Mark

Ruth, the Procratin doesn't probably contain any living cells, but definitely can help you with insufficient pancreas. I've tried 5 Strain Dophilus from Swiss Herbal Remedies recently, and now I'm on Lepicol - funny stuff, looks more like a hay, but there is a lot of fiber in it which helps you to get some regularity into your digestion. I've just started, but it seems to work well.

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

Yes, my improvement lasted about a week after my course was finished, and then it got even worse than before. It seems the bad bacteria can repopulate the place much faster than the good ones.

I'm just trying a few different probiotics to see which one works better for me. Up to now, they seem to calm down my irritated intestines.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

Tiffany,

thanks for the great post. Have you got any clue whether it's possible to get casein-free milk? This would be a nice stuff - no allergy or intolerance possible, high in calcium, and because of low protein content, no buffering involved.

Perhaps a good issue for the diary industry to work out.

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

I don't know much about my eosinophil count, but I suppose having them increased is quite a standard in celiac. But, what's more interesting, cetirizini dihydrochloridum allergy pills label says that this stuff can hold the eosinophils back from moving. I took one pill 2 months ago for my pollinosis, and I noticed improvement in my gastro symptoms as well. The improvement was delayed 1-2 days, so I couldn't see the clear connection. Anyway, it could be worth further investigating.

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

It convinced her to run a series of tests for helicobacter infection, which finally turned out negative. But I have no idea what these tests can tell about other bugs. So I agree with you, and I'll keep nagging

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

Gillian502,

I've been gluten-free for one year as you, and my antibodies are still raised. They are going up and down, sometimes negative, then positive again. I am sure I have had no mistakes, so I cannot really explain it.

Also, my doc has been checking my blood for other food, and besides gluten & casein, a soy intolerance appeared six months ago, and I shoved some eggs antibodies recently.

But these tests are kind of special ones, I still have absolutely no allergy, when checked by standard allergy tests.

I just think about other possibilities: They harvested a wheat field a mile away from here, I wonder how far the dust can go? And also, does grass pollen contain gluten? I mean, grass is close relative to wheat - well, nobody eats grass, but one swallows a big part of what he/she breathes in.

I am really concerned about the bacterial overgrowth too. I'm taking probiotics and it helps me somehow. Interestingly, I had to go on antibiotics last year, and my symptoms almost disappeared during that course. I wonder: has anyone of you had the same experience with antibiotics?

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

My bilirubin is also elevated, and it seems to be in relation with my elevated iron (when the bilirubin is high, my iron is high too). Haven't been diagnosed with Gilbert's. Seems strange to have high iron as being a celiac. But the intestinal permeability surely plays a role.

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

The main milk allergens are:

casein

a-lactalbumin

B-lactalbumin

and you can get tested for:

cow's milk

boiled cow's

goat's milk

mare's milk

cheese-cheddar type

cheese-mold

whey

Casein makes up about 75-80% of all milk protein and is heat stable. That's why it is found in cheese as well. Actually, the casein concentration in cheese can be pretty high (depends on chesse type). Cheese analogs are all based on casein as a protein source.

The reaction to casein is either immediate (IgE related) or few hours/days delayed (IgG, IgA related).

I have the delayed reaction only, and it causes similar symptoms like gluten - bloating, cramps etc., but I noticed some sore throat, chest pain & asthma like reactions as well. Not sure it is all related to my casein intolerance. I'm still in search.

Anyway, the best way to find out more is to get tested.

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

I am 10 months diary free, but still having casein antibodies in my blood. So, I wouldn't worry to stop eating diary a week before testing. Or, to make sure, take a little bit the day before.

Just to give you an idea.

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

IgA and IgG anti-gliadin test could be false positive sometimes, especially when there is another illness going on (as Gillian has already mentioned). But it tells you there IS something wrong about gliadin, and I would rather support Sarah over your doc.

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

After being 6 months diary free, my lactalbumine went negative, my caseine IgA dropped half down and caseine IgG remained almost the same as before. So, perhaps one year diary free and my antibodies will be ok. Just to give you an idea. I'll have another bloodwork next week, so I'll see more then.

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

Gretchen, the pain moves and changes quite often. In addition, deep breathing doesn't increase the pain. I can't remember any event (like hit, fall etc.) which could cause this. So, I don't likely think it is a broken cartilage rib, but thanks anyway. It's interesting how many ideas can people come up with.

