Comments on: Part 1 of 12 Part Series: Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Undiagnosed Celiac Disease

By: wsb

wsb — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:02:52 +0000

My spouse didn’t seem to have any symptoms except a very slightly elevated fasting blood sugar. He’s always been thin and active. So he went low carb for the blood sugar issues and accidentally went GF. THEN, he started getting GI problems when he ate gluten. So he stopped again and then he noticed that he never had heartburn or mouth sores. And he quit snoring!
Finally we got on the right path and all celiac tests negative after a formal 3 month gluten challenge, which left him anemic. The only positive gluten test he has ever had was Enterolab and they found additional food intolerances as well. Dietary response has been very good.
I very much appreciate this well-written and thoroughly referenced blog!!

By: Allie

Allie — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:02:14 +0000

Thanks so much, Shelly! Indeed I do have other food allergies, though despite seeing several specialists I can’t seem to nail down what they are! So I’m in the process…elimination diet & all that jazz for the past eight years, if you can believe it. This gluten business might be the key to it all. You are also right that I have deficiencies. Haven’t had liver function tests (will do so) but the tests I had for Vit D & B12 indicated low, low levels. My endo said I’d have to “try” to make them that low, and that even then it’s unlikely I’d be able to lower them to my levels without SOME absorption problem. So thanks again! I’ll be taking this info with me to my upcoming appointment at the Celiac Disease Center. Hopefully I can get to the bottom of this! Thanks again–Allie

By: Shelly

Shelly — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:52:49 +0000

Allie,

Thank you for your comment and question. A quote from a book “Dangerous Grains” answers your question well. “All patients with an elevated IgG and/or IgA antigliadin antibodies should be treated seriously and monitered carefully. All such individuals should be routinely tested for celiac disease”. Ask your MD/specialists for “Tissue Transglutaminase Antibody Testing” and about a referral to a gastroenterologist. Some doctors feel that a positive IgA or IgG antigliadin test indictes that you have a gluten sensitivty and therefore you should eat a strict gluten-free diet.

Positive IgG antigliadin antibodies can indicate that you not only have increased intestinal permeability to gluten (increasing the risk of sensitivities and intolerances to gluten), but also to other food macromolecules, increasing the risk for other food allergies. Along with celiac testing, you may want to have IgG Elisa testing for food allergies.

Testing for nutrient deficiencies may be helpful. There are a number of nutrient deficiencies that can result from celiac disease and these deficiencies may affect heart function. Discuss this with your cardiologist. With nutrient deficiencies, celiac disease, or gluten sensitivities/allergies, a consult with a registered dietician (take bloodwork results with you) will provide you with information about a gluten-free diet and foods that are high in your current deficiencies.

I hope this information helps. Discuss it with your doctor and specialists before making any changes. I recommend waiting until CD testing is complete before initiating a gluten-free diet because it may create a false negative. Discuss this with your MD or specialist.

I wish you the best,

Shelly Stuart, RN

Quote, gluten and allergy information from: James Braly, M.D., and Ron Hoggan, M.A. Dangerous Grains. Avery, Penguin Group Inc., 2002.

Gibney MJ, Vorster HH, Kok FJ. Introduction to Human Nutrition. Blackwell Publishing 2002.

Gibney MJ, Marinos E, Olle L, Dowsett J. Clinical Nutrition. Blackwell Publishing 2005.

Wangen Stephan. Healthier Without Wheat.

By: Allie

Allie — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:54:27 +0000

What a great site! I’m anxiously awaiting the cardiac/cardiovascular/etc. symptoms, as that’s what I’ve been experiencing, and doctors have focused for months on my heart and my seemingly wacky thyroid. Now I understand that the thyroiditis might even have been caused by the CD, or vice versa. One question, though: I tested negative for two antibodies (gliadin AB IGA & another) but positive (52) for gliadin AB IGG. I was fasting, though. I know there’s the possibility of false negatives, as you state in your article, but is there also the possibility of false positives?? Thanks–hoping I don’t have CD but sensing I probably do!–Allie

By: Shelly

Shelly — Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:49 +0000

Thank you for your comment and question Dana. I have posted my recommendations in a blog post “Celiac and Crohn’s Disease: Re-Occurrence Of Bowel Symptoms Despite The Maintenance Of A Gluten-Free Diet”. I thought others may benefit from this information as well.
Shelly Stuart, RN

By: Dana

Dana — Mon, 25 May 2009 01:28:17 +0000

I have been diagnosed with celiac and chrohn’s disease for one and a half years. My doctor put me on a gluten-free diet and it was instant relief; a miracle. However, it’s like my body is going back to the way it was. I don’t believe the diet is working anymore. Can this be possible? I am actually going back to my doctor to get another colon. exam done. I am thinking the diet is helping the celiac, but what about the crohn’s?

By: Ethan

Ethan — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:42:09 +0000

I have been trying to find a site like this for a long time. I agree with the previous post. This is definitely a great resource for helping somebody else (and myself) understand.

By: alison - surefoodsliving.com

alison - surefoodsliving.com — Tue, 05 May 2009 04:32:13 +0000

This is a great article — I will be passing it along to others who ask me for help! I’m looking forward to the next 11 posts!

Before my celiac diagnosis, I had diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, bloating, flatulence, nausea, burping, feeling of fullness, oral ulcers at times, recurrent yeast infections, elevated liver enzymes.
On a gluten-free diet = none of the above!