Should I get retested for coeliac, 15+ years since previous test?

[loraflora]

I have had IBS type symptoms for many years. Several years ago, maybe 15-17 years I was tested for coeliac disease and Crohns. I had blood tests and endoscopy/colonoscopy. Both tests were negative and I got the usual IBS diagnosis instead. That said, no-one had told me that I needed to eat gluten 6 weeks before the tests and IIRC I had cut out gluten for some of the time prior to the tests.

Anyway, in the last 4 years I have developed a lot of bloating, all my previous IBS symptoms had been stomach pain and loose stools but never bloating before. When it started I and my gp thought it was womb or ovary related as I was getting very painful heavy periods, and ended up getting checked out for ovarian cancer (again, negative) and fitted with an IUS. While the IUS prevented the painful periods which was a big help, I still get the bloats reoccuring and my IBS type symptoms have also been getting worse more recently.

I am going to the gp next week and am going to ask for another endoscopy/colonoscopy, as my dad has colon cancer and his consultant has recommended that close relatives get screened. I am also tempted to ask that they check me out for coeliac disease again, since I know bloating can be a symptom for that. I also seem to be tired all the time lately. I am a bit concerned though that they'll say that because I was tested in the past it's a waste of time. Any thoughts/suggestions?

the test for Coeliac and Crohns won't pick up any kind of gluten intolerance, so if you find cutting it out helps then just do that, but otherwise you might have to do an exclusion diet or maybe ask for allergy testing? NHS trusts rarely pay out for it though and its often not that expensive to do privately.

Ask for the blood test for coeliacs and yes you need to be eating gluten for it to be accurate. Had you cut it it completely at the time of the last test? You don't have to be totally GF at test but a couple of slices of bread a day apparently is enough gluten for it to be accurate.

A blood test will tell you if you need further testing.

Yes, I think I'll ask for the blood test again. I am eating gluten at the moment and have been for years but not always every day - I usually have a sandwich for lunch but not always. I've bought in some weetabix to up the gluten slightly. Since I'm going through one of the regular bloating phases right now eating pretty much anything triggers it anyway.

At the time of the last test I can't recall it that well now but I've got a feeling it was about 3 weeks I went gluten free.