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Gluten Challenge

lobbyart
lobbyart Posts: 24 Member
in Social Groups
Have any of you had to do a gluten challenge for celiac testing? I'm less than a week in, with 42 days to go, and I'm feeling horribly, horribly sick, bloated, exhausted, migrainey...

I'm wondering if this is going to be the next 6 weeks for me... does it get better? Worse? Just want to compare experiences so I have some sort of baseline.

TIA!

Replies

  • mooglysmom
    mooglysmom Posts: 319 Member
    You've been GF? I decided to forego testing just for that reason. I refuse to put myself through pain for a diagnosis, it's just not worth it. I used to really want a diagnosis too, but my priority for being healthy and not miserable won out.

    If you Received Celiac or gluten intolerant then, yeah, you're probably going to feel like junk until you go GF again. Good luck with your testing. I do hope you get answers!!
  • lobbyart
    lobbyart Posts: 24 Member
    Yeah - I need a diagnosis for all the long-term testing (like bone density, cancer, etc.). Otherwise insurance won't cover it. Plus, my aunt is a GI and told me it is really important to get a diagnosis one way or the other, esp. regarding secondary conditions.

    I also really want answers. I've had symptoms for almost 10 years, so to know exactly what's causing it is important to me. But omg this is painful.
  • cnelson1974
    cnelson1974 Posts: 235 Member
    I have not, they did a blood panel to find that I was Celiac. I'm so sorry you are feeling bad -- I just can't imagine. I can tell within 20 minutes when something with wheat has ninja'd it's way into my system. :(
  • bglisson
    bglisson Posts: 14 Member
    My blood panel came back negative, as did my endoscopy, even though I have two first degree relatives with postive blood results for celiac (my mom and uncle). My saliva test confirmed that I have the two primary genes for celiac, so I went off gluten anyway to test for myself and had such remarkable results that I have refused to take a gluten challenge because I just can't face being that ill again. My doctor agreed to mark my chart "gluten intolerant", but my current doctor doesn't take it very seriously. When eating in public, I just tell people I have celiac because it's easier. If some tiny bit of gluten enters my diet accidentally, it's just a huge reminder why I choose to eat this way.

    Sorry you're having to deal with this -- I hope you feel better soon.
  • lobbyart
    lobbyart Posts: 24 Member
    Thanks so much for the positive thoughts!

    My DNA panel came back positive before I jumped into the challenge, so at least I know it's a possibility. I go for the endoscopy/biopsy and blood draw on March 12th. I put a countdown on my calendar!

    I may be haunting the Gluten Free boards more in the next few weeks just to look for a light at the end of the tunnel and think about getting back to normal after this.

    I'm also seriously kicking myself for going off gluten before testing, but c'est la vie!

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