Quincy,
Tex's response is much more complete, but I have a small side theory just about your elevated anti-gliadin IgA. We just don't know whose responses to gluten will show up in bloodwork - this is partly why so many celiacs go years with diagnosis. Many people have terrible trouble with gluten, but still test negative. I had thought this had to do with the amount of damage to the small intestine, but now am wondering whether there are other factors involved (such as - which gluten sensitive gene, age, other health issues - and much, much more.
The main thing is - it's really good that you know this, it is good that your anti-tissue transglutaminase levels aren't elevated as well (though perhaps that would have been detected in stool - it's still good it's not in your blood test).
I *hope* that means that your autoimmune response, though activated, hasn't gone on a severe rampage yet ;) My anti-tissue transglutaminase levels were elevated (Enterolab stool test), and I believe that means I am also lucky that I know this now, and hopefully can stop the autoimmune cascade of symptoms before it goes further.
One explanation might be that you're younger than I am, which also bodes well for your successful response to treatment (diet, medications, lifestyle changes...).
Hope you're feeling better and gaining confidence that everything's moving in the right direction (though we're all a work in progress). Congratulations on the Vitamin D improvement.
Best to you,
Sara
GF guy worried and with questions.
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thank you Tex and Sarkin for the great feedback.
just to clarify, I was diagnosed celiac, Marsh III level 1 in April of 2010. My tTg was 51 and the Iga and Igg were way higher. My ttg have come down dramatically since commencing the gluten free diet. My Iga readings have steadily come down but are still in the high range.
My FM doctor put me on the rfx antibiotic for SIBO which she suspects has been causing the IBS w/out constipation. AFter that I go VSL #3 to repopulate the lactobacillus.
I am also on digestive enzymes and LVGB complex to help the sluggish gallbladder. My fat digestion is not great. My LDL's are like 139 as of last reading, down from 167 before I went gluten free. My HDL's on last reading were a dismal 38.... so I have alot of repair left to go.
I have an endoscopy/colonoscopy schedule at Columbia Presb hospital in NYC on June 14th. so I will get answers about MC and the diverticula. I also suspect adhesions from a ruptured, gangrenous appendix in 2002 for which I spent a week on intravenous antibiotics....
just to clarify, I was diagnosed celiac, Marsh III level 1 in April of 2010. My tTg was 51 and the Iga and Igg were way higher. My ttg have come down dramatically since commencing the gluten free diet. My Iga readings have steadily come down but are still in the high range.
My FM doctor put me on the rfx antibiotic for SIBO which she suspects has been causing the IBS w/out constipation. AFter that I go VSL #3 to repopulate the lactobacillus.
I am also on digestive enzymes and LVGB complex to help the sluggish gallbladder. My fat digestion is not great. My LDL's are like 139 as of last reading, down from 167 before I went gluten free. My HDL's on last reading were a dismal 38.... so I have alot of repair left to go.
I have an endoscopy/colonoscopy schedule at Columbia Presb hospital in NYC on June 14th. so I will get answers about MC and the diverticula. I also suspect adhesions from a ruptured, gangrenous appendix in 2002 for which I spent a week on intravenous antibiotics....
Good luck with all that. I'm sure you're probably right about the adhesions. We all seem to have adhesion problems following surgery.
Tex
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.
Well it's 5am and I am preparing to go for my first colonoscopy. I got through the Half Lytely surprisingly well despite being a bit sore.
I know that many here have been through this more than once. But at 49 I know it's the best thing to do. I am going in for the ultimate spa treatment with
an endoscopy as well. So I will post again once all is completed with results.
Recent stool analysis came back with no lactoferrin and no occult blood, so I can hold onto that as encouraging news. Biopsy for MC/LC/CC will be done I am sure since I am having it done at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia.
I just drank 3 more glasses of Magnesium Citrate and I can't drink another!
I know that many here have been through this more than once. But at 49 I know it's the best thing to do. I am going in for the ultimate spa treatment with
an endoscopy as well. So I will post again once all is completed with results.
Recent stool analysis came back with no lactoferrin and no occult blood, so I can hold onto that as encouraging news. Biopsy for MC/LC/CC will be done I am sure since I am having it done at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia.
I just drank 3 more glasses of Magnesium Citrate and I can't drink another!
By now you've probably finished the worst part - the prep. I was only able to drink about half a gallon of the GoLytely stuff. 
Good luck with the procedures.
Tex
Good luck with the procedures.
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.
Just got back from the City at New York Presb Hospital. The colonoscopy/endoscopy went well. My doctor said my colon looked very healthy, but have to wait to see if there is any MC. she doubts it though.
