Gastritis For Years, Can Celiac Be Cause?

[mullins93]

Hi, I have suffered with gastritis for 4 years. It all began 4 years ago when I had a total thyroidectomy due to Graves disease. Since then I have had repeated flare ups of gastritis. I am dealing with my latest flare up since May. I am also iron deficient anemic, suffer from hair loss, constipation and frequent headaches. My two endoscopies showed gastritis, but they didn't biopsy for celiac at the time. Also negative for h. pylori. I was blood tested for Celiac and it was negative, genetic testing was not done. My mother told me recently that my grandmother was diagnosed several years ago with Celiac, not to mention there is a strong genetic history of autoimmune diseases. My problem is, I have more trouble with constipation than diarrhea, so could it still be celiac? My gastro said with the negative tests, she said it was probably not celiac, but that if I continue to have problems that we will do a repeat EGD and test for celiac. Any insight would be much appreciated!

[mushroom]

Hello, and welcome.

Celiac causes constipation almost as frequently as diarrhea; some people alternate beteen the two. Celiac causes migraines in many people, along with hair loss, anemia, etc. Also, of course autoimmune thyroid disease. But I am sure you know all this. The problem is you did not pass the blood test.

Many celiacs test sero-negative but can be positive on biopsy. I think a proper EGD testing for celiac (at least 6 samples) would be a good way forward. Have you ever tried not eating gluten for a day or two and seeing if there is any difference? Some people notice improvement right away; many, of course, take much longer. At any rate, if you are going to have another EGD you should continue eating gluten up till that time, and then go gluten free right away for at least three months to see if gluten is your problem, regardless of the results of the biopsies. Non-celiac gluten intolerance is even more prevalent than celiac disease. Or NCGI could just be another form of celiac that they haven't devised a test for yet.

Do give the diet a good trial when all testing has been completed because it is a shame to ruin a life feeling awful when the cure is perhaps within your own control.

[GottaSki]

Everything Mushroom said.

One other question - what celiac antibody tests were done? If you don't have them request written or electronic copies of all tests including endoscopy report. There is often more information on the report than the doctor's office imparts verbally.

Often doctors will only run the tTG-IgA -- this without a Total IgA means nothing. There are other tests in the full celiac panel as well.

With your symptoms and the genetic link it is important to have all necessary tests, then as Mushroom suggested remove ALL gluten as this is often the best test.

Good Luck

[mullins93]

Thank you so much for your responses! I don't know exactly what blood test the doctor did, but I am going to call him on Monday to get a copy of the results. Another question I have is, can some people have "flare ups" related to celiac? I guess what I mean is, sometimes I can go for a week or two and feel pretty good, then for some reason all my stomach problems come back. I avoid soda and tea and eat pretty healthy since I always feel worse if I eat to much or eat to much junk. I am a huge carb fan, though and I did try going gluten free for about a week and felt ok, but it was around that time that my doctor told me my labs were normal, so I just gave it up cause I didn't think that celiac could be the cause of the problem. I just want to feel normal!

[GottaSki]

Yes, my own digestive problems were much less severe for years. I had many "stomach flus" that I finally realised never brought a fever. As the years passed these flares became more frequent until they didn't get better or go away - the symptoms were Celiac and they contined to worsen untiil I was finally diagnosed at 43.

[mushroom]

And I lasted longer than Lisa without knowing, being blown off by doctors (who were even less aware then). It was because of the intermittent nature of it that I didn't push harder.