Trying To Figure Out If This Is My Issue

[Whiskey]

Hello all,

Long story short, I've had intestinal symptoms since I was about 12 years old, about 7 days per month I'd have bad cramping, have to run to the restroom many times per day.

I saw specialists back when I was about 14-16 eventually they said I had IBS and told me to live with it. I have been but I'm fearful every time I have to do something like go on a long drive, it really limits the activities I choose to participate in because I just don't know how I will feel.

I'm 33 now, and I think I may have stumbled on some kind of pattern for this, I suspect that I may have a Gluten Allergy of some kind,.. I cut gluten out of my diet and I feel MUCH BETTER. In fact I now realize that I had symptoms every day of my life, but I just didn't know what normal should feel like.

But,. here's the weird part. Does some gluten effect you more than others? I noticed upon reintroduction of Gluten that I can eat some things (Like a bagel for instance) with no effect. However other things (Sour cream at a restaurant is one example) gives me a severe reaction.

That I didn't even know had gluten in it, and actually forced me to stay home one day when I was on vacation.

I'm afraid that I may not have found the answer after all, because some small slip ups when I was cutting out gluten have had a dramatic effect, but I had 2 bagels this morning expecting a reaction and didn't get one.

Has anyone else had this experience? Or do you think gluten is not the answer for me?

It is worth noting that my brother and mother have the same symptoms, though my brother has a tiredness and insomnia component to it as well. They also have been unable to pin down what the issue is.

Thanks,

Whiskey

[shadowicewolf]

If sour cream bugs you, perhaps its a dairy issue?

[Newbee]

Have you had a celiac test? If not I'd suggest you get one. I didn't really think I had the disease as I only had some symptoms that kind of aligned with celiac (or so I thought). In retrospect I've probably had it my whole life and only got diagnosed at age 37. I have a lot of damage. Celiac can be hard to tell and doesn't have to have any symptoms. I wish I would have gotten tested earlier as now I'm having a lot of trouble healing.

[Whiskey]

If sour cream bugs you, perhaps its a dairy issue?

I can drink a glass of milk, or have cheese without issue. This is one of the things we suspected, but tests that were run for it came back negative.

Thanks for the suggestion,

Whiskey

[Whiskey]

Have you had a celiac test? If not I'd suggest you get one. I didn't really think I had the disease as I only had some symptoms that kind of aligned with celiac (or so I thought). In retrospect I've probably had it my whole life and only got diagnosed at age 37. I have a lot of damage. Celiac can be hard to tell and doesn't have to have any symptoms. I wish I would have gotten tested earlier as now I'm having a lot of trouble healing.

My Mom tells me that they tested me for this back when I was seeing specialists when I was 14 and it came back negative, they also did the rest of the food allergy tests and they were also negative. I'm not sure what kind of test they did exactly though. I do know they took blood and stool samples but that probably doesn't help.

My work has new insurance starting mid October, so I'm going to wait to involve doctors till then, I'd hate to start with one doctor and have to switch because they are not on the new plan.

Do you feel it every time you eat something with Gluten? Or does the fact that I can eat gluten sometimes rule this out as a possibility?

Thanks,

Whiskey

[ciamarie]

I know I didn't always have a bad reaction when I ate something with wheat, since I'd mostly stopped eating it years before I cut out all gluten last year. So being able to eat 2 bagels without an apparent problem doesn't necessarily mean you don't have either celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Even now, it can take me a few days to realize I've been slowly glutening myself with some new food item that probably has a small level of cross contamination.

[Whiskey]

I know I didn't always have a bad reaction when I ate something with wheat, since I'd mostly stopped eating it years before I cut out all gluten last year. So being able to eat 2 bagels without an apparent problem doesn't necessarily mean you don't have either celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Even now, it can take me a few days to realize I've been slowly glutening myself with some new food item that probably has a small level of cross contamination.

That is really promising, thank you. I was beginning to worry that I may not have found my issue after all.