Do I Have Celiac, Not IBS, After All?
#168015 - 04/07/05 01:14 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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After suffering with IBS, or what I thought was IBS, it has come to my attention that I might not have IBS, but celiac disease.
I had my colonoscopy some years ago, and the doc diagnosed IBS. I've been on Heather's program ever since, and, for the most part, struck strictly to it (okay, I've had a little problem with the coffee), and I've done pretty well over the years .... but not as well as I've done recently, since I went on a new diet totally contrary to the IBS program, mainly eliminating all breadstuff completely. (No, it's not Atkins.)
I'm doing everything wrong for IBS: I'm consuming large quantities of fresh fruit (grapes, apples, oranges, etc.)and veggies (salad greens, peas, corn, broccoli, onions, bell peppers), without any kind of soluble fiber beforehand. I'm eating zero bread or any kind of pasta or rice or crackers or anything like that. I'm making sure not to eat anything several hours before bed, of course no booze, no dairy, no fats at all, and only a little grilled chicken breast, tuna or salmon. I do not eat every few hours; in fact, I eat only two meals a day, and I'm constantly hungry. Meals do not fill me up; I always leave the table starving. Oh, and I have coffee every morning.
For the first time in 6 years I've been losing an average of 2 pounds a week. But, more importantly, I have NO IBS SYMPTOMS WHATSOEVER! No cramps AT ALL, no Big D as I used to have, even on Heather's program, no nausea, no indigestion, no gas, I no longer wake up with cramps, I have no headaches, no back aches, no NOTHING -- I'm a happy camper! I'm tellin' ya, life is sweet!
The question is: WHY? One of the gals here suggested I might have celiac disease. I've been doing a search, and there's TONS of stuff in here on celiac. I've been spending all day printing it all out -- it's too much to read at once! -- and I have a call in to my doctor to ask for a test for celiac.
Anyone have any suggestions/comments/advice? I'd appreciate any and all. Thanks!
BefuddledBev 
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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It could also be Lymphocytic Colitis or Microscopic Colitis. As your doc if they took a biopsy during your colonoscopy and tested it. Doc thought I had IBS until the biopsy came back. And not all Docs take a biopsy during a colonoscopy especially if the colon looks ok. Mine looked ok but he took a biopsy anyway.
HTH,
Mike
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For Mike
#168027 - 04/07/05 01:32 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Thanks Mike. I'm going to ask him that when he calls back. Good catch!
BTW, since you don't have IBS, do you have Lymphocytic Colitis or Microscopic Colitis? Or Celiac? Something else? Did you notice a change in your symptoms after cutting out all breadstuff, like me?
Thanks again,
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Hmm....
#168028 - 04/07/05 01:37 PM
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Stephie
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 2696
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
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Hello Lovely Bev,
How very very strange!
How long have you been on this new diet?
I ask because when I got really frustrated while I was in England, I thought, "I give up!" and totally went off the diet. I ate whatever I wanted and for almost a month I was totally stable.
Then I got sick again.
I didn't eliminate wheat/gluten, but I must have eaten way less as I let myself have quite a lot of other foods.
The only way I could figure it is that my body decided to be stable for a while, and then just freaked out again. My doctor said that it could have been differing levels of stress, or just some completely unknown component that made the difference.
Since there is a test for celiac (isn't there? It is a really long process isn't it? The scope you, do a test, you stop eating wheat for 6 months, they scope again... Am I thinking of the right thing?), at least you can find out for certain. If the test comes back that you have celiac, at least you've got a diet that works for you.
If it says you don't, hmm... Maybe this diet just works for you?
I don't know if this is true or not but the GI I saw in England said that with IBS 1/3 of people's symptoms are completely food related, 1/3 are stress/food related and then there are 1/3 of people who's syptoms aren't related to either of those things and it is just a big mystery.. I always thought that would be a pretty confusing, but you've been dealing with this for so long that you already know so much about what works and doesn't work for your body.
I say get the test, and then let us know!! How odd would it be if your tummy problems could just clear up forever by elimiating wheat and gluten and all that stuffs.
Good luck!!!
**hugs**
--Steph
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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For Steph
#168032 - 04/07/05 01:42 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Hi there, Pretty Lady!
Thanks for the suggestions. This is good stuff. I'm gonna read it over a couple more times, then print it out. I have a LOT to read on this!
Still waiting to hear back from the doc. (You know how that goes.) I'll keep you posted.
Thanks again Sweetie!
Bevvy
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Re: For Mike
#168034 - 04/07/05 01:43 PM
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MikeE
Reged: 03/31/05
Posts: 60
Loc: Seattle, WA
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I have LC. Yep, once I cut the gluten products I felt much better. I still have some GI problems, but I'm thinking those mainly stress related as they corelate with stressfull times and I've had anxiety/panic attacks.
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Re: For Mike
#168035 - 04/07/05 01:46 PM
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MikeE
Reged: 03/31/05
Posts: 60
Loc: Seattle, WA
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Oh, forgot to add that there is a test for CD I believe. Ask your Doc if you were tested for that as well.
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you should be able to eat rice, rice noodles, potatoes, quinoa, and corn products. So why don't you try eating rice and potatoes and see if you still feel good.
Perhaps you just can't handle carbs in general, which wouldn't be Celiac Disease. Or try some GF cereal, cream of rice, or rice bread in place of gluten bread.
It's no big deal to get tested. Just stick a tube down your throat and also some blood tests. No major prep beforehand and no after effects.
Good luck and let us know what happens. So great you are feeling so good. And how brave to be eating all these foods! Lucky lady!!
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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CD?
#168037 - 04/07/05 01:53 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Mike, what is "CD"? Crohn's? Okay, now I'm starting to freak out.... 
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Heh, I missed that. Yeah, I can eat pretty much any carb except "stuff with gluten in it" and oatmeal. And by stuff with gluten in it can be stuff you wouldn't normally think of containing wheat, soy sauce for instance.
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