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Augie--I have been going through this same issue for a few years. I tested positive for a gluten allergy years ago (via blood test--not the most reliable method). I found that when I stopped eating gluten I felt significantly better for a few years. I too wanted to know for sure whether or not I am gluten intolerant, because the diet can be restrictive (although there a lot of great alternatives these days). I have had all the tests for celiac disease, including the celiac gene test, and they are all negative. However, I could still be gluten intolerant, despite those test results. About 18 months ago, despite being GF, my IBS-like symptoms got significantly worse--I have been trying ever since to determine the cause. I have not gotten a definitive diagnosis of IBS yet--I'm still going through testing for various causes. And I feel that I have never gotten a definitive answer about celiac disease and gluten intolerance. It's very frustrating.
At any rate, both gluten intolerance and IBS can be difficult to diagnose and the whole process is very confusing. I recently found out about a test that can give a very reliable diagnosis of gluten intolerance (as well as some other food allergies/sensitivities). I found about it on the message board at www.celiac.com (a good resource). I am going to try to do it as soon as I can afford to. It is through Enterolab: www.enterolab.com. It might be worth a try to once and for all rule out - or in - gluten intolerance.
In the meantime, I have decided to remain GF, as well as to stick to the IBS diet guidelines. In my case, doing both of these things has yet to improve the symptoms that started 18 months ago. But until I can find out what is causing this recent long-term "attack", I figure it's worth sticking to the GF and IBS diets.
Another thing to keep in mind: It can take a very long time to recuperate from the symptoms caused by gluten intolerance. Additionally, there is hidden gluten everywhere. I had a lot of problems early on because I kept thinking I was GF so why didn't I feel better--then I'd find out that some favorite food that I thought was safe actually contained gluten. A good example of this: I was using Citrucel as a fiber supplement, and I found out that it contains gluten--though there is no mention of this in the ingredients.
I sure hope you can get things figured out. Please share anything you find out. This is such a confusing and frustrating thing to go through.
Best of luck to you.
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Here are some good resources for tasty GF foods:
Glutino: http://www.glutino.com/english/index.cfm (order GF products)
Gluten Free Pantry: http://www.glutenfree.com/ (great cake and brownie mixes that have alternatives for making low fat versions; pie crust mixes, bread mixes, etc.)
Pamela's has the best brownie mix ever, and can be made low fat to be IBS safe. http://www.pamelasproducts.com/
Living Without magazine has great recipes and info about living GF: http://www.livingwithout.com/. They also have a lot of dairy free info.
Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and Raleys/Nob Hill/BelAir grocery stores have GF food lists in the stores or on their websites. Pick up the list at Trader Joe's at the front of the store. Some restaurants have GF menus (Outback Steakhouse, PF Changs).
And here's a list of a whole bunch of links to companies that have GF products. http://www.gfmall.com/
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Judithq
#123787 - 11/19/04 04:50 PM
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Augie
Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 5807
Loc: Illinois
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I can so relate to you. Isn't it the worst thing to not have an answer or relief while following both diets!
I wanted to tell you that I too take citricel and the company assured me that none of their products contain gluten. I think it even says it on some of the canisters. I take the clear formula.
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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I found someone who knows what I'm going through!
Is the rice pasta that you eat made from brown rice, as I thought that was bad. Or can you handle both brown rice and white rice whether its rice or made into a pasta?
What veggies do you usually have. I noticed no fruit in your diet at all. Is that a problem for you?
Please email me when you return and we can chat about this whole IBS and GF junk. 
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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I seem to handle brown rice quite well, and brown rice pasta is even better. I can actually cope with brown rice better then white rice I think. Well as I said I am new to the IBS diet so veggies and fruit I eat now as opposed to veggies and fruit I used to eat are much different. I used to eat every vege under the sun and didn't realise my gas and tummy pains were attributed to this. So now I eat potatos, pumpkin and beetroot okay, and I think I can tolerate cooked carrot, broccoli and zucchini. I haven't ventured into too many other veges just yet. And since I've been really C lately I've started incorporating more fruit into my diet. I have mango and banana quite happily and I'm starting on pears, kiwi fruit and tinned plums and peaches. Not sure what the result will be. Will keep you posted 
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~ Live life, don't let life live you ~
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Apparently brown rice is good for people with IBS C as we need more insoluble fibre in our diet. I guess a typical lunch would be rice with cooked carrot, broccoli, zucchini and pumpkin. Yum yum! I seem to cope quite nicely with this. Dinner would be protein with more potato, pumpkin and beetroot with some insoluble veges like carrot and broccoli again (of course watch the amount of broccoli you eat). I can't remember whether you are IBS A, C or D? If you are C you need more insoluble fibre then a D would.
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~ Live life, don't let life live you ~
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I've been thinking for a few years that I am gluten intolerant as I can no longer tolerate pasta. Breads just seem to stay in my digestive system to ferment. I tried GF breads and pastas but find they're not as appealing to me as wheat pasta, and even a few of those caused me gas. A test to see if I am intolerant to be given to me by my VA doctor will come up perhaps in another couple of months. I hope it's reliable. Incidentally, I've been drinking clear mix citrucel for at least a couple of years now, from one to two glasses daily, and I haven't had any trouble with it. Actually, without it, my life would be very miserable.
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God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear.
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Meaning no soy milk or other products UNLESS it said luten free on it/ How about citri acid?
I am JUST learning these things are not okay.
Two years ago I went GF. I felt better. But since my tests came back negative I went back on gluten. I am going off again.
Biopsies and blood work. If your doc misses PART of the blood work it might giveyou a false negative. If your doc doesn't know how to do the biopsy you also might get a false negative. AND (for more confusion  ), the biopsy is not always accurate anyway because you may have flattened villi in patch A in your inestines but they took a sample from patch B and never found the flattened villi 
If you are SURE you were 100% GF and you still do not feel better chances are that you have IBS with celiac OR you have probs with wheat only OR you had a false positive OR you have asymptomatic celiac (as some of your blood results WERE positive) and you should eat GF anyway. PLUS keep in mind it can take up to 1.5-2 YEARS for your bod to completely heal itself if you have ZERO gluten EVER during that time (longer if you cheat or are geting gluten inadvertently).
*phew*
Have you read Danna Korn's book? this is where I am getting a great deal of my ifno. She is the National Spokesperson for Celaic Diseas Awareness and author of at least 2 books on the subject. Some of the info. I worte about above is based on what a Pediatric GI was quoted writing in Korn's book Wheat Free, Worry Free, pages 95-101.
Hope this helps (sorry if it leaves you more confused! ) Love, Ruchie
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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It may not contain gluten...but if it contaminated in any way...then you are NOT gluten free.......
Be careful here! Products change ALL THE TIME in regards to gluten. If there is a CHANCE it has gluten...personally...I just wouldn't eat it.
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Beth...didyou ever do this? If not andyou decide to try it...you need to eat gluten with every meal. I would eat at least 3 slices of bread a day. I'm curious to know if you did this and what the outcome was? Thanks! 
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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