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

Hmmm, the problem with Lactaid sounds like worrying about sugar in your cake, when you're gluten intolerant. Of course, some people get hard time digesting lactose, but caseine intolerance is no fun at all. To support Alexolua, I had absolutely no troubles with diary in the past, no matter of volume. I'm still pretty sure I could have a gallon of milk, if there was no caseine. I do wonder why Enterolab offers the milk test for free - perhaps another submerged iceberg?

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

Karina, thanks a lot for the costochondritis tip. I have done some searching on the web about it and it's possible I may have it as well. It can be cured with ibuprofen, which, as I already know, does work for me. I was a bit woried I may have a pericarditis, but hopefully it's not the case.

Anyway, you bet it was hard to get rid of diary, I'm still craving my favourite stuff. But the numbers tell me a clear message, and unless my antibodies drop down, I'll stay diary free.

Gretchen, did you ask me? I am AGA both negative, tTg IgG positive, IgA negative, caseine IgA positive, IgG high positive. Hope this helps?

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

I have read that people with celtic origin are at higher risk in developing celiac. So, the conclusion about the Irish descent sounds reasonable to me. And obviously, guess what the celtics had on the menu.

(My mother is German, my father is Czech)

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

Karina,

they didn't tell me why my bilirubin/iron is high, instead of this, they were speculating whether being at high altitudes can affect iron levels, but as they found my erythrocytes normal, they couldn't give any conclusion. Next test I got into normal range, so they were not so concerned. They also mentioned Gilberts, and they told me some people have elevated bilirubin all their life, and there is nothing much wrong about it. In the last test I went just on the top limit. The relationship was just my observation, I forgot to mention it to the doc, but I've found that iron is needed to make hemoglobin and hemoglobin is discarded into bilirubin, so this could be a ground for this relationship. Also, my hemoglobin is a little elevated, but still in normal range.

I have chest pains sometimes, but they are not on the right side. Most often, they are in lower left ribs area or in the middle of chest. I can even find a spot which hurts when pushed. My doc said it could be a pulled muscle but I'm sure it's not. The inflamation of the rib cage is far more possible case, but I'm not sure about it either. I did an interesting experience: while I was having the pain, I drank about 2 cups of water, and the pain stopped almost immediately. - It's not always working, but it gives me some relief often.

My cholesterol level was elevated as well, and I hope it's not going to rise any higher. In addition, I have pretty high antibodies to milk proteins, so I need to cut off all diary as well. In fact, it was much harder for me than going gluten-free.

Good luck.

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

This is what I've found under this Site Index > Allergy vs. Intolerance > Will Other Foods Affect the Villi?

Q: If I am sensitive to milk and eggs...could they damage my villi in the same way as gluten?

A: There’s a specific note in Michael Marsh’s book about food allergies causing villi damage. That’s the book "On Coeliac Disease", page 155. Table there shows that the Type 3 stage of intestinal response, "flat destructive" does occur with milk, egg, soya and chicken or fish allergies. It differs from the celiac response in that only 1 or 3 of the 5 stages of lesion connected with celiac disease occur with an allergy.

To find out whether you have the other food intolerance, you need to run IgA and IgG tests for casein & lactalbumin (milk) and ovalbumin (egg). Don't know if there is any test available for the other foods mentioned.

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

I also need to be diary free, cos there is a protein called casein in the diary, and, by my opinion, it can cause some light damage as well, or at least keep you from healing faster. Enterolab does the testing for milk intolerance as well.

Mark

Gluten-free Casein-free since September 03

Hi Karina,

I'm Czech, so you'll need to be a little tolerant of my English. Your symptoms seemed to be similar to mine, so I decided to reply.

I too have high iron/bilirubin, but not much, just a bit over the top limit. They seem to be related, when iron is low, bilirubin is low as well. I also have chest pain & palpitations, but there was nothing wrong on my EKG (is it the thing where they put wires on you?). The only thing they found different was quite low blood pressure and a little higher rate. I have been told that heart and lower esophagus share the same nerve, so when you get some reflux, it may seem like a heart problem. Actually, acid lowering drugs helped me a bit. I need to avoid acidic food as well. They tested me a lot for a bug called helicobacter pylori, I had some tests positive, some negative, and when they found celiac panel conclusive, they gave up further testing. I still may have the bug however. I've been gluten-free-CF for 9 months, and still hoping to get better.

Anyhow, I hope your heart will be OK.

MARK

Gluten-free Casein-free since September 03