Not diagnosed but been gluten free for 2 months

I decided from choice to go gluten and wheat free after always suffering from IBS symptoms, wind and bloating. I have felt much better since I have but still don't feel 100%. I am about to undergo a lot of blood tests at the request of my GP and one is for Celiac Disease.

I told my GP of my gluten free diet and she asked me if I would be prepared to eat wheat and gluten before the blood tests to enable the test to be done. I said no but it would be nice to get an actual diagnosis one way or the other.

Could I eat say a bread roll an hour before the test or would I need to do more than that? What's everyone's thoughts on this?

Thanks

Chris

[Regalbirdy]

Hi Chris

Sorry to tell you this but one breadroll is definitely not enough!

I think the present recommendation is to eat gluten products at least once a day for at least six weeks. Anything less than this is likely to lead to a negative test result.

In many ways I was lucky - I had all the tests done before going gluten-free; and was subsequently diagnosed as a coeliac.

It's a horrible dilemma that you're in and only you can decide if it's worth it.

The upside for me, is that I get a better standard of long term support from the NHS than my self-diagnosed peers do.

The downside for you is unfortunately obvious - i.e. being unwell for several months again and with no guarantee of getting a positive test result.

It might be worth your while to check out the NICE guidelines CG86 for more information on the process involved in getting a coeliac diagnosis. They're available on the Internet.

Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to Regalbirdy]

Thanks, I thought it would be a bit more complicated than that. To complicate matters even more, I am Hypothyroid too so a bit sick of all this to be honest. I can't lose weight despite eating a really healthy low carb and fat diet, I exercise 5 times a week and still feel awful and over remain weight!

[DartmoorGuerrilla in reply to Hidden]

I know it's not your main point (which others have answered) but low fat is not healthy! There's plenty of evidence now that (a) fat doesn't make you fat and (b) natural unprocessed fats (meat fat, butter etc) do not contribute to cardiovascular problems and in fact may have a protective effect. A diet high in the right sort of fats (e.g. no manufactured butter substitutes, no low fat anything) has seen off my joint pain, I've lost weight, my skin is better and my blood pressure has decreased. There's no scientific rationale behind a low fat diet: it was just the orthodoxy of its day, and you just have to see the explosion in diabetes etc to know that it was wrong.

[Hidden]

Hi Chris, Regalbirdy is bang on here and the recommendation for a gluten challenge is 6 to 8 weeks.

A few things to bear in mind, as you have been gluten free for 2 months when you reintroduce gluten it could well have a more dramatic effect than before so don't be alarmed if this happens.

Also if you do have CD then it is understandable that you don't feel completely well yet, this is because it takes time for our villi to recover and it takes time for our vitamin and minerals levels to return to normal.

Here's a link about a gluten challenge and I urge you to consider finding out for sure now whilst you have the opportunity, it leads to follow ups like dexa scans for bone density and you're in the system so in my opinion it is worth getting a diagnosis.

celiacdisease.about.com/od/...

And good luck and let us know how you get on,

Jerry

[tetloww]

My consultant has told me I would have to eat it for 4 MONTHS. can't even get past 4 days never mind 4 months hence why I won't do it. Happy being off it for 10 months now and will fight the good fight with him next time I see him. Good luck