wondering if I hav cd

[Sharonf]

Hi everyone!

What a great site. I wanted your opinions on whether I should get tested.
I am hypothyroid and my last blood test showed I was anemic. About 2 months ago I started having strange symptoms. I thought I was becoming lactose intolerant because after I would drink cream I would get severe stomach upset, gas, and diahrea(sp). So I bought some lactaid and it seemed to help. But then I would drink cream and it wouldn't bother me. The stomach aches and cramps and running to the bathroom seemed to happen at random.

The symptoms seem to come and go and aren't very severe, although the gas is always a problem. Well, I saw an article in Womens world magazine about cd and the symptoms were what I had. It also said you have a greater chance of having cd if you have hypothyroid and anemia.. I just happened to see my doctor today to go over my latest blood work. The interesting thing is my anemia seems to be gone, but my vitamin D is low. Also, I am not losing weight. In fact over the holidays I gained weight ant I just can't seem to get rid of these 8 pounds. I mentioned CD to her and she was very unfamiliar with it. But she is great and always willing to look at everything. She told me to give her the names of the blood tests needed and she would have me tested, which I did. I'm just wondering if I even have CD or if it could be something else.

One more thing, I went through a period of time when I was eating shredded wheat everyday, which I haven't done in a while. I was wondering if that's why my symptoms are better.

Sorry this is so long. I didn't intend on it being so long.

Sharon

[aklap]

Hi Sharon,

Welcome to the site!

It's possible it maybe CD or Gluten Sensitivity. It's also possible it maybe a dairy intolerence too (for the gastro problems). Or it could be both!! There are high incidences of CD and LI together. Many times once the gut is healed a celiac will be able to tolerance dairy. It could also be a casein intolerence (casein is the protein in cows milk. Lactose is a sugar component. I just came across this site (it explains it quite well) http://www.lactose.co.uk/intolerance/index.html
http://www.panix.com/~nomilk/

With your thyroid & anemia problems...CD is definately worth checking into. I will suggest you read as much as you can. As you said, your doc didn't know much about it, but was willing to look at it. GREAT!!!

I grabbed this from the Diagnostic Info forum...(check in there for other goodies too!)

Usually they start with a set of blood tests called a Celiac Panel that should consist of these tests:

A complete Celiac Blood Panel:

antigliadin IgA and IgG (May indicate Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity)
anti-tTG and/or anti-endomysial (Looks for villi damage)
total serum IgA (rules out IgA deficiency)
anti-reticulin IgA (Rarely used but, a very thorough doctor will include this)

More on Diagnostic Testing


If the blood test come back positive, they may want to scope you to check for intestinal damage (the gold standard for Celiac diagnosis).


Good luck with your sluething!!
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[maria1223]

with the anemia & the thyroid u are more cd but like AL said u can also be li. I have hyprothyroidism & anemia I was DX in dec.04 with CD & li than they found crohns & now today I finally saw the size of my hiatal herina it is the size of my stomach. so if I were u I would get tested for CD first before u have alot of damage to ur villi. I'm still suffering everyday I'm always bloated It looks like I'm 6 - 9 months pregnant with twins because of the herina my whole body hurts like I've been run over with a mack truck like 50 X's . but there r some days that I can do things I'm totally G/F It took me 3 weeks to finally get it together at first I thought I was going to starve but actually u can eat good when u have C/D. don't get discouraged keep going.

[aklap]

[hannah]

hi i think that i may have celiac disease but im only 13 and iv jst had the test and am waiting form the results. does anyone know wether it can be triggered off by certain things. iv jst started 10th april and iv always been very thin im 7 stone and 5ft 8 ( tall for my age), iv always had stomach problems and i was wondering if i did have celiac disease could it be triggered off by my period?

HELP!

[Guest]