will test for high antibodies? My GP initially did some bloodwork on me and said that included a celiac test, but that's all I know. All I heard was that everything came back normal, with the exception my protein/sodium (I think?) levels were too high.
If going GF switched your D to C, wouldn't that be a sign that you do have a gluten intolerance? Or is it possible that the GF diet is constipating? When you had D all the time before you went GF, were you following Heather's diet? I hope you don't really have gluten intolerance and IBS -- that would suck! It also seems like IBS-C people have a harder time getting it under control than the IBS-D. Good luck with adding gluten back! I really hope that at least it would help with some of the pain. You seem to suffer so much.
I am a D ... and while it isn't exactly severe, it's just ALWAYS THERE. If I stop taking my daily handful of Imodium/Tylenol/Levsin, I'm OK at first, but as a day or two go by, the pain and cramping and loose stools come back, with a full-fledged D attack at least every couple days. With the meds, I get pain and 1-4 BMs each day. If I only take meds in the AM, then by 6-7 PM I'm usually having BMs every 30-45 minutes. Ugh! I'm pretty fanatical about Heather's diet, mainly because I'm so scared of having an attack, so I feel kind of at-wit's-end-ish. I even did the hypno CDs -- no help whatsoever. So that's why I'm starting to think about the whole GF thing.
I have seen a GI several times but he was horrible. So after months of waiting I am finally getting into this digestive diseases clinic with an excellent reputation. This is at the end of July, so in case they do want to do any bloodwork I figure I'd better keep eating gluten until then. I will probably go GF in August.
I can't believe how expensive GF stuff is. What are your "cheap" GF staples?
No, I'm not taking a SFS. Every one I've tried has made me waaay worse. I finally broke down and ordered Acacia yesterday. Maybe that will be my "miracle" SFS.
Thanks for all the advice -- I'm sure I will need more once I finally do take the GF-plunge.
-------------------- jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC