anyone have coeliacs, think this may be my problem

[monkeyfeet]

i have had chronic diarrhea for four weeks following what may have been food poisoining whilst on holiday. Feel really crap have had so many tests this is the lastest thing, to be honest i really hope i have it then at least i can start to get better. I have had so much time off work i may lose my job.

does anyone suffer from it and could you give me an idea of symptoms and your diagnosis, thanks so much am really at the end of my tether

Have you tried cutting out gluten to see if that helps? You can be gluten intolerant without being coeliac - coeliac is the severe end of gluten intolerance. My friend has a lot of gluten intolerance, but her coeliac test came back negative. If she eats bread she's in a lot of pain and terribly bloated though.

You can buy a test from Boots which will test for coeliac - if it's positive then you can take it to show your GP. You must stay on gluten until you perform the test though. They sell them at larger Boots stores.

In the meantime if you want to try some things to help then - cut out wheat, refined sugars, general junk etc. Take a daily probiotic - I used to take Actimel to sort my gut out after being ill - Take about three a day to start off, then reduce.

I wrecked my gut a couple of years ago from taking too many worming tablets (don't ask), and I found these things helpful. I still avoid wheat because it makes me feel bloated and ill and irritates the gut, but other gluten I'm okay with.

I was told by a doctor that upset stomachs can trigger temporary lactose intolerance so it may be nothing to do with gluten.

If you do cut out gluten you need to start eating it again well before any tests for coeliac disease because it is your body's reaction to the gluten that they test for.

monkey - have just read this
Google giardia, its a parasite you can catch on holiday and it can last for months! Antibiotics cure it. Even if they dont show up in the sample, the doctor may prescrible abs just in case
on another thread .
Has your GP investigated ?
( It was on a thread about awul cramps ,IBS )

Many thanks for the replies and advice. Have done a blood test for coeliac disease on friday but have since cut out gluten as really am so fed up with feeling rotten, will get the result next week. Have read about giardia gingeroots it sounds like it could be this also will ask my GP.

THanks again

If the blood test comes back positive, they will probably want to confirm with an endoscopy which you will need to be eating gluten for.

Was also going to say be a little wary about cutting out gluten without an official diagnosis for Coeliac disease. You will need this to get gluten free foods on prescription (if they are still available in your area!). DH gets food on prescription and has to pay prescription charges, but a season ticket makes this cheaper, but MIL cut out gluten and does not get prescription foods - hers would be free as she is a pensioner.