Who diagnoses CD ?
Posted , 2 users are following.
I've numerous health issues that doctors are treating but also some which they can't find the cause.
Recently, nearly 3 weeks ago, I decided to try a gluten free diet and life so much better 
I'm already a strict vegetarian (58 years / since birth), tee total (not even 1/2 pint since 1988 - alcohol is migraine trigger 
) and non smoker.
Shortness of breath - virtually gone, chest pains - completley stopped, left knee and hip pain - gone or at least no longer noticable, headaches - gone, sleep - far better and less disturbed, brain fog - gone, fatigue - noticably reduced, tender (jump through ceiling when being examined type !) abdomen - gone, nausea - gone, depression - feel a lot better so must be reduced, upset stomach - gone, blood pressure reduced - normally high and difficult to control with medication and probably loads more less symptoms affected.
So whilst I'm not "self diagnosing" I feel I MIGHT have CD.
I don't have any planned appointements with GP but do have one with dietitian in March and I plan on informing them of the improvements.
Should I let my GP know asap or wait until I can say that gluten seems to affect me or will dietitian start the ball rolling for tests ?
What ever happens I'm sticking with the GF diet for time being as also loosing weight that has been very difficulot to shift before even when almost starving myself. (living off salad sandwiches 
)
Cheers.
Paul H
1 like, 4 replies
FA54321 CompoS
Posted
Coeliac disease gets diagnosed by having blood tests first, followed up by having biopsies taken, (as the blood test is not that reliable on it's own and you can get false negatives) which involves having an endoscopy. A GP cannot diagnose you just by examining you or asking questions about your diet/symptoms etc. In order to have these tests done, you MUST be eating gluten on a regular basis, (for at least six weeks) otherwise the test will come back negative as it's the reaction in the gut to the gluten. (Coeliac disease is an auto-immune disease).
It is certainly possible that you have coeliac disease, but your symptoms could also be caused by something else, and it's important that you get the correct diagnosis. As well as a lot of symptoms you describe, damage is done to the villi in the gut from eating gluten so if you get diagnosed with coeliac disease, you need to stick to a strict gluten free diet.
Another point to bear in mind is that all coeliacs are different, and their symptoms can differ, in fact, some coeliacs don't have any symptoms at all, which isn't good, as if they accidentally eat gluten they would not know, but their guts will still be damaged. If coeliac disease goes untreated (with a gluten free diet) a person can become malnurished, devlope osteoporosis, other auto-immune diseases and even cancer, so it is important to go through the proper channels to get diagnosed.
I suggest you go see your doctor as soon as possible, before you have been off gluten for too long, as you will need to eat gluten until your tests are all completed. Good luck.
CompoS
Posted
My mother had MND so I've been told in the past that I've a 50:50 chance of developing that so have had that terrible disease hanging over me all my adult life. I have so many problems that the core cause can't be found so in my depression I keep thinking "is this the start of NMD ? ". Doctors treat me seriously, rather than hypercondriac, but have never suggested CD so that'll gives them somehting new to think about
CompoS
Posted
FA54321 CompoS
Posted