Hi Everyone,
This is strange because I just read about what Tessa is going through and I just saw my doctor today and got some similar info. I had a blood draw at 7a.m. and my insullin levels were very low. I've been having symptoms that I thought were hypogycemia so this seems to indicate this as well. I also got results for my cortisol saliva test and those were slightle elevated but the dhea was very low.8......normal is 1.3 to 8.9. my thyroid has been slightly hyper for awhile . So she is sending me to see an endocrinologist.
I also got secretory IgA and antigliadin IgA. the first was 189 which is normal range and the second is 19.2 which says is mild. But I understand from all of you that it's common for these to be negative even though you ' sensitive to gluten. I'm still waiting on Dr. Fine's results.
This is all very confusing and scary. I'm guessing it all means I need further testing.
thanks for listening,
Cristi
test results
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Cristi,
Yes it does appear that you probably need some more tests. Having a low DHEA level, means that your cortisol/DHEA ratio is high, and that can interfere with the surface integrity of the body's mucosal linings, which act as its first-line of immune defense. That could possibly have contributed to the development of your MC.
If your secretory IgA is still in the normal range, though, it probably didn't have a major effect, because if your mucosal immune cells were significantly supressed, then your sIgA output would most likely be low.
Your doctor may suspect adrenal exhaustion.
Tex
Yes it does appear that you probably need some more tests. Having a low DHEA level, means that your cortisol/DHEA ratio is high, and that can interfere with the surface integrity of the body's mucosal linings, which act as its first-line of immune defense. That could possibly have contributed to the development of your MC.
If your secretory IgA is still in the normal range, though, it probably didn't have a major effect, because if your mucosal immune cells were significantly supressed, then your sIgA output would most likely be low.
Your doctor may suspect adrenal exhaustion.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Mornin' Cristi!
Just wanted to say.....try not to worry. I think it will be important to see Dr. Fine's results. That is the gold standard for whether or not you have gluten intolerance. And if you do, it is entirely possible that any out-of-whack lab tests will return to normal after a period of time on the GF diet.
It seems that eating gluten if one is intolerant can affect so many body systems, which can, indeed, return to normal once the gluten in eliminated. We have had folks here with significant symptoms of other autoimmune diseases (arthritis, lupus, etc.) who improved dramatically after going GF. Lucy's migraines virtually disappeared once she went GF. An early member was able to decrease her thyroid medication after going GF. Some have been able to discontinue meds for depression/anxiety.
Hang in there.
Love,
Polly
Just wanted to say.....try not to worry. I think it will be important to see Dr. Fine's results. That is the gold standard for whether or not you have gluten intolerance. And if you do, it is entirely possible that any out-of-whack lab tests will return to normal after a period of time on the GF diet.
It seems that eating gluten if one is intolerant can affect so many body systems, which can, indeed, return to normal once the gluten in eliminated. We have had folks here with significant symptoms of other autoimmune diseases (arthritis, lupus, etc.) who improved dramatically after going GF. Lucy's migraines virtually disappeared once she went GF. An early member was able to decrease her thyroid medication after going GF. Some have been able to discontinue meds for depression/anxiety.
Hang in there.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Thanks Tex and Polly,
I,m trying to be calm but my coping skills are pretty shot.
My doctor wants to explore the possibility that I might have an insolinoma of the pancreas.
I'm still working on this gluten free diet.Just when I think I've got it mastered I find out the could be gluten in spices. However, while my D symptoms haven't improved dramatically, I am having fewer body aches and nausea in the past week.
So I was just starting to feel hopeful when I got these tests back. What a roller coaster ride of emotions. Before my surgery last year I would have described myself as a pretty strong person..boy was I wrong. I feel like I have to actively fight everyday to remain sane.
MY Mom keeps telling me it's because they took out my ovaries and that i wasn't on HRT until 2 weeks ago.
So I'll continue my gluten free diet as it's the only thing that has improved some of my symptoms. I hope my doctors will take Dr. Fine's test results seriously and use his information when they decide what to do with me.
Thanks so much for your knowlege and support,
Cristi
I,m trying to be calm but my coping skills are pretty shot.
My doctor wants to explore the possibility that I might have an insolinoma of the pancreas.
I'm still working on this gluten free diet.Just when I think I've got it mastered I find out the could be gluten in spices. However, while my D symptoms haven't improved dramatically, I am having fewer body aches and nausea in the past week.
So I was just starting to feel hopeful when I got these tests back. What a roller coaster ride of emotions. Before my surgery last year I would have described myself as a pretty strong person..boy was I wrong. I feel like I have to actively fight everyday to remain sane.
MY Mom keeps telling me it's because they took out my ovaries and that i wasn't on HRT until 2 weeks ago.
So I'll continue my gluten free diet as it's the only thing that has improved some of my symptoms. I hope my doctors will take Dr. Fine's test results seriously and use his information when they decide what to do with me.
Thanks so much for your knowlege and support,
Cristi
Hi Cristi,
An insulinoma of the pancreas is a pretty rare form of tumor. That would certainly explain the symptoms that you have been having. Not to worry, though--even if you do have a pancreatic insulinoma, the odds are very high that it is noncancerous, and it can be removed by laproscopy in many cases.
http://tinyurl.com/jlydw
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec09/ch131/ch131l.html
I doubt that overy removal and lack of HRT would contribute to the development of an insulinoma, but it's probably true that it has contributed to your mood issues.