Surprised that i was not asleep like my endoscopy last year. I actually watched her do the colonoscopy. I must have been asking alot of questions because she asked my to let her concentrate. It must have been the drugs...
A small polyp was found and removed and what looked like a smaller polyp was also removed and sent for biopsy. She did a bunch of biopsies in the small and large intestine so next week I should get some news.
just glad its over with and it all looked healthy by appearances..
Surprised that i was not asleep like my endoscopy last year. I actually watched her do the colonoscopy. I must have been asking alot of questions because she asked my to let her concentrate. It must have been the drugs...
A small polyp was found and removed and what looked like a smaller polyp was also removed and sent for biopsy. She did a bunch of biopsies in the small and large intestine so next week I should get some news.
just glad its over with and it all looked healthy by appearances..
Dear Quincy,
Wow. So you remember the procedure? I did not. Although after the event the nurse told me I was talking (gibbering) all the way through it (talk about a truth drug!!). I would prefer to forget everthing
Anyway, great it is over.
All the best, Ant
Wow. So you remember the procedure? I did not. Although after the event the nurse told me I was talking (gibbering) all the way through it (talk about a truth drug!!). I would prefer to forget everthing
Anyway, great it is over.
All the best, Ant
----------------------------------------
"Softly, softly catchee monkey".....
"Softly, softly catchee monkey".....
my first endoscopy I was completely sedated which I prefer. I have memory of this endoscopy which was not a pleasant feeling while it was happening. i felt some pain in the area that I am feeling pain in now.
this leads to my question to those that have experienced terrible reflux after an endoscopy. I at a banana with peanut butter late last night (big mistake!!).
I woke up this morning at 3am with the worst burning sensation in my esophagus. It feels like there is something stuck in there just around the sternum area.
It actually has me quite concerned as I did some searching online and found several people complaining of this. one of whom said it has not gone away after several months!!
if anyone has experienced this please let me know. I have some protonix from last year that I never took. I also have omeprazole from last year as well. I had left all of those PPI's behind through diet etc but now I cannot eat anything since the procedure without experiencing this terrible heartburn.
thank you.
this leads to my question to those that have experienced terrible reflux after an endoscopy. I at a banana with peanut butter late last night (big mistake!!).
I woke up this morning at 3am with the worst burning sensation in my esophagus. It feels like there is something stuck in there just around the sternum area.
It actually has me quite concerned as I did some searching online and found several people complaining of this. one of whom said it has not gone away after several months!!
if anyone has experienced this please let me know. I have some protonix from last year that I never took. I also have omeprazole from last year as well. I had left all of those PPI's behind through diet etc but now I cannot eat anything since the procedure without experiencing this terrible heartburn.
thank you.
Bummer! Apparently the tube injured/weakened your lower esophageal sphincter, (LES). I've had reflux problems following abdominal surgery, (presumably due to the tubes left in place for a few days). I found that I was able to resolve the problem, and allow the LES to regain it's strength, so that it could function normally, by not eating anything within several hours of bedtime, and by being careful not to lie on my right side, (lying on the right side puts the LES below the level of the top of the stomach, and can promote reflux).
PPIs raise the pH level on the gastric side of the LES, which weakens the functional capability of the LES, (increasing the possibilty of reflux). Believe it or not, the holding security of the LES is determined by the difference in pH levels across the LES. IOW, the more acidic the stomach contents, (the lower the pH), the more securely the LES will hold. Once PPIs are used for a few weeks, the LES becomes weakened to the point where it can take months for it to recover it's normal strength, (after the PPI is discontinued). IOW, PPIs are arguably addictive, since the body rapidly develops a dependency on them.
I had an experience similar to yours, (a couple of months after surgery), except that when I woke up, my mouth was full of acid, as well, and my entire esophagus felt as though it were on fire. I got up, spit it out in the sink, rinsed my mouth, and gargled with water, and then drank a lot of water, but I couldn't stop the burning, either. Fortunately, the feeling of a lump only lasted for a couple of days or so, in my case. That's when I discovered the connection between sleeping on my right side, and reflux. I don't do that any more, and I no longer have any reflux problems, either.
If you can't eat without something to lower the pH, (IOW, if the LES is constantly leaking), an antacid would be much safer than a PPI, (especially for someone with MC), but if the LES is actually leaking all the time, there's a possibility that it might require surgical intervention. Have your asked your doctor for some guidelines on this? Hopefully, the damage will soon heal on it's own.
