Jump to content

  • You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

Newbie Here. Some General Q's What's Better, Gastro Vs. Endo?

Wowza

Recommended Posts

Wowza Newbie
Wowza
Posted

Hello All,

I'm new here... Just signed up this morning. I've been using your comments and advice to help me over the past few months.

Here's my gluten/gluten free history; (26 year old female, btw)

I've been sick for the better part of a year. At first only mildly, and in those sneaky ways. The fatigue, moody, depressed, "I just need to suck it up" kinda way. And the stomach trouble too, but I've been prone to anxiety related stomach aches, etc. all my life. 3.5 months ago, after many trips to the doctor, internet searches and talking to my mom (for someone not employed in the medical field she sure knows a lot about a lot) I slowly pieced things together. I figured gluten intolerance may be the case, my SIL is gluten intolerant and had a lot of the same symptoms and I figured that going gluten-free would be worth a shot. I was getting worse by the day at this point and started to feel the positive effects of being gluten free right away. With a family member who has gone gluten-free already, and a couple of family friends who have Celiac disease I was aware of a lot of things to avoid, but WOW, I had no idea how hard it would be. Each mistake I make seems to make me more sick than the last. Has anyone else experienced this... becoming more sensitive to gluten after trying to go gluten-free?

Here's where I get to the main question: At my most recent visit to the doc she said she is referring my for gastroscopy. With the nature of gluten related or other GI problems I figured endoscopy would be the way to go. Is gastro sometimes the first step before endo because it can be less invasive?

Also, (sorry about the novel length 'question,') how do you all deal with the guilt of missing work? I know that logically it's simple: If you feel crappy and in pain, don't go to work. But then there's the fact that it's my mistake that I didn't read that ONE ingredient for Saturday night's supper. There seems to be a grey area in my head with a constant reel that says, 'I'm not contagious, maybe I should just tough it out, I can work in pain, maybe I'm just being a wimp.' I'm left with go to work and feel like crap, don't go to work, stay in the comfort of my bed while feeling like crap, but feel guilty too. (I really hope this does't sound like a pity party - but I suppose you guys would be the ones who really know how the up and down emotional aspect of all this really feels.)

Last, but definitely not least, I'd just like to say that my boyfriend has been amazing and supportive through helping me figure things out, to making me lemon and sugar water (helps with the cramping) to trying to ease my guilt when I miss work, to handling my moodiness like a champ and not holding it against me. If you're lucky enough to have support like that, don't take it for granted.

Thanks for reading!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Sometimes the word gastroscopy is used to mean endo (correctly or not). Make sure you have an appointment with the GI before the procedure and make sure you are getting biopsies of the intestine. The GI should be the one to decide what you need. Have you had the blood tests for Celiac? Why not do those first ? Your regular doc can order those. Remember, if you are gluten free, you will not be making the antibodies that show up in the tests and you may have started healing the intestine (making it hard to get a damaged spot on biopsy).

Wowza Newbie
Wowza
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the quick reply, kareng. I confirmed with the doc that she meant start from the top and go down, not the other way around with the scope. Good adice about a consult with the GI. I had blood work before going gluten free ( I had been gluten free for a day and a half before this doc appt, went back on and had blood work a day and a half later,) and it was negative. That didn't surprise me because I've heard blood work often is. I went gluten-free again right after that because I noticed a BIG difference in just a day and a half.

You also answered another one of my questions. Doc wants me to go back on gluten for 2-3 weeks before the scope - good to double check this with the GI I imagine, but sounds like I'm going to have to. Need to figure out if I can go on some sort of medical leave at work I suppose.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Its possible you don't have Celiac. You could have NCGI (non-Celiac gluten intolerance). It can be every bit as nasty as Celiac but won't show on antibody tests or biopsy. You still might want to have the endo, just to make sure you don't have an ulcer or something else.

Do you have a copy of your blood tests? You might want to post them here so we can see if you even got the right ones. Sometimes these docs haven't even ordered the Celiac panel.

Wowza Newbie
Wowza
Posted
  • Author

I figured I was the non-celiac variety, could have mentioned that off the start... Definitely going to have the scope. I don't have my results, the lab sheet just Celiac screening, nothing more specific.

