Should I Be Worried?

[kelley]

After hearing about Celiac fro ma friend, I have relatively certain that this is what I have. I have a doctor's appointment in a couple of days, and now here I am second guessing myself. I guess I just need a little encouragement/reassurance. I'm so afraid that my doctor will not take me seriously when I tell her I want to be tested for Celiac.

Every website I've visited about Celiac has a slightly different list of symptoms, so this is a list of, what I've concluded, are signs that I have Celiac.

acid reflux / heartburn (about 70% of the time now. it's getting worse)

constipation

diarrhea

gas

bloating

nausea

abdominal pain

weight gain (can't lose it)

bone and/or joint pain

fatigue, weakness and lack of energy

mouth ulcers

Peripheral Neuropathy* (tingling in fingers and toes)

White flecks on the fingernails

Burning sensations in the throat

depression

Night blindness

irritability

inability to concentrate

Some of these symptoms I have had since I was a teenager, but the vast majority of them have cropped up on me over the last 4-5 years and I just feel like crap at this point. When I heard about Celiac it was like an epiphany. What do you think?

What should I be sure to mention to my doctor?

[skoki-mom]

Sounds like you are quite in tune with your body. Some dr's get defensive about "self-diagnosis", but you never know until you ask. Does anyone in your family have celiac disease? I would request the test, because for someone who is really sick, I can see how finding out what is wrong would be a Godsend!

[Merika]

Request the test. Be confident! If you have difficulty with the doctor (and you may not) tell him a first cousin or parent or sibling has it. Then you automatically fall into a "risk" group which should be tested.

Merika

[mytummyhurts]

Definitely ask to be tested and if they refuse you should go to a different doctor.

[Rachel--24]

I had most of the symptoms you listed plus many more...I went on the diet before getting tested. DONT DO THIS. If you plan on getting tested keep eating gluten. My results were neg. so I went back to my normal diet and ended up severely depressed and pretty much bed-ridden. I finally just recently got tested through Enterolab and came back positive. I only stopped eating gluten for 2 weeks before the test but I think sometimes the tests just come back negative even if there is truelly a problem. I would say to you...even if you come back negative still try the diet before you forget all about Celiac like I did.

[kelley]

cool, i appreciate it, you guys.

i definitely plan to ask for the test. maybe i will tell them that my dad has it (because i'm fairly certain he does, though he's never been tested).

and even if it comes back negative, i will still try the gluten-free diet. i'm just about positive that it will solve my problems.