completely get that empty feeling is annyoing). It affects my sleep

which I always thought was the reason I am chronically tired and fatigued. The gas

pains I get sometimes make me feel like I'm having a "flare" and for the longest time

I thought it was IC until I realized it was the pressure on my bladder.

[eatmeat4good]

I had the interstitial cystitis all of my life.

As a child I was a bedwetter. Badder spasms...always had to GO but never could empty completely. I was put on antibiotics on a daily basis for years.

I'm telling you...it could be gluten. It definitely was for me.

I pee normally for the first time in my life. I don't have any spasms or urgency like I used to. I don't have to take antibiotics anymore.

I'm 48.

I'm only one year gluten free.

It was wheat all along.

The spasms and IC were gone the first month I got off gluten.

I'm so excited for you if this is the case for you.

It's wonderful not to have that pain.

[melanie-c]

Thanks everyone,

I'm definately not going to stick my head in the sand. I think I'll try going to the Dr. and see if he takes me seriously and then go from there. I'm going to start making a list of things I can eat that would be "vegan and Gluten Free" so when I'm ready to start removing things from my diet I have a plan and an idea of what to make.

[Twinklestars]

I also think you could have celiac. While you're still eating gluten (even though you feel unwell) I would get the testing done to try and find out. If it all comes out negative, there's nothing stopping you from going gluten free anyway. But if you go gluten free before any testing is done it will affect your results. Let us know how you go!

[melanie-c]

Follow-up: I have a Dr's appointment for Friday at 2:30 PM. Step 1! I'll let you know what they say. I hope he is willing to do tests and/ or refer me to a GI Specialist.

I really appreciate everyone's replies. I really hope it's not Celiac Disease, yet knowing I could feel better almost makes me want to. At least then I would know what to do to feel better even thought it's super scary to think about cutting more foods out of my diet.