Am I Celiac Or Just Gluten Intolerance?

[Jess and Drez]

Im still new to the forum and still unsure of what it is thats exactly going on with me. Ive had horrible experiences with doctors and dont trust a one of them, so Im trying to take control of my health if at all possible. My symptoms are as followed...fatigue, insomnia, severe cramping, occasional stomach bloating, severe dry/flaky scalp, forgetfulness, foggy head, constipation/diarrhea off and on and very fatty stools currently(sorry if TMI) Ive spoke to a few people who are gluten intolerant that agree that it may be celiac but Im still unsure...Ive already begun a gluten-free diet and feel much better, alot of my symptoms have diminished, but Im still very tired/weak and my bowel movements are still abnormal(its been about 2 mths since gluten-free) Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions for a newbie!

[bartfull]

Could be either. If it is true Celiac, you might still be having trouble because you're not healed yet. It could also be another intolerance. (Dairy, soy, corn, nightshades, you name it.) The best thing would be to go back to whole foods only, keep a food diary, then slowly add things back.

You can also take pro-biotics and/or digestive enzymes.

But whether it's Celiac or not, you know a gluten-free diet makes you feel better so - welcome to the club! Hope you're feeling better soon.

[KMMO320]

according to tests, I am not Celiac and according to my Dr I have no problems with Gluten at all, despite the fact that I cut out all gluten for 3 weeks and felt SOOO GOOD! She swears its not gluten but something else. All I know is what I know, you know?

I have been back and forth with doubting myself, after all she IS a doctor! @@ but today I ate some pasta at work and I feel like someone hit me in the head with a frying pan. ringing ears, throbbing headache and shortness of breath. I came home and layed down. Feel a little better but kind of groggy. I dont know WHAT else it can be BUT gluten!

Like everyone here says..trust yourself..you dont need drs order to eat or not eat gluten, its not a vital part of your diet.

[GFCFinAK]

I had the same symptoms as you. I went through years of testing with "specialists" who mis-diagnosed me. Last year, I went to a homeopathic doctor who did a blood panel to test for popular food allergens. With insurance, the blood work and the doctors visit cost me about $300. The test came back that I was highly allergic to gluten and dairy and mildly allergic to a few other things like cocoa and beef. It was the best $300 I have EVER spent.

I cut gluten and dairy out of my diet, take 50 billion units of probiotics (live active cultures) a day along with a magnesium powder to help with regularity. I notice a significant change in regularity if I don't take my probiotics and magnesium. I use the raspberry lime flavored Natural Calm powder. It tastes yummy!

The diet change mixed with my supplements have made me feel like a totally new woman! I still notice some milk intolerances so I plan to go back for a more extensive blood panel in the near future. I am now going to attempt cutting out refined sugars because I don't think my body processes them well.

[Ranne10]

Doctors are not infallable. 7 years ago I started having pressure in my head and right ear. My doctor said it was allergies and ear infection. For one year she continued to treat me for that without listening to my symptoms. Finally, after starting to lose my balance and fall down I went on an internet search for my symptoms. What I found was an acoustic neuroma brain tumor. I went back to my doctor demanding a specialist in the field. She argued it unnecessary but I persisted. 4 days later I had an official MRI diagnosis of an acoustic brain tumor.

I say all that to point out that doctors dont always put all the symptoms together to find a cause. They treat the symptom with a pill and that's it. You have the power and the right to research and take contr of your health no matter what they tell you.