Celiac disease instead of IBS all along??

Diseases & Conditions Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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   I would like to know any IBS'ers out there that had a weight loss problem. If I knew that this is not the case, and IBS patients had not lost any significant weight lost like me,then I could rule out IBS. More than 50% of patients have a years-long delay in the correct diagnosis.
 
     Maybe I am one of those people who thought I had IBS, but all along really have Celiac desease,(along with Crohn's,) IBS mimics these two conditions almost identically.
   
Symptoms include abdominal pain,cramping,constipation, gas, bloating,back pain,and weight loss...I have lost 65 pounds since last October! 
 
 Since there is no Celiac Disease Forum in this web site, I really did not know exactly where to post my inquiry.
 
A Gastroenterologist can perform a blood test and biopsy for a diagnosis. Treatment involves avoiding all gluten-containing foods. (wheat,barley,rye,and oats)
  
 This condition of cramping hasn't improved with my diet of Metamucil crackers (wheat), oatmeal (oats) Pringles (wheat) anything with wheat,which is alot of foods I like.
   I would like anyone who can give me a safe gluten free diet, (or resources) they've been on,that might make me feek better.
                                    Thanks for any help!  :-)
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Hi unhappycramper,

I think that we do have a couple of members with celiac so you may want to see if they post.

Have you had a scope done yet? Celiac definitely has a "look" to it when they do your scope. The best way I can describe the way it looks is tiny spiderwebs (I'll see if I can find you a link to an image).

Your right, your symptoms are very severe but keep in mind that IBS has different levels of severity. Most people have mild IBS but many find it debilitating for them. If you haven't had a scope, you probably will want to talk to your doctor about getting one.

Another good thing to do is test yourself on a specific diet... I bet if you googled gluten free diet or celiac diet I bet you would come up with a lot of things. If you notice improvements then at the very least you could say you have a gluten intolerance if not celiac but that would have to be dx'd by a doctor.

Hugs, Des
Co-Moderator ~ IBS Forum
 
~My reality check bounced
 
 
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hey, i am gluten free for several months now, and it does get easier...
but i tested negative for celiac (the blood test) and my scope showed no 'flat' villi, but i discovered that i have 'explosions' after i eat wheat products.

the internet has TONS of info on a gluten free diet, and once you start examining all your ingredient list you will notice many companies are gluten free and don't advertise. it is very difficult at first, but now my only concern is when i go to a restaurant (some have gluten free menus), or on an upcoming cruise i have...
the key is rice! rice pasta, rice bread, rice flour... corn pasta actually tastes similar to regular pasta...texture wise... The Gluten Free Pantry has packaged baking mixes which are great, the brownies are killer! Also Arrowhead Mills packages flours, baking mixes. Xanthum Gum is a fantastic thickener for soups/stews--it is expensive, but you only need about 1/2 teaspoon for a pot--and it does not clump. even if i can eat gluten again i will still cook with xanthum gum.
UTZ potato chips are gluten free. Kozy Shack rice puddings, and i believe chocolate pudding as well. Also if you check out the ethnic aisle the asian style crackers are often made with rice...
NO SOY SAUCE!!!! also some wasabi and sushi packages contain wheat. (the 'fake' crabmeat)
Whole Foods (i don't know where you live...) has a whole section for gluten free, as well as Wegmans.
Amy's Kitchen has many gluten free frozen meals--even a pizza! (which i am trying to find in the stores) Also Amy's Organic Soups have many gluten free options.
Mainly, it is just substituting all gluten... it can be expensive though! but dropping $40 or so a month on breads and pastas for me is a heck of a lot better than being sick all month. but if you enjoy cooking it can be cheaper. i actually am going to be baking muffins today, it isn't that scary once you get used to it. make sure the people you live with understand too, that way they can check up on you...
take care!!!
i hope this helped a little--but get tested!!!!
--bunnybabe

what would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

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 Thanks DBAB and Bunnybabe for the info! I sure apreciate it.
 
Yes, I have checked out the Celiac & Gluten free diets out there.
 
Dbab, when you said "Scope" did you mean ENDOSCOPY? or SIGMOIDOSCOPY? I have to get another Blood test done to be sure. I haven't had a blood test since the majority of my weight loss.
 
 Maybe still do a CT scan of the Abdomen/Pelvic? Or a simple blood test? I would like to rule out anything else that may be causing these symptoms as well. Or do you think it's redundant and that I will simply have to live with this?
 
  I sure would like to know if theres anything medically wrong down there with me to cause all this weight loss and constant pain with cramping, even though I try to watch what I eat.
 
 
Have either of you with IBS suffered any extreme weight loss like my 65 pounds.
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Actually both scopes althought I hear that Celiac is most noticable usually in the duodenum (not sure how accurate that is). Blood test should rule out Celiac but I mentioned scope because that is usually something your doc does to rule out other stuff first and if done I'm sure he/she would have mentioned it (however since bunnybabe mentions that it didn't come up in her scope would not mean anything if not noticed on your scope). From what I understand, Celiac is not as hard to diagnose as IBD (Crohn's or UC).

I agree that the weight loss is extreme, I have UC and never had that kind of weight loss but everyone is different.

Hugs, Des
Co-Moderator ~ IBS Forum
 
~My reality check bounced
 
 
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