Self Testing

[Darwinian]

Ok, so I've suspected that I'm GI or even have CD for a while now.

Mainly because my mother has CD and so do half my family on her side. Also, I seem to have had many of the symptoms associated with it.

For the past 7 weeks I have been GF which was a bit of a wrench for a bread lover but I seem to have managed ok and seem to be feeling better with many of the symptoms lessening or subsiding all together.

However, being of a scientific nature I cannot simply accept that this is not because I expected to feel different or because I have changed my very heavy bread based diet to something a lot more sensible.

So in the best tradition of self experimentation I have decided to re-introduce gluten back, all be it at a reduced volume, to gauge what difference it makes.

Another reason for stuffing my face with a ham sandwich this morning is because I recently bought one of these kits that test for the agi antibody and of course being on a GF diet would no doubt give a negative result.

Now for the questions. If you did the same thing, what symptoms could you expect to return and how quickly?

Also, how long do you think I should remain on a diet containing gluten before I can be sure the agi test will work properly?

Thanks in advance

[aklap]

Hi Dar,

Welcome to the board!

Getting tested by a doctor is generally the best route to go. With your family history & symptoms, you should be able to get a diagnosis without much trouble. In order for testing to be as accurate as it can be, you must be consuming gluten.

Symptoms are going to be different for everyone - when, where and how they present themselves. Some will notice things immediately, others within minutes, hours, perhaps days. When I did my gluten challenge - I stopped after 5 days. I can't remember when symptoms 1st started to worsen, it was 5 years ago.

Check out Our Thread on a Gluten Challenge: How long, how much? - Ever wonder how long it takes and how much gluten needs to be eaten?

Good luck in your experiments!! Let us know how they go!!
_________________
Al

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

[celiacmaine-iac]

When I did my gluten challenge I was itching within hours, and a total mess within a few days, but I had only been GF for maybe a little less than a month. My main issue at that time was DH, but now when I get glutened, I get the whole gamut, skin and intestinal sx's.

Steph

[Darwinian]

Thanks for that

I'll take a look at the challenge.

It's been about 5 hours since my sandwich and so far nothing..

[Darwinian]

I managed 9 days..

Some of the familiar symptoms are starting to return such as..

Itchy skin

Twitchy leg muscles

Starting to feel a bit bloated

And of course my favourite, that 'not quite connected to the real world feeling'

I'm not sure there's much point getting tested, after all, if you feel better when you don't eat gluten then don't eat gluten!!!

Now, all I need is a decent bread recipe

[ostrich]

Well, at least now you know. Next stop: healing!

We have all sorts of good bread recipes.
_________________
Ostrich :>--O==={

I lie below, you float above
In the pretty white ships that I am dreaming of

[aklap]

[Darwinian]

Thanks for the advice

Might get a proper test one day but if I keep on feeling ok I might just assume the I have acquired this little gift from my mother....

After all, humans have been around for well over a million years in one form or another and gluten has only been in our diet for the past 12000 so it's not surprising that some of us have bodies that wonder what this strange protein is..

[Dandor1456]

Why is it everyone calls me nuts...i use to scratch till i bleed..my leg got a cramp like you wouldnt believe.....im not gonna to go into what else happened ive never admitted this to anyone..now i know im normal
IM FREE!!!!!!
I FEEL GREAT

[cruelshoes]