To gluten free or not to gluten free...that is the question!

[Allyson1]

Hello,

I've heard many people express confusion about how to know whether or not to go gluten free, and the pitfalls of celiac testing.

I'd like to leave these two links here. I think this may add to the discussion. This is a blog by a doctor who has celiac. She has an interesting perspective and it's worth taking a look through all her entries just to glean new information.

thepatientceliac.com/2015/0...

thepatientceliac.com/2015/0...

The first link talks about the finer points of biopsy, and the potential for false negatives in biopsy. I had not heard this before and it may give some people some leads.

In the second link she mentions that autoimmune thyroid patients may have atypical celiac symptoms that get missed. I know I fit this profile.

[docbernie]

Hi

Even the mainstream now admits that there is a condition called NCGS-Non-celiac gluten sensitivity which is a feature of many cases of Hashis. Antibody testing will be negative. The only way to find out is to eliminate gluten from your diet and monitor your symptoms.

A recent survey of over 2000 Hashi patients carried out by Isabella Wentzs ,over 70 per cent of patients felt better after gluten elimination.

Hope this helps

[victoria1000]

Hello Allyson

I was never diagnosed as being Celiac. But after hearing DR Chris Steele explain the symptoms I though is was worth trying to have a gluten free diet.

Its 8 years since I changed my diet it took about a year for my bowel to repair. However my shins were better after a few months. For years my shins itched at night and my skins was red I always wore trousers to hide the damaged skin.

Its worth changing your diet for a month than to worry about testing

Warm regards

Margaret (Vic)

[Eddie83]

I don't have the HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 genes. But gluten did huge damage via autoimmunity. Based on my experience, conventional allopathic celiac testing is not the way to go. Relying on how you feel, first, is the most reliable. Spending your money on testing for the various types of autoimmunity is more useful. Also, any doctor who can gauge your gut symptoms and do fecal testing for malabsorption (esp. fat) is likely to be more helpful than conventional celiac biopsy.