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My biggest concern for those of you reading this is that we've created a gluten paranoia and a lot of people who have been properly diagnosed with IBS and are not feeling better will take it upon themselves to think they are gluten intolerant. Please everyone, get tested first....and keep copies of your blood work. If you test negative on all of it, don't even consider going GF, stick with Heather's diet and recommendations.

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I too would be concerned about gluten paranoia, but regardless of tests done there can still be false negatives specifically those with Microscopic Colitis. For me blood tests do not show gluten intolerance, but once having gluten removed from my diet I no longer have painful and persistent diarrhea. For those with MC by the time blood tests would show gluten intolerance there would be significant damage to the GI.

The only way to find out if one has Microscopic Colitis is via a biopsy during a colonoscopy. Luckily my Dr took a biopsy as this isn't a normal procedure especially if the GI looks ok during the procedure.

I was originally diagnosed with IBS and if I had continued to eat gluten or other problematic things for those with MC significant damage would have occured.

A lot of Doctors even GI doctors may not have even heard of MC as it is very rare, or at least has been rare in diagnosis as I imagine that there are some people who may be diagnosed with IBS who may actually have MC.

So if you have found that the IBS diet doesn't work for you, especially if you find gluten to be problematic make sure that your Dr has found you to not have Celiac or other gluten intolerant diseases including Microscopic Colitis.

Thanks,
Mike

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