I Have Some Questions About Celiac Disease

[channing28105]

I have some questions about Celiac Disease I am wondering if I have Celiac Disease because

1. I have Anemia

2. I have Bloating at times

3. I have Vomiting at times

4. I have Headaches at times

5. I have autism

6. I have Hypothyroidism

7. I have belching or flatulence

8. I am having off and on diarrhea

9. I am having tummy cramps

If you know the answers please message me.

I want to say thank you to anyone that responds to my question.

Channing

[SarahJimMarcy]

I had all of the above except for #5 and I have celiac. You should go get tested.

[livelifelarge24]

You really can't know until you get tested. All of the things you mentioned are definitely symptoms of Celiac, however they can be symptoms of Other things as well, that is why they call Celiac disease the Great Immitator.

[krystynycole]

It's very possible you have celiac. You may also just be gluten intolerant. I teach students with autism and have a nephew with autism. Over the years I have seen many people with autism feel MUCH, MUCH better going off gluten even if they aren't celiac. If your tests are negative, it might be worth a shot to go off and see if it helps. Doctor's really can't explain the connection to autism and gluten, but I've seen it myself it can make a big difference.

[TravelnVal]

One thing that I didn't see in any of the other post. Your test wont be 100% accurate if you go on the gluten-free diet before the endoscopy. I've been diagnosed back in October, and feel so much better since starting the diet after the diagnoses.

[mushroom]

With those symptoms you definitely need to have the blood panel for celiac disease, which consists of the following tests:

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgA

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgG

Anti-Endomysial (EMA) IgA

Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) IgA

Deamidated Gliadin Peptide (DGP) IgA and IgG

Total Serum IgA

This panel can be ordered by your primary care physician - you don't need to go to a specialist. It is important that the last test is included, because it is a control for the other tests - if you do not make normal quantities of IgA then all other IgA testing is invalid. And do keep eating gluten until all your testing is finished, which may include an endoscopy if your blood tests are positive.

Do keep us posted and let us know if there is any other way we can help, and by the way, welcome to the board.

[fantasticalice]

  On 2/8/2012 at 12:04 PM, mushroom said:

And do keep eating gluten until all your testing is finished, which may include an endoscopy if your blood tests are positive.

No other way?? You HAVE to keep eating gluten? I so want my daughter to get tested but no way would she

eat gluten!? She would have to take a week off work to even begin that. It makes her feel so bad....

[krystynycole]

  On 2/20/2012 at 2:21 PM, fantasticalice said:

And do keep eating gluten until all your testing is finished, which may include an endoscopy if your blood tests are positive.

No other way?? You HAVE to keep eating gluten? I so want my daughter to get tested but no way would she

eat gluten!? She would have to take a week off work to even begin that. It makes her feel so bad....

Unfortunately it's true. This is why I consider myself non-confirmed celiac because I didn't know this until a month later and didn't care to go back on gluten and all the baggage for just a label. But that's my personal feeling in my situation. Some people psychologically need the confirmation and there is nothing wrong with that. Others may need it for school accommodations under ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).

[JustNana]

I can't imagine going back on gluten to get a piece of paper. Going gluten-free and having some symptoms improve right away and experiencing the effects of accidentally getting glutened is proof positive for me. Is there a compelling reason to have the biopsy? A close friend was diagnosed 2 years ago from the bloodwork, which was borderline. She went gluten-free and responded very positively. About 6 or 7 mos later she had routine endoscopy for previous reflux damage to her esophagus and asked them to check her small intestine villi. There was still damage. She is in her 60s like me though and I do know it can take much longer for our guts to heal.

I guess there may be other reasons to get the biopsy even after bloodwork and symptom relief from being gluten-free, maybe insurance?

[mamajchis]

I self-ddiagnosed myself as having celiac disease. Why, because I could be a text book case for Celiacs. I have almost every syptom of the disease or did have untill I quit wheat. Only been gluten free since March 19 2012, but have seen such big improvements since then. My mental capacities suffered so bad I thought I was gooing crazy. After being gluten free, all the mental confusion, mmemory loss, brain fog has gone away. Proud to be gluten free.

[mamajchis]

Most of the symptoms that you have can be symptoms of celiac. I had all those except #5 and 6. But i also had so many more than that!

[Stubborn red head]

There is a high rate of False Negatives with a lot of the tests. My mother has studied and Preached the gluten-free Lifestyle to me for years on end, I have listen but didn't want to think I had the Allergy. My mother's doctor had her go off the gluten and when her health improved the dr. diagnosed her with Celiac Disease. She when from having all (with exception of #5) the symptoms you described plus more. Now she hardly has any of them, there was extensive damage done to her kidneys, liver, stomach and Small Intestine that she still has stomach issues but as long as she doesn't slip up and eat Wheat then the stomach issues are almost nonexistent.

[runnergirl88]

  On 4/16/2012 at 7:15 PM, mamajchis said:

I self-ddiagnosed myself as having celiac disease. Why, because I could be a text book case for Celiacs. I have almost every syptom of the disease or did have untill I quit wheat. Only been gluten free since March 19 2012, but have seen such big improvements since then. My mental capacities suffered so bad I thought I was gooing crazy. After being gluten free, all the mental confusion, mmemory loss, brain fog has gone away. Proud to be gluten free.

I know what you mean! I've been in the same place! I started the gluten free process in Jan...but gluten is in sooooooo much I really haven't been entirely gluten free for very long and keep accidentally eating it and finding out later...lol. Good job! Isn't it wonderful? Do you think you'll get tested? I've been a little frusturated lately because I am so sensitive to it I can't even have food cooked on the same pans :'( Which I thought was insane till I went and tried and now I feel 100% better! I feel like bubble girl! :'( So now I'm going to put myself through hell by eating gluten for my doc apt next wed...not excited but need to show them what happens... Thanx for sharing Im glad I'm not the only one!