Maybe...maybe not?

[dsriddle_13]

I have been checking out posts here for a couple weeks. I can tell from the other posts that you guys are all used to graphic descriptions...so here it goes.

I started having problems with BM's that were more frequent, larger volume, soft and difficult to clean up after early this year. That continued for a few months and has improved slightly. About a month ago I started having constipation mixed with the above mentioned BM's and some normal BM's. I am also having more gas than usual. My routine blood screenings and fecal work up for bacterial and parasitic causes have been normal except a low albumin/globulin ratio which the doc doesn't seem concerned about (I am, and noted that my albumin was on the low end of normal - one point from being out of range.) So far my doc has had me try fiber and yogurt...neither helped. The other day I was constipated so badly I thought I was going to have to go to the hospital. I am a runner and I end up having diarrhea on many of my runs. I don't want to live like this. I have no other signs that I can think of. My mother has had a lot of problems with diarrhea, had early onset osteoporosis (also has crappy diet with little calcium, smoked and drank a lot of soda), and has idiopathic peripheral neuropathy. I asked her if she had been tested for CD and she said "I think so."

I saw my doc today...he thinks I have a functional problem. He is referring me to a gastroenterologist. I am not sure if I should be concerned for CD since I don't have classic symptoms. My signs are intermittent right now, but were constant for a while. I wouldn't have been able to pinpoint a food because it was a problem all the time. I eat a lot of gluten so I am not sure if my signs should be intermittent like they are now. I figure IBS is probably what they are going to tell me I have, but I am wondering if I should push for testing. I guess I am just worried that I am going to ask about it and they are going to think I am crazy because I haven't lost weight and my bloodwork thus far has been normal. Any thoughts? I don't even really know what my question is.

thanks,
stacy

[ostrich]

Hey there dsriddle! Glad you stopped lurking. Welcome to the board.

If you want to test for CD, then insist on testing for CD. There's a wide range of symptoms; you don't have to have all of them to be diagnosed with CD. For example, not all of us lost weight. Some stayed the same. Some gained (or could never lose) weight.

For what it's worth, you're at the perfect time to test for CD since you haven't tried the diet yet.

That being said, I would still keep an open mind. Listen to what the doc has to say and take it into consideration. If you don't agree with it, tell him so.

P.S. - I was the same way as you. I was sick all the time with everything, and nothing helped. So no, I don't think you're crazy.
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