Clean Intestines by Endoscope

[Guest guest]

I was in the hospital a couple of weeks ago for abdominal pain and

because of my history of Celiac disease, they decided to repeat an

endoscope. Once completed, they told me my intestines showed no signs

of celiac disease. This was the partner of my regular

GI doctor that performed the test. My concern is, since there was no

evidence of Celiac disease, do I still need to stay on my Gluten free

diet? I just always thought that once I was diagnosed with it, i would

always show signs of it. Any help out there?

Jeanette

[Guest guest]

I'd interpret the results as good news, but not quite as good as you

hoped. It sounds like your gluten-free diet has enabled your

intestines to heal - that's great. But it doesn't mean that eating

gluten in the future would not cause them to become damaged all over

again. If you were celiac before, you still are and still susceptible

to damage from eating gluten.

Maureen

>

> I was in the hospital a couple of weeks ago for abdominal pain and

> because of my history of Celiac disease, they decided to repeat an

> endoscope. Once completed, they told me my intestines showed no

signs

> of celiac disease. This was the partner of my regular

> GI doctor that performed the test. My concern is, since there was no

> evidence of Celiac disease, do I still need to stay on my Gluten

free

> diet? I just always thought that once I was diagnosed with it, i

would

> always show signs of it. Any help out there?

>

> Jeanette

>

[Guest guest]

It's good that your intestines have healed. Unfortunately, celiac is a lifelong disease, and, yes, you do need to stay on the diet.twochismom wrote: I was in the hospital a couple of weeks ago for abdominal pain and because of my history of Celiac disease, they decided to repeat an endoscope. Once completed, they told me my intestines showed no signs of celiac disease. This was the partner of my regular GI doctor that performed the test. My concern is, since there was no evidence of Celiac disease, do I still need to stay on my Gluten free diet? I just always thought that once I was diagnosed with it, i would always show signs of it. Any help out there?Jeanette

[Guest guest]

FLASH!! EXTRA!! ATTENTION!!

Jeanette -

PLEASE, don't go off the gluten-free diet!

The fact that your intestines show no signs of celiac

disease is wonderful! It means that you are doing

everything right and your intestines have healed.

If you start eating gluten again your villi will

become damaged again, and after a while you will start

having symptoms, possibly more severe than before.

Also, there is always a chance that this time if you

eliminate gluten for a second time you will develop

refactory sprue. That means that you can go

gluten-free and your symptoms will remain with you.

As you can imagine, that could be a major problem in

your life.

Celiac disease is not something you can cure, or

something you can outgrow. The diet is the only

treatment we know of, and as of today, it is a diet

for the rest of your life.

Someday an enzyme pill or an injection of some kind

may be developed that will enable us to eat gluten,

but for now Please! remain gluten-free!

Thank you!

Barbara in SoCal

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thank you Barb, I have just been very confused about this whole thing. I had to see a surgeon about the pain I have been having. When the surgeon reviewed my chart and tests, he said, "I thought you said you have Celiac Disease. I see no evidence of that in your tests." To say the least I was not very happy. I'm not too convinced this surgeon is everything he's supposed to be cracked up to be. I have to see him again this week and if he doesn't do what I think he should do (take out my gallbladder), I will go elsewhere. Thanks for listening. I'm very frustrated with doctors right now. Jeanette, Tawny, Rottie, Stubby, and Samir

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