Frustrated

[teddylab]

I cannot figure out what is wrong with me!

I have had

*SEVERE Bloating

*Nausea

*General Discomfort

*Gas

*Constipation/Diarhhea (alternating)

*Indigestion

*Fatigue

After a lot of searching, I thought I may have celiac or a gluten intolerance.

My symptoms have been slowly building up and slowly getting worse.

Two of my Aunts and father experience difficulty eating wheat products, and my sister has crohns disease.

I've been to my doctor, who had my blood taken. He thought I had a stomach infection - but it was clear. In fact, everything on my blood test was in the normal range.

I asked whether it could be something to do with what I was eating, like gluten, and he told me that celiac disease was highly unlikely. He said that he would expect someone with celiac to be extremely thin and be very sickly (he made motions as if someone was very old and fragile?) I do have some extra weight, but I am not obese.

He ordered a celiac test for my bloods anyway, but didn't seem convinced.

MY QUESTIONS

- Could this be related to gluten?

- I have normal levels in iron, vitamins, etc, is it possible to have gluten intolerance without being deficient?

- I am not emaciated, are all celiacs thin?

[rosetapper23]

Regarding whether or not it's normal for a celiac to be overweight, the answer is YES! Your doctor is living in the Old Ages. They USED to teach that in medical school, and it's quite inaccurate. From what I've learned at conferences on celiac, it's much more common for a celiac to be overweight than underweight. Reasons include nutritional deficiencies that prompt a person to eat because his/her body perceives that it needs more nourishment and also we tend to metabolize fat differently. Your doctor needs an up-to-date lesson in celiac disease! Also, it's ridiculous that he told you that celiac would be highly unlikely, especially in light of the fact that you have relatives with wheat problems and Crohn's--good grief! If anything, this makes is MORE likely that you'd have celiac. If you can change doctors, please do so. This one will do you no good. I would suggest getting tested for celiac through another doctor...or perhaps you should ask for a referral to a knowledgeable gastroenterologist (if you can find one, that is).

[teddylab]

Regarding whether or not it's normal for a celiac to be overweight, the answer is YES! Your doctor is living in the Old Ages. They USED to teach that in medical school, and it's quite inaccurate. From what I've learned at conferences on celiac, it's much more common for a celiac to be overweight than underweight. Reasons include nutritional deficiencies that prompt a person to eat because his/her body perceives that it needs more nourishment and also we tend to metabolize fat differently. Your doctor needs an up-to-date lesson in celiac disease! Also, it's ridiculous that he told you that celiac would be highly unlikely, especially in light of the fact that you have relatives with wheat problems and Crohn's--good grief! If anything, this makes is MORE likely that you'd have celiac. If you can change doctors, please do so. This one will do you no good. I would suggest getting tested for celiac through another doctor...or perhaps you should ask for a referral to a knowledgeable gastroenterologist (if you can find one, that is).

Thank you, this is what I needed to hear.

I am definitley going to find a new doctor, or maybe see if I can talk to a specialist in this area.

I think it's very sad that many people on here know much more about these health issues than the doctors themselves.

[mushroom]

A lot of medical professionals think that support groups and forums are just places where people commiserae with each other (well, we do that. too!) But they don't realize that the groups, forums and internet are the primary source of information, and that without them we would know as little as they do.

[birdie22]

I think yes, it is likely you have an issue with gluten. I have very similar symptoms (bloating and heartburn was what brought me to my doc). While I am blood test neg for celiac I at least have non-celiac gluten sensitivity. All my blood tests for vitamins and minerals are also in the normal range like yours. But several were on the lower end of normal. Things have greatly improved on a gluten-free diet. You are your own best advocate. If you current doc doesn't take you seriously then seek another opinion. And ask for copies of your test results. That way you can see for yourself what is going on.

[MitziG]

As uninformed as your doc is, it is likely he did not do a full celiac panel on you. So if he tells you it is negative, request a copy of the labwork and post the results here. We will tell you what is missing. Id bet you a dozen gluten free donuts you are celiac.