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

New Case Or Mild Case?

shan11180

Recommended Posts

shan11180 Newbie
shan11180
Posted

Well, I was officially diagnosed with celiac's on Thursday, May 10th. I'm still feeling a bit overwhelmed with this info, since it was by accident that it was found! I started seeing a variety of doctors a few years ago, as I was feeling so terrible, that it was begining to scare me. I started seeing my doc for depression, as well as begining the process for weight loss surgery. I was at a point in my life, that I was willing to do ANYTHING to feel better!

In the process, it was discovered that I had hashimoto's as well as vitamin deficiancies, which prompted the doc to test me for celiac's as well. When he told me the test came back positive for celiac's, I simply rolled my eyes at him and though 'Okay...Whatever doc...' However, as I began to research celiac's, reading over the symptoms, I was doing a mental 'check' to each symptom. Some symptoms included depression, fatigue, weight gain (even while dieting and exercising), and of course, constant diarrhea.

The GI seems to think that mine is either a fairly new case, or a mild case. I don't seem to have the awful cramping and pain, or the explosive symptoms that others get, and I'm not immediately in the bathroom if I have a piece of bread or pasta.

My fear is that because I don't experience the pain, it may compromise my diet. Are there any other 'mild' celiac's? If so, how has gluten-free helped? How long does it typically take for a person to begin to feel better after eliminating gluten? Any tips/tricks? I'm open for suggestions and any help, as there is nothing I want more than to feel well enough to put my running shoes back on! Hopefully that alone will keep me motivated to stay on track!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

Well, first congrats on getting a dx. It's a long road for many.

There isn't a "mild case" of Celiac. You are or you aren't - and you are.

You will probably develop gluten symptoms the longer you are gluten-free. I was like you - no GI symptoms (although I did have them at an earlier time).

Now, at almost 1 year gluten-free I am developing GI symptoms if I get glutened. It ain't all it's cracked up to be, trust me.

You will probably feel your other symptoms first - exhaustion, depression, etc. D is a huge gluten symptom and it may warn you quite quickly so beware.

Raywuwei Explorer
Raywuwei
Posted

I am in the same boat as you! I just had my diagnosis confirmed by endoscopy and biopsy on May 11th. I am on my 4th day of gluten free eating. Since I wasn't having many physical symptoms I wont know exactly what "getting glutened" feels like until I've been doing this for a while.

Remember, you can read the ingredients on anything you cook yourself, so get a list of additives that are secret words for "gluten" from your doctor. I wont physically know if I get Cross Contaminated for a while and to reduce my stress over that fact, I'm just not eating out at restaurants for a month or two and eating as many naturally gluten free things as possible at home.

Good luck fellow newbie! Its not easy, but we will soon be thriving!

MitziG Enthusiast
MitziG
Posted

Mild celiacs is sort of like "a little bit pregnant." Now- you can have a mild amount of intestinal damage, or a lot of intestinal damage, but either way, they BOTH require a gluten free diet for the rest of your life. I emphasize that because you sound a bit wavery...perhaps I misunderstood though?

Many of us who didn't feel we had noticeable reactions when eating gluten soon learned that once you start feeling good, you notice very much when you get glutened! The longer you are gluten-free your reactions to it will likely become very obvious and violent. As your body heals it will be able to take a more "active" role in getting rid of what it views as poison!

You will make mistakes in the beginning. That is just how it is. But you will learn. Lots of info to be found here, so look around.

And welcome to the "club" B)

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,905
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Croissantl0v3r
    Newest Member
    Croissantl0v3r
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Here is more info about how to do a gluten challenge for a celiac disease blood panel, or for an endoscopy: and this recent study recommends 4-6 slices of wheat bread per day:    
    • Xravith
      Taking Probiotics but Still Getting Sick After Gluten – Advice?

      By Xravith · Posted

      Yes, you are right. Indeed, I’ve been feeling anemic since the beginning of this week, and today I felt horrible during a lecture at the university, I was trembling a lot and felt all my body incredibly heavy, so I had to come back home. I’ll do a blood test tomorrow, but I’m just worried about the possibility of it coming back negative. I’ve been eating two cookies in the morning as my only source of gluten over the past two weeks—could that affect the final result?
    • trents
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @Judy M! Yes, he definitely needs to continue eating gluten until the day of the endoscopy. Not sure why the GI doc advised otherwise but it was a bum steer.  Celiac disease has a genetic component but also an "epigenetic" component. Let me explain. There are two main genes that have been identified as providing the "potential" to develop "active" celiac disease. We know them as HLA-DQ 2.5 (aka, HLA-DQ 2) and HLA-DQ8. Without one or both of these genes it is highly unlikely that a person will develop celiac disease at some point in their life. About 40% of the general population carry one or both of these two genes but only about 1% of the population develops active celiac disease. Thus, possessing the genetic potential for celiac disease is far less than deterministic. Most who have the potential never develop the disease. In order for the potential to develop celiac disease to turn into active celiac disease, some triggering stress event or events must "turn on" the latent genes. This triggering stress event can be a viral infection, some other medical event, or even prolonged psychological/emotional trauma. This part of the equation is difficult to quantify but this is the epigenetic dimension of the disease. Epigenetics has to do with the influence that environmental factors and things not coded into the DNA itself have to do in "turning on" susceptible genes. And this is why celiac disease can develop at any stage of life. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition (not a food allergy) that causes inflammation in the lining of the small bowel. The ingestion of gluten causes the body to attack the cells of this lining which, over time, damages and destroys them, impairing the body's ability to absorb nutrients since this is the part of the intestinal track responsible for nutrient absorption and also causing numerous other food sensitivities such as dairy/lactose intolerance. There is another gluten-related disorder known as NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or just, "gluten sensitivity") that is not autoimmune in nature and which does not damage the small bowel lining. However, NCGS shares many of the same symptoms with celiac disease such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. It is also much more common than celiac disease. There is no test for NCGS so, because they share common symptoms, celiac disease must first be ruled out through formal testing for celiac disease. This is where your husband is right now. It should also be said that some experts believe NCGS can transition into celiac disease. I hope this helps.
    • Judy M
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By Judy M · Posted

      My husband has had lactose intolerance for his entire life (he's 68 yo).  So, he's used to gastro issues. But for the past year he's been experiencing bouts of diarrhea that last for hours.  He finally went to his gastroenterologist ... several blood tests ruled out other maladies, but his celiac results are suspect.  He is scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy in 2 weeks.  He was told to eat "gluten free" until the tests!!!  I, and he know nothing about this "diet" much less how to navigate his in daily life!! The more I read, the more my head is spinning.  So I guess I have 2 questions.  First, I read on this website that prior to testing, eat gluten so as not to compromise the testing!  Is that true? His primary care doctor told him to eat gluten free prior to testing!  I'm so confused.  Second, I read that celiac disease is genetic or caused by other ways such as surgery.  No family history but Gall bladder removal 7 years ago, maybe?  But how in God's name does something like this crop up and now is so awful he can't go a day without worrying.  He still works in Manhattan and considers himself lucky if he gets there without incident!  Advice from those who know would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
×
×
  • 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.