Tex
PPIs raise the pH level on the gastric side of the LES, which weakens the functional capability of the LES, (increasing the possibilty of reflux). Believe it or not, the holding security of the LES is determined by the difference in pH levels across the LES. IOW, the more acidic the stomach contents, (the lower the pH), the more securely the LES will hold. Once PPIs are used for a few weeks, the LES becomes weakened to the point where it can take months for it to recover it's normal strength, (after the PPI is discontinued). IOW, PPIs are arguably addictive, since the body rapidly develops a dependency on them.
I had an experience similar to yours, (a couple of months after surgery), except that when I woke up, my mouth was full of acid, as well, and my entire esophagus felt as though it were on fire. I got up, spit it out in the sink, rinsed my mouth, and gargled with water, and then drank a lot of water, but I couldn't stop the burning, either. Fortunately, the feeling of a lump only lasted for a couple of days or so, in my case. That's when I discovered the connection between sleeping on my right side, and reflux. I don't do that any more, and I no longer have any reflux problems, either.
If you can't eat without something to lower the pH, (IOW, if the LES is constantly leaking), an antacid would be much safer than a PPI, (especially for someone with MC), but if the LES is actually leaking all the time, there's a possibility that it might require surgical intervention. Have your asked your doctor for some guidelines on this? Hopefully, the damage will soon heal on it's own.
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.
yes thanks for that info Tex. I sleep on my back and my right side, so I will keep off the right side if I can.
I hope this goes away, as it's very uncomfortable. I want to avoid PPI's if I can. My doctor told me take Maalox.
I should have gone easy with my diet afterwards, but I was feeling so elated that I my colon "appeared" healthy that I went a bit overboard and had a burger with onions (GF bun of course). I should have known better. ouch.
My previous scope showed a slight hiatal hernia. Funny this other doctor didn't mention it in her report. Could she have been too forceful when going through the LES? Gosh, I hope not. I really don't need any more problems, this was supposed to see where I am at with my celiac healing,so I don't need the reflux back. But it has been creeping in for some time now. I finally weaned myself off PPI and it took a long time. I was doing so well when taking the digestive enzymes. So hopefully things will return to normal after a few days...
thanks again,
John
I hope this goes away, as it's very uncomfortable. I want to avoid PPI's if I can. My doctor told me take Maalox.
I should have gone easy with my diet afterwards, but I was feeling so elated that I my colon "appeared" healthy that I went a bit overboard and had a burger with onions (GF bun of course). I should have known better. ouch.
My previous scope showed a slight hiatal hernia. Funny this other doctor didn't mention it in her report. Could she have been too forceful when going through the LES? Gosh, I hope not. I really don't need any more problems, this was supposed to see where I am at with my celiac healing,so I don't need the reflux back. But it has been creeping in for some time now. I finally weaned myself off PPI and it took a long time. I was doing so well when taking the digestive enzymes. So hopefully things will return to normal after a few days...
thanks again,
John
thanks Ant. yeah I was surprised when I got on the table and asked where the anesthesiologist was but
it was just the nurse and my GI. wasn't thrilled but before I knew anything I was feeling woozy and then kind of out of it. It was very strange watching the monitor during the colonoscopy. I remember seeing so much yellow fluid I kept asking the doctor what it was... she finally had to nicely tell me to stop talking but I can't remember what I was saying. I think she said it was just bile fluids. She later commented that my colon looked quite healthy. my brother was there, ever the wise guy, asked "the best you've ever seen?" she said close but not quite...haha
I do remember her saying how great everything looked so far and that was very encouraging. So I didnt have to go through recovery waiting to hear any ominous news. She showed me the small polyp and it looked like a small clear little bump and not very big. she said there was another "polyp" though she said it wasn't really a full polyp but she took it out anyway. She was really surprised to see that my previous ct scan results (see the first page of this thread) were not accurate in that I had NO scattered diverticula at all. She did not see any pockets anywhere so thats a relief.
it was just the nurse and my GI. wasn't thrilled but before I knew anything I was feeling woozy and then kind of out of it. It was very strange watching the monitor during the colonoscopy. I remember seeing so much yellow fluid I kept asking the doctor what it was... she finally had to nicely tell me to stop talking but I can't remember what I was saying. I think she said it was just bile fluids. She later commented that my colon looked quite healthy. my brother was there, ever the wise guy, asked "the best you've ever seen?" she said close but not quite...haha
I do remember her saying how great everything looked so far and that was very encouraging. So I didnt have to go through recovery waiting to hear any ominous news. She showed me the small polyp and it looked like a small clear little bump and not very big. she said there was another "polyp" though she said it wasn't really a full polyp but she took it out anyway. She was really surprised to see that my previous ct scan results (see the first page of this thread) were not accurate in that I had NO scattered diverticula at all. She did not see any pockets anywhere so thats a relief.