Tex
An insulinoma of the pancreas is a pretty rare form of tumor. That would certainly explain the symptoms that you have been having. Not to worry, though--even if you do have a pancreatic insulinoma, the odds are very high that it is noncancerous, and it can be removed by laproscopy in many cases.
http://tinyurl.com/jlydw
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec09/ch131/ch131l.html
I doubt that overy removal and lack of HRT would contribute to the development of an insulinoma, but it's probably true that it has contributed to your mood issues.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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I'm sorry, Cristi,
It can be really hard not to dwell on health issues, especially if you have impending tests and test results in your future. I am waiting for the results of a second ultrasound of a cyst and uterine thickening, and it's kind of on my mind. So I really empathize with you. So I've been thinking about my dad, who has MS, lupus, and prostate cancer that has escaped it's capsule into the bloodstream. It's being controlled (not cured) by hormone shots. Eventually the cancer will adapt to that hormone rich environment and begin growing again, so he gets tested every 3 months to moniter it. What's sad is that he lives from test to test. He calls me every 3 months and says "well, I have 3 more months". It breaks my heart that he can't get away from it to enjoy life a bit more. So I sort of gave myself a mental slap. Somebody's gotta do it, aye? Better me than my husband, that's for sure. (He's be like Cher in "Moonlighting" 'Snap out of it'
)
Anyway, I just didn't want you to feel alone. I'll be thinking about you, okay? Keep your chin up . . .
Love, Marsha
It can be really hard not to dwell on health issues, especially if you have impending tests and test results in your future. I am waiting for the results of a second ultrasound of a cyst and uterine thickening, and it's kind of on my mind. So I really empathize with you. So I've been thinking about my dad, who has MS, lupus, and prostate cancer that has escaped it's capsule into the bloodstream. It's being controlled (not cured) by hormone shots. Eventually the cancer will adapt to that hormone rich environment and begin growing again, so he gets tested every 3 months to moniter it. What's sad is that he lives from test to test. He calls me every 3 months and says "well, I have 3 more months". It breaks my heart that he can't get away from it to enjoy life a bit more. So I sort of gave myself a mental slap. Somebody's gotta do it, aye? Better me than my husband, that's for sure. (He's be like Cher in "Moonlighting" 'Snap out of it'
)Anyway, I just didn't want you to feel alone. I'll be thinking about you, okay? Keep your chin up . . .
Love, Marsha
Thanks Marsha,
I guess this is just a part of getting older that I will have to get used to. I have been dwelling too much on this...the upside is that I finally did find out about the gluten link....no thanks to any of my doctors. They say you learn what's really important to you in very difficult times. I was distracted by a lot of unimportant things before I got sick. I hope to do better in the future.
But there's life to live ..even in between tests. So that's my next goal...not to dwell quite as much and just enjoy the moments when i actually feel well.
Thanks for your comforting words,
Cristi
I guess this is just a part of getting older that I will have to get used to. I have been dwelling too much on this...the upside is that I finally did find out about the gluten link....no thanks to any of my doctors. They say you learn what's really important to you in very difficult times. I was distracted by a lot of unimportant things before I got sick. I hope to do better in the future.
But there's life to live ..even in between tests. So that's my next goal...not to dwell quite as much and just enjoy the moments when i actually feel well.
Thanks for your comforting words,
Cristi
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artteacher
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Dear Cristi,
thanks for saying they're comforting words, instead of "Back Off !#%@!!!"
It's hard to be constantly sick, isn't it? I wish I could be helpful with all your bloodwork and all (Wayne is so good at that - he's nice to share his insights). I saw a naturopath/MD for a while about 7 years ago who did tests and determined that I had adrenal exhaustion. If I remember right, I took DHEA and a few other things for a while, but they didn't help. It's not surprising: I understand it takes a lot of time to correct, and mainly sleep and a relief from stress allows your body to do all the correcting.
I was thinking about the symptoms you and I share, but I'm not sure my experience would help you. My thyroid is underactive, so that's different than yours. But I read a book about adrenal exhaustion, since I was told I had it, and the symptoms were very similar to hypoglycemia, so I wonder if some of your symptoms might be in part due to that. The book could be total quackwork, but it recommended salt to help correct the low blood pressure, and other symptoms. Weird, huh? I wondered if that's why I crave salty things.
I'm kind of rambling. It's my way of saying I'm sympathizing with you. I hope you're doing good today. It's hard to go gluten free, expecially at first. I'm sure you open the fridge and say, "there's nothing I can eat in here!" We've all been through That! It will get easier. Maybe keep sliced apples or blanched carrot sticks on hand, or anything that's easy to grab and munch?
Lots of love, Marsha
thanks for saying they're comforting words, instead of "Back Off !#%@!!!"
It's hard to be constantly sick, isn't it? I wish I could be helpful with all your bloodwork and all (Wayne is so good at that - he's nice to share his insights). I saw a naturopath/MD for a while about 7 years ago who did tests and determined that I had adrenal exhaustion. If I remember right, I took DHEA and a few other things for a while, but they didn't help. It's not surprising: I understand it takes a lot of time to correct, and mainly sleep and a relief from stress allows your body to do all the correcting.
I was thinking about the symptoms you and I share, but I'm not sure my experience would help you. My thyroid is underactive, so that's different than yours. But I read a book about adrenal exhaustion, since I was told I had it, and the symptoms were very similar to hypoglycemia, so I wonder if some of your symptoms might be in part due to that. The book could be total quackwork, but it recommended salt to help correct the low blood pressure, and other symptoms. Weird, huh? I wondered if that's why I crave salty things.
I'm kind of rambling. It's my way of saying I'm sympathizing with you. I hope you're doing good today. It's hard to go gluten free, expecially at first. I'm sure you open the fridge and say, "there's nothing I can eat in here!" We've all been through That! It will get easier. Maybe keep sliced apples or blanched carrot sticks on hand, or anything that's easy to grab and munch?
Lots of love, Marsha