possible celiac disease

[Aged31]

I’m waiting for a call tomorrow with gp but over the last few weeks I’ve been feeling so rough with really bad tummy pain cramps bloating some weight loss and a lot of yellow diarrhoea is this a sign of celiac disease?

[Researchfan]

Hi Aged31.

It’s difficult to say as so many conditions can affect the gut, and the only way to know if it’s possible coeliac disease is for your GP to test you initially for specific antibodies. If positive you would need referral to a gastroenterologist for further testing to confirm. You must be on a gluten containing diet for tests to be accurate and don’t go gluten free until tested.

Your symptoms sound like a bad tummy bug and your gp may want you to do stool tests to rule that out first as you may need antibiotics. Had you been abroad? Or eaten outside the home/food not prepared yourself?

Make sure you stay hydrated and take care.

[Aged31 in reply to Researchfan]

thank you for your reply

I’ve had the same food nothing has changed in my diet.. but this has been a regular thing in my day to have this type of loose stool that is yellow.. I haven’t stopped eating gluten or anything like that my dr would like me to do a blood test to see if it is celiac related or not

I have these bad stomach cramps pains bloating etc

[Researchfan in reply to Aged31]

Coeliac disease is very possible. The blood test will show whether likely or not. Symptoms overlap with different gut conditions though. Hopefully you get a diagnosis in order to get better. As long as you’ve been eating wheat/gluten for at least 6 weeks everyday the blood test should be accurate. Bingeing a few hours before won’t make a difference now. It takes time for antibodies to build up.

[Aged31 in reply to Researchfan]

my doctor never mentioned anything like that it needs to be for at least 6 weeks I had an appointment and was told have a blood test but continue with same diet don’t change anything

[Researchfan in reply to Aged31]

yes exactly you must be eating a normal gluten containing diet for the tests to be accurate. GPs don’t always know that or think to ask the patient.

The 6 weeks is for anyone that’s already given up gluten and gone on a gluten free diet that then needs to be tested for coeliac disease. It’s called a gluten challenge.

[Aged31 in reply to Researchfan]

So you think it’s best to hold tight for a bit and then go for the test ?

[Researchfan in reply to Aged31]

You should consult your doctor re testing and follow their advice. Best of luck

[bobby7]

I wouldn't have thought so. Your symptoms sound like an infection. Coeliac is uncomfortable, but it's not infectious. If you stress your gut by eating the wrong food, you may well weaken your resistance to infection. Avoid gluten at all costs.

[Aged31 in reply to bobby7]

so you think it could be celiac disease ?

[cranberryt in reply to Aged31]

There is no way to tell without the blood tests and/or biopsy. It could be a host of otger things too luke colitis or IB or diverticulitis.

[Aged31 in reply to cranberryt]

oh yeah that’s totally understandable.. hopefully can get the blood test done this week

[Hidden in reply to bobby7]

If you don't have coeliac or gluten intolerance, why avoid gluten?

[CATRYNA49]

Yes, indeed. Celiac disease can have those symptoms and more. If you are still eating anything that has gluten, it's time to quit.

[Aged31 in reply to CATRYNA49]

I’ve been referred to a gastroenterologist so just waiting for everything to be authorised before I can go ahead and make an appointment.. do you think it’s worth to keep eating as normal until I have been seen by the hospital?

[Rocky]

When I had my blood tests back that indicated I had celiac disease, I was then sent to the Gastroenterologist for a gastroscopy and biopsies taken, as I am over 55. I was told it was important to carry on eating gluten, until all my tests had been done, or it can mess the tests up for you. I stopped eating gluten on the day I got my results from my Gastroenterologist, and he told me that I had to

[Aged31 in reply to Rocky]

okay thank you! I have a blood test booked for tomorrow so hopefully we can get to the bottom of it!.. I know it sounds silly but is it worth eating more gluten type foods for the rest of the day and morning before my blood test ??

[Rocky in reply to Aged31]

I personally would just eat what you normally have, as you don't want to make yourself feel worse. Good luck

[Aged31 in reply to Rocky]

will do, thank you x

[Hidden]

Unlikely for it to suddenly appear in 3 weeks. Coeliac can run for years with low/moderate symptoms, that increase and get worse as the damage takes hold. It is an autoimmune condition with multiple symptoms beyond gastric. My guess is you have a bug or general bacterial imbalance.

[Aged31 in reply to Hidden]

I forgot to mention this has been going on for years but for some reason this last 2-3 weeks have been really awful with the pains and yellow stool.. but I never had it checked because it’s never caused big problems

[Hidden in reply to Aged31]

Ah, ok, that makes more sense. I hope you get sorted. Could be your gallbladder is having issues also maybe. Sometimes takes a long time before coeliac is figured out from a doctor perspective.

[Aged31 in reply to Hidden]

someone else said that but I’ve had my gallbladder removed sometime ago x

[Hidden in reply to Aged31]

You've been through the wars!

[Whydothis]

Mine started suddenly (after years of what I now recognise as mild symptoms) - and the main thing was loose yellow stools - and in particular, stools that float and won't flush. As others have said, don't change your diet until tested, unless you have been eating gluten free.

[Aged31 in reply to Whydothis]

so was yours confirmed as celiac disease? I’m in the process of seeing a consultant at the hospital so hopefully can get some more answers and know what is going on.

[Whydothis in reply to Aged31]

Yes - the blood test was a clear positive, and it was confirmed by endoscopy and biopsy. I went gluten free immediately after the biopsy, and felt much better within a fortnight. Other symptoms that I didn't realise were connected together also got better very quickly (very painful joints and sleeplessness)

Good luck with it!

[Aged31]

hi everyone finally got seen by a consultant yesterday and has decided I need a colonoscopy hopefully within a few weeks time to find out what is going on.. has anyone had one of these before?

[MKGrandad in reply to Aged31]

My wife is waiting an endoscopy, through the mouth whereas I had a colonoscopy it the other end. Nothing to worry about, it's quite interesting to see inside yourself. The worst bit is the gut clean out medication but that's only an evening of going to the loo lots. Good luck

[FullofIt in reply to Aged31]

Hi Aged31,

Did you have your colonoscopy ? And if so, what were the results? If you don’t mind me asking