I Think I May Have Celiac Disease...

[hoyas33]

I haven't been feeling well for 3 months now. My symptoms are all digestive related so I have been through almost every test (I have a colonoscopy this week).

Here are my symptoms:

Pain under sternum when eating, I could feel food hit somewhere in my stomach but this has subsided. It was the first symptom that started it all.

Pain under sternum that radiates to back. Sometimes can burn sometimes feels like a poker. GERD and heartburn ruled out by endoscopy. Doesnt' happen with every meal. BAD episodes directly following a meal then a bowel movment within 5-30 minutes after eating, then I have the pain all day long and I am severley fatigued after an "episode". Gallstones ruled out by Hida Scan (36 % ejection fraction and no clear ultrasound)

Weight loss, 10 lbs in 4 weeks. Eating somewhat normally although avoiding food at times, typically after a bad day.

Strange bowel habits on occassion. I have had some float, some gold or light yellow, some normal, a couple times loose, no diarreah though...and last week I had blood with 2. I am not talking normal hemmoroid blood, I am talking blood clot once and blood in mucous with the other. Doctor thinks this rules out celiac, but maybe you all know differently? THis is why he ordered the colonoscopy.

RUQ dull feeling at times, that is why he thought gallbladder first.

Full feeling after eating at times, severe nausea at times.

FATIGUE

Feeling depressed and irritable, but I think it is from feeling bad 90% of the time.

No desire to run or play tennis, and sports were my life.

Could this be celiac? My symptoms are triggered by eating mostly but I can have them w/o eating. Coffee also seems to trigger episodes. I am waiting on results from a blood test and it is taking forever. He ruled out all upper digestive problems and I have also had a CAT scan and Gastric Emptying test. I can only imagine it could be Celiac, lower digestive issue or a crazy virus or bacterial infection.

Your thoughts? I swear if I am diagnosed with IBS after all is said and done, I am going to lose it. I can't imagine feeling this sick the rest of my life. I have not started to eat gluten free in case he wants to take biopsies during another endoscopy.

Thanks for any replies!

[SueC]

Get the celiac panel run to be sure but you already had an endoscopy???? Did they take samples from your small bowel for analysis. That should tell your GI doc if celiac is present. Alot of your symptoms could be celiac. I have that poking back pain and burning but I'm not convinced it is due to celiac....but who knows

I hope you find your answers.

[hoyas33]

He only took one biopsy and that was from my stomach. Apparently everything looked good so he didn't biopsy my small intestine. My stomach showed mild redness, that was the only thing he saw.

I didn't know to ask him to do that at the time because I was convinced I had an ulcer.

[SueC]

Then definately get your celiac antibodies checked!! See what they are then maybe another endoscopy . It is too bad your GI doc did not have the foresight to check your small bowel while he was in there the first time.

[nettiebeads]

Strange bowel habits on occassion. I have had some float, some gold or light yellow, some normal, a couple times loose, no diarreah though...and last week I had blood with 2.  I am not talking normal hemmoroid blood, I am talking blood clot once and blood in mucous with the other.  Doctor thinks this rules out celiac, but maybe you all know differently?  THis is why he ordered the colonoscopy.

FATIGUE

Feeling depressed and irritable, but I think it is from feeling bad 90% of the time.

No desire to run or play tennis, and sports were my life.

Could this be celiac?  My symptoms are triggered by eating mostly but I can have them w/o eating.  Coffee also seems to trigger episodes.  I am waiting on results from a blood test and it is taking forever.  He ruled out all upper digestive problems and I have also had a CAT scan and Gastric Emptying test.  I can only imagine it could be Celiac, lower digestive issue or a crazy virus or bacterial infection.

Your thoughts?  I swear if I am diagnosed with IBS after all is said and done, I am going to lose it.  I can't imagine feeling this sick the rest of my life.  I have not started to eat gluten free in case he wants to take biopsies during another endoscopy.

Thanks for any replies!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Your stools sound like celiac disease. The floating, discoloration is from malabsorption, especially fats. The fatigue, depression and irritability could also very well be celiac disease. If he rules for IBS, get a second opinion, or go on the gluten-free diet anyhow and see if you improve.