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Original poster

Biopsy for Coeliac but no symptoms except one - how likely is it?

18 replies

Kewcumber · 28/04/2009 17:05

My only symptom is low iron and low B12 from Pernicious anaemia.

But I don't have any stomach pains/issues at all, can quite happily eat a big plate of pasta with no ill effects (did tell consultant this). IS it really likely I could have it?

OP posts:

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 28/04/2009 21:53

Hi Kew. IIRC, the symptoms form coeliac don't always apprear straight away. Your consulatant would listen to your symptoms and let you know his opinion. I've cared for children with this, the symptoms sometimes don't appear for years as the wheat gradually damages their intestines so they won't know what's happening until it's really advanced.

onepieceofcremeegg · 28/04/2009 21:56

Afaik (dh is coeliac) the symptoms can be "hidden" If the doc/consultant feels that a biopsy is needed to (hopefully) rule it out then they must feel there is a chance of you being coeliac.

Dh was "lucky" iykwim in that he had severe, classic symptoms as a baby and it was diagnosed at a very early age.

bramblebooks · 28/04/2009 22:38

DH was diagnosed aged 40. He used to eat loads of bread with no symptoms. After a couple of years and a period of stress he lost a lot of weight and had 'bathroom symptoms' as well as having a gurgly tum and pernicious anaemia.

Now he's GF he's sorted!

Original poster

Kewcumber · 28/04/2009 22:40

I knew pernicious anaemia was commonly linked with coeliac but it hadn;t actually occured to me it was a possibility in my case!

Consultant thinks its one of the two most likely causes - the other being a bleeding polyp.

Oh wel, guess I just have to wait and see...

OP posts:

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 28/04/2009 22:42

Have you had an endoscopy/barium yet?

Original poster

Kewcumber · 28/04/2009 22:45

no - booked for 1 June (colonoscopy and endoscopy same morning - oh joy!)

OP posts:

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 28/04/2009 22:46

It'll be OK. I've had this done. The worst bit is the bowel prep! They sedate you for the exam so you've no idea.

Original poster

Kewcumber · 28/04/2009 22:48

thankfully its on a monday so bowel prep is Sun afternoon - no need to ry and cope with work. Think I will deputise Ma to keep DS occupied that afternoon!

Actually not that worreid - had to have a bone marrow aspiration in Sept with no sedation and it can't be worse than that!

OP posts:

Original poster

Kewcumber · 28/04/2009 22:48

does chocolate have gluten in it?

OP posts:

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 28/04/2009 22:52

Nope! Gluten is break, cakes, biscuits (wheat type foods) IIRC. It's normally genetic. Do your family have this aswell? What are your symptoms?

Original poster

Kewcumber · 28/04/2009 22:58

I have no symptoms! Hence my scepticism that I have it and no family history - however I have anaemia and low b12 from pernicious anaemia which is also a related autoimmune disease (inherited).

Tiredness and anaemia - thats it (and tiredness could be down to the anaemia anyway)

OP posts:

Original poster

Kewcumber · 28/04/2009 22:59

I know its wheat products but have been surprised to discover what has gluten in it -just thought I'd better check about chocloate

OP posts:

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 28/04/2009 23:01

Hmm. So what makes him think it's this?

No dodgy poo? Belly ache? They normally do a barium enema for anaemia to rule out pollops, it's standard practice. I'm not sure where the wheat allergy comes in here though.

ra29needsabettername · 28/04/2009 23:07

family don't have to have it. Chocolate can have it if not pure. Gluten is in oats, wheat, barley and rye and this is not always obvious in the ingredients. If you do have it the coeliac society is fab and can give you a list of all foods that are ok to eat. Hope you get the anaemia sorted soon.

Tiggiwinkle · 28/04/2009 23:15

My DS1 was diagnosed as coeliac in his early twenties. His main presenting symptom was anaemia. Although he found it hard to keep weight on, he never had the normal stomach symptoms.

We had no previous family history of coeliacs although my DS5 has since been diagnosed as well. We do have other auto-immune diseases in the family.

Original poster

Kewcumber · 28/04/2009 23:24

i beleive colonoscopy is more reliable to find bleeding polyps (only what i've read I'm no expert)

No idea why he thinks it could be coeliac disease other than he said to me that early symptoms mightonly be iron deficiency.

I have two other autoimmune disoders and I know some doctors beleive they come in threes! Maybe he's one of them!

OP posts:

Original poster

Kewcumber · 28/04/2009 23:25

thast interesting Tiggiwinkle - I guess I need to stop trying to second guess it and wait for the results...

OP posts:

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 28/04/2009 23:29

Your other option is a barum enema, which doesn't show up as much as a colonoscopy and they can't take samples so a colonoscopy is alot better if they want to take biopsies to send to the lab. It's better to have the tests done then not to. At least then you'll know. You may as well have the other end looked at if you are having an endocsopy, they can then cover both ends IYSWIM.

Flip