Do I Really Have Gluten Problem?

[quiltmom]

My doctor sent in a stool specimen to a lab and it came back that I was very sensitive to gluten. Normal was 10 and I was at 111. I don't know what this means.

But I have been gluten free since October. 3 months and I don't see much difference. It seems like most people know right away.

How do I know if I have had a correct diagnosis?

Sue

[JohnR]

My doctor sent in a stool specimen to a lab and it came back that I was very sensitive to gluten. Normal was 10 and I was at 111. I don't know what this means.

But I have been gluten free since October. 3 months and I don't see much difference. It seems like most people know right away.

How do I know if I have had a correct diagnosis?

Sue

Sue,

I'm currently waiting for the results of a blood test to show whether I have an increase in antibodies that occur with Celiac Disease. The doctor became suspicious of celiac disease from either the stool sample or biopsy that he took during my colonoscopy (I don't remember which). If my blood test is positive for Celiac then I have to get a biopsy of my small intestine (via endoscopy). So the traditional method of diagnosis is blood test and then (if the blood test is positive for celiac disease) small intestine biopsy.

As far as three months gluten-free: I am a 48 year-old male and from what I've read it can take a long time for an adult's intestines to recover - the two figures I have seen the most is "6 months" and "2 years"

[ciamarie]

Was there any particular issue that sent you to see the Dr.? Or was it a routine physical sort of thing? That may have some bearing on what you'd expect to have happen with a gluten-free diet. It's also possible you're still (unknowingly) ingesting gluten, and you'd need to discover how to start seeing a difference.

[domesticactivist]

Do you have a copy of your test result? What was tested?

Also, are you sure you are not being cross contaminated? A few things to think about:

Do you have a mixed household? What about your cosmetics? Do you have or work with children who eat gluten? Did you replace cookware?

When we first went gluten free I felt horrible for months. Actually worse than before. It wasn't until I went to a whole foods diet (no replacement crackers, pastas, breads, etc) that I felt better. It's not necessarily that gluten was getting me, but i think I am reactive to some of those replacement foods. Naturally gluten free grains are often cross contaminated, though, so that's something to look into as well.