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

The doctor who ordered the tests must have the results - they need to be more specific than just 'negative'.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      134,084
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      10,442
    Melvac
    Newest Member
    Melvac
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.7k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      Sigh. I posted this yesterday based on the Safeway website. I went back again today to their website to double check. On the page where they are selling Vanilla Bean flavor, it has a distinct Certified Gluten Free label. Other flavors on the Safeway website didn't have the gluten-free statement. Today I went into the store. None of the flavors I looked at, including Vanilla Bean, have a Gluten Free statement. Is it safe? Who knows. The ingredients are either safe or nearly safe (some have "natural flavor"). There are warnings about "contains milk and soy" but not about wheat - this implies they are safe, but again, who knows. On the other hand, every flavor I checked of their Slow Churn line of ice creams has wheat as an ingredient. 100% not safe.
    • knitty kitty
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Do keep in mind that many of the newly diagnosed have lactose intolerance.  This is because the villi lining the intestinal tract are damaged, and can no longer make the enzyme lactAse which breaks down the milk sugar lactOse.  When the villi grow back (six months to two years), they can again produce the enzyme lactAse, and lactose intolerance is resolved.  However, some people (both those with and without Celiac Disease) are genetically programmed to stop producing lactase as they age.   Do be aware that many processed foods, including ice cream, use Microbial Transglutaminase, a food additive commonly called "meat glue," used to enhance texture and flavor.  This microbial transglutaminase has the same immunogenicity as tissue transglutaminase which the body produces in response to gluten in people with Celiac Disease.  Tissue Transglutaminase (tTg IgA) is measured to diagnose Celiac Disease in blood tests.  Microbial Transglutaminase acts the same as Tissue Transglutaminase, causing increased intestinal permeability and inflammation.   New findings show that microbial transglutaminase may be able to trigger Celiac Disease and other autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.   Microbial Transglutaminase is not required to be listed on ingredients labels as it's considered a processing aid, not an ingredient in the U.S.  Microbial Transglutaminase has been GRAS for many years, but that GRAS standing is being questioned more and more as the immunogenicity of microbial transglutaminase is being discovered. Interesting Reading:  Microbial Transglutaminase Is a Very Frequently Used Food Additive and Is a Potential Inducer of Autoimmune/Neurodegenerative Diseases https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8537092/
    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      There is a 10 year old post in this forum on Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream. The information is somewhat outdated and the thread is closed to further comment, so here is a new one. Edy's And Dreyer's Grand Vanilla Bean Ice Cream - 1.5 Quart is labeled "Gluten Free". This is a different answer than years gone by. I don't know the answer for any other flavor at this moment. On 1 May, 2026, Edy's website says: "As a general rule, the gluten in Edy's and Dreyer's® frozen dessert products is present only in the added bakery products, such as cookies, cake or brownies. We always label the eight major food allergens on our package by their common name. We recommend to always check the label for the most current information before purchasing and/or consuming a product. The exception to this rule is our Slow Churned French Silk frozen dairy dessert, which contains gluten in the natural flavors." https://www.icecream.com/us/en/brands/edys-and-dreyers/faq It seems that Edy's and Dreyer's are more celiac-friendly than they were 10 years ago. Once I found enough information to make today's buying decision, I stopped researching.
    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      EDG 3 years ago fine, now it shows focal villous blunting,

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      probably not your situation @Mimiof2, but allow me to add one more to @trents list of celiac-mimics: "olmesartan-induced sprue-like enteropathy"  
    • knitty kitty
      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      My dad had an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.  Fortunately, it was discovered during an exam.  The doctor could feel my dad's heart beating in his stomach/abdomen.  The aneurysm burst when the doctor first touched it in surgery.  Since he was already hooked up to the bypass machine, my dad survived ten more years.  Close call! Triple A's can press on the nerves in the spinal cord causing leg pain.  I'm wondering if bowing the head might have increased the pressure on an aneurysm and then the nerves.   https://gulfcoastsurgeons.com/understanding-abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-symptoms-and-causes/ Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Presenting as a Claudication https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4040638/
×
×
  • Create New...