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Symptoms have stopped - could I still have Coeliac Disease?

Posted , 4 users are following.

micaela62956
micaela62956

I experienced a range of intense symptoms at the start of this year (2018), and I was tested for coeliac disease amongst other things. All of my other results came back fine, except for Coeliac, but my doctor thought that it might be a false positive as I might not have been eating enough gluten. My symptoms had only been getting worse, and I was starting to have very intense reactions to the smallest things - so I was sure that it was at least a gluten sensitivity. My doctor had me take a gene test, which came back positive, and then she instructed me to begin the gluten challenge. 

The very first day I started the gluten challenge, my symptoms almost completely stopped. By the end of the week, I was no longer having any GI-related symptoms, and can only suggest that I was having skin issues (rash, dry skin) as well as weight loss, but I'm not sure if this is even related.

I have just heard from my doctor that I have another positive blood test result, and I have been referred for an endoscopy. 

Has anyone had an experience of changing symptoms like this?

Or even, symptoms disappearing altogether? 

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • anthony10484
    anthony10484 micaela62956

    Posted

    The symptoms of coeliac disease can vary from fairly minor to severe.  There is the possibility, I suppose, that they could vary in severity for an individual depending on just what has been eaten.  It is not usual, though, for the symptoms to disappear completely unless a change has been made to the diet.  An endoscopy test is the only certain way of finding out if you have coeliac disease.  I hope your GP has advised that it is necessary for you to be eating gluten prior to the test otherwise the results may not give the correct answer.
  • anthony10484
    anthony10484 micaela62956

    Posted

    Having written the above, I re-read your post and realised that your comment about the symptoms disappearing seems to be associated with you cutting out gluten.  This is expected.  Coeliac disease relates to the immune system reacting to the presence of gluten and it's this reaction that causes the symptoms that you experience.  So cutting out gluten from the diet means there is no reason for the immune system to react.  The symptoms that you experience are the outward signs of the problem, the main effect is that the immune system attacks the lining of the gut causing damage.  How soon you lose the symptoms after going gluten-free depends of the amount of damage that has been caused.

    • micaela62956
      micaela62956 anthony10484

      Posted

      Hello anthony10484

      No, your first answer was correct! I have not cut out gluten, in fact, I increased my intake yet my symptoms almost completely stopped. 

      I find it very weird but I will be going through with the endoscopy just to be sure.

  • marg04364
    marg04364 micaela62956

    Posted

    Hi Micaela

    Wondering if you have had the endoscopy and if you have results yet. But also, you mentioned having a rash. Dermatitis Herpetiformis is a rash that is associated with coeliac disease. Sometimes people with the rash don't have diarrhoea symptoms. To have this tested for DH you need a referral to a dermatologist who will do a biopsy.

    Dapsone medication is sometimes given short term to control it  but it also requires a gluten free diet.

     

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