Symptoms/ Diagnosis

[kalexat]

Hello, I'm new here and I just have a few questions.

So a little background info...

My grandmother is celiac, and was diagnosed by a biopsy with a negative blood test. My aunt and cousin are both waiting to see a gastroenterologist as their GPs suspect they are celiac. My grandfather died of colon cancer, which I know could have been because of undiagnosed celiac.

I am 17, and have had stomach troubles as long as I can remember. My gas interferes with my ability to socialize, as attempting to hold it in causes me to get cramps and become nauseous. It is extremely frequent, often with days where I will need to pass gas every 10 minutes, and have to keep making excuses to get away so I don't gross people out.

Every couple years I will become violently ill with diarrhea and vomiting for about 24 hours, and then immediately feel better. I know that food contamination can come from any source, but the days when it has happened have not been preceeded by and change in diet ( no raw cookie dough or undercooked meat etc) I have always naturally avoided foods high in fat, white bread and sugar, and caffeine, as these all seem to make my symptoms much worse

I struggle with disordered eating, but when I am eating a healthy amount and am at a good weight (5'5, 125 pounds, athletic) I typically eat between 3000-3500 calories a day. It is very easy for me to lose weight, and although I am fairly active I feel that this many calories is way above what any of my friends who are the same size as me eat.

I am seeing a gastroenterologist right now, and have been scheduled for a biopsy and colonscopy. She suspects that it is celiac. I have had 3 negative blood tests though. Is there anything else my symptoms sound like? Also, I have to do a 24 hour fecal fat test(gross!), and does anyone with diarrhea have any tips for doing this? Is the biopsy scary, and how soon will I feel normal after the anasthaetic?

[Bubba's Mom]

Many of us have negative blood tests but have Celiac. Eat gluten until you get your endoscope so your test will be more accurate.

The endoscope isn't bad at all. I'm scheduled to have one next week and I'm not nervous at all. You may feel a bit groggy afterwards and not remember everything that happened. You should have someone with you to drive you home. Everyone reacts to meds differently. In general it's advised that you plan to spend the rest of the day relaxing..and don't make any life altering decisions.

We stopped at the grocery store on the way home from my last scope. I wasn't good at handling money. LOL The effects wore off by the time I got home.(at least I think they did)

Good luck to you. I hope you get some answers.

[BellaBella]

Hi kalexat.

The endoscopy should be a piece of cake. I had one last week as well as a colonoscopy. The prep for the colonoscopy is what sucked but the actual procedure really was simple, fast and "easy." No pain at all afterward.

I went in, got in the gown, got the IV and was wheeled into the procedure room. The nurse said "nighty-night" and the next thing I knew I was in the recovery room with my husband. It was almost surreal how fast it all seemed. I felt pretty good when I left the office, my husband and I went for breakfast. But then I went home and slept the rest of the day, for like 5 or 6 hours. Again, no pain, no discomfort, nothing.

So, don't plan anything for the rest of the day just in case, but know that the actual procedure itself should be a piece of cake. That's the only way I can describe it.

Good luck!