Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Newbie Here

songbird123

Recommended Posts

songbird123 Newbie
songbird123
Posted

Hello everyone! :) Until today, I had never even heard of Celiac Disease, but ran across it on Google while doing some research on my current medical state. For about a month, I have been having bowel habits that are not normal for me...having to go 10-15 minutes after I eat (especially if I have milk), diarrhea (which sometimes "looks funny" and has a foul odor) and loose stools, abdominal cramping, feeling like I have to go but can't, and a little bit of blood. I've been worried I might have colon cancer, so I went to the doctor and they did a colonoscopy this past Friday with two biopsies. They said everything looked fine...no tumors or polyps, but I have to wait until next week to get the biopsy results. Well, after doing more research, I discovered some info on Celiac Disease and now I'm concerned that might be my problem. You see, I also have gas/bloating, unexplained weight gain, fatigue, rectal itching and I was diagnosed last year with fibromyalgia because of the pain and easy bruising. And I will admit...I love sugar. I don't sit around all day eating candy bars, but I do love chocolate and sugary things and I live off of Mt. Dew. Just was wondering if anyone here thinks that Celiac Disease might be what's wrong with me. Can it be diagnosed by a biopsy taken during a colonoscopy? Thank you! :)

Michelle

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Hi Michelle, and welcome. No, a colonoscopy cannot diagnose celiac disease. Even an upper endoscopy cannot diagnose it unless they are specifically looking for it and treat the biopsy samples with special staining.

Many of your symptoms are synonymous with those of celiac disease and it is possible you could be in the early stages. Your first step is to go to your GP and ask her to perform a celiac blood panel test on you. That 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

The normal procedure if any of these IgA tests are positive is to refer you to a GI for an upper endoscopy and biopsy samples for confirmation of the positive diagnosis, although more and more doctors are feeling that the biopsy is no longer necessary if the blood testing is firmly positive. And it is your decision whether or not to have the endoscopy.

songbird123 Newbie
songbird123
Posted
  • Author

Well, the more I read about Celiac Disease, the more convinced I am that I have it. :( Forgot to mention earlier that I also have insomnia, and I have had asthma since I was 18 months old. My best friend is being supportive but said "What would you eat?!?" LOL I haven't told my boyfriend yet what I suspect, because I don't want him to think I'm being a hypochondriac like my family does. My mother thinks I'm just looking for something to have. No...I'm looking for a way to feel better. I do want to have the blood test done, but I don't know if I can convince the doctor to do it. :(

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,044
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Emj 86
    Newest Member
    Emj 86
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • tiffanygosci
      Celiac support is hard to find

      By tiffanygosci · Posted

      Hi Cristiana! It's so nice to meet you! Thank you for the kind reply I am glad I live in a time where you can connect with others through the Internet. That is a mercy I am grateful for.
    • knitty kitty
      Positive biopsy

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      In the study linked above, the little girl switched to a gluten free diet and gained enough weight that that fat pad was replenished and surgery was not needed.   Here's the full article link... Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Final Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6476019/
    • knitty kitty
      Fruits & Veggies

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jordan Carlson, So glad you're feeling better.   Tecta is a proton pump inhibitor.  PPI's also interfere with the production of the intrinsic factor needed to absorb Vitamin B12.  Increasing the amount of B12 you supplement has helped overcome the lack of intrinsic factor needed to absorb B12. Proton pump inhibitors also reduce the production of digestive juices (stomach acids).  This results in foods not being digested thoroughly.  If foods are not digested sufficiently, the vitamins and other nutrients aren't released from the food, and the body cannot absorb them.  This sets up a vicious cycle. Acid reflux and Gerd are actually symptoms of producing too little stomach acid.  Insufficient stomach acid production is seen with Thiamine and Niacin deficiencies.  PPI's like Tecta also block the transporters that pull Thiamine into cells, preventing absorption of thiamine.  Other symptoms of Thiamine deficiency are difficulty swallowing, gagging, problems with food texture, dysphagia. Other symptoms of Thiamine deficiency are symptoms of ADHD and anxiety.  Vyvanse also blocks thiamine transporters contributing further to Thiamine deficiency.  Pristiq has been shown to work better if thiamine is supplemented at the same time because thiamine is needed to make serotonin.  Doctors don't recognize anxiety and depression and adult onset ADHD as early symptoms of Thiamine deficiency. Stomach acid is needed to digest Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in fruits and vegetables.  Ascorbic acid left undigested can cause intestinal upsets, anxiety, and heart palpitations.   Yes, a child can be born with nutritional deficiencies if the parents were deficient.  Parents who are thiamine deficient have offspring with fewer thiamine transporters on cell surfaces, making thiamine deficiency easier to develop in the children.  A person can struggle along for years with subclinical vitamin deficiencies.  Been here, done this.  Please consider supplementing with Thiamine in the form TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) which helps immensely with dysphagia and neurological symptoms like anxiety, depression, and ADHD symptoms.  Benfotiamine helps with improving intestinal health.  A B Complex and NeuroMag (a magnesium supplement), and Vitamin D are needed also.
    • knitty kitty
      Positive biopsy

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @pothosqueen, Welcome to the tribe! You'll want to get checked for nutritional deficiencies and start on supplementation of B vitamins, especially Thiamine Vitamin B 1.   There's some scientific evidence that the fat pad that buffers the aorta which disappears in SMA is caused by deficiency in Thiamine.   In Thiamine deficiency, the body burns its stored fat as a source of fuel.  That fat pad between the aorta and digestive system gets used as fuel, too. Ask for an Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test to look for thiamine deficiency.  Correction of thiamine deficiency can help restore that fat pad.   Best wishes for your recovery!   Interesting Reading: Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Final Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31089433/#:~:text=Affiliations,tissue and results in SMAS.  
    • trents
      Positive biopsy

      By trents · Posted

      Wow! You're pretty young to have a diagnosis of SMA syndrome. But youth also has its advantages when it comes to healing, without a doubt. You might be surprised to find out how your health improves and how much better you feel once you eliminate gluten from your diet. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that, when gluten is consumed, triggers an attack on the villous lining of the small bowel. This is the section of the intestines where all our nutrition is absorbed. It is made up of billions of tiny finger-like projections that create a tremendous surface area for absorbing nutrients. For the person with celiac disease, unchecked gluten consumption generates inflammation that wears down these fingers and, over time, greatly reduces the nutrient absorbing efficiency of the small bowel lining. This can generate a whole host of other nutrient deficiency related medical problems. We also now know that the autoimmune reaction to gluten is not necessarily limited to the lining of the small bowel such that celiac disease can damage other body systems and organs such as the liver and the joints and cause neurological problems.  It can take around two years for the villous lining to completely heal but most people start feeling better well before then. It's also important to realize that celiac disease can cause intolerance to some other foods whose protein structures are similar to gluten. Chief among them are dairy and oats but also eggs, corn and soy. Just keep that in mind.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.