Celiac Disease Support Group
Celiac disease is an auto-immune disorder of the digestive system that occurs in genetically-predisposed individuals. It is characterised by damage or flattening to all or part of the villi lining the small intestine, which interferes with the absorption of nutrients. This damage is caused by eating anything with gluten (gliadin), a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley...
I have not ever been tested for celiac or gluten intolerance (I mentioned it to my GP that I was having problems with it, but she sorta blew it off).
Anyway, I have been having some really extreme digestive issues that I have linked to gluten. My symptoms hadn't been all that consistent, but for the most part I would either have stomach/intestinal pain, horrible bloating, gurgling, and if I eat enough I get pretty bad diarrhea. What is weird is that it is very new. A year ago I used to eat gluteny things to soothe my digestive tract. But anyway... This weekend I was on vacation with my boyfriend and his family, and I didn't want to cause any issues, so I just ate what they had (most of which contained gluten). And the last night there I had REALLY TERRIBLE stomach pain and very extreme bloating. It never went away. I spent all day today (the following day) in a lot of pain and a few bouts of diarrhea (about 5 times today). It finally was going away around 6 pm today, so I ate dinner. Then by around 8:30 pm I feel SO sick again! Extreme pain in the center of my abdomen!
Is this kind of pain typical from gluten intolerance or celiac? I am just so confused!
Anyway, I have been having some really extreme digestive issues that I have linked to gluten. My symptoms hadn't been all that consistent, but for the most part I would either have stomach/intestinal pain, horrible bloating, gurgling, and if I eat enough I get pretty bad diarrhea. What is weird is that it is very new. A year ago I used to eat gluteny things to soothe my digestive tract. But anyway... This weekend I was on vacation with my boyfriend and his family, and I didn't want to cause any issues, so I just ate what they had (most of which contained gluten). And the last night there I had REALLY TERRIBLE stomach pain and very extreme bloating. It never went away. I spent all day today (the following day) in a lot of pain and a few bouts of diarrhea (about 5 times today). It finally was going away around 6 pm today, so I ate dinner. Then by around 8:30 pm I feel SO sick again! Extreme pain in the center of my abdomen!
Is this kind of pain typical from gluten intolerance or celiac? I am just so confused!
I had established a connection between some of my problems and gluten. One of my doctors said to stay GF. Another doctor ran a blood test, which came back negative. But he then commented that the blood tests were only 40% accurate, and that an intestinal biopsy was the way to go. However, he wouldn't do one of me, because he didn't want to risk infection. Then he and another doctor said that, if a person suspects gluten problems, s/he should take the 90-day challenge. This is when a person eats strictly GF for 90 days, and then adds gluten back into his/her diet. If the same problems return, or new ones develop, then s/he should stay GF.
For me, if I'm exposed to gluten, it raises my inflammation levels, which exacerbates my Polymyositis (an autoimmune disease). My current doctor told me that "Gluten is like a poison to anyone with an autoimmune disease." Because gluten raises my inflammation, and muscle inflammation can kill me, I choose to stay GF for life.
As tshy mentioned, if you are going to be tested for CD, then you must be eating gluten currently. Otherwise the testing will be faulty. However, because I did not wish to go back on a gluten diet, I never had further testing. I know gluten is a problem, and just stay away from it. Best wishes to you.
Question: Can gluten intolerance cause you to get both constipation and diarrhea? I have had times where I eat a bowl of cereal and it goes right through me and other times where I have eaten say bread and I can't go for a few days. Either way I usually bloat up...
The problem is that until the intestinal damage is widespread or in a critical area, symptoms can be nearly non existent. They can suddenly flair once the body can no longer function without those nutrients.
The human body is amazingly able to function for long periods under the most extreme conditions. It is adaptable.
it seems like you have narrowed down your issues. It is at least gluten intolerance if not full blown Celiac. Be aware that Celiac is the most rare of the gluten spectrum. So testing negative for Celiac does NOT mean you can tolerate gluten.
Here is some more info:
http://www.glutenology.net/gluten-free-society-membership-sp1/