celiac disease /bile reflux

[1goose]

A week ago I had an upper and lower scope done. My upper scoope discovered bile reflux in my esophagitis, and much more in my stomach, hiatial hernia. I am on colestid and carafate. Prio to this blood work was done for homocystein and I had high levels and put on folic acid. My concern is that my 1 year younger sister died at 40 eight yrs ago. She had homocystein and celiac disease along with bile and hiatial hernia. Her cause of death was duodernum and pylorus, entire sm bowel , right colon and proximaltransvers colon were bk and infractured. The autopsy also states that her homocystein levels were that of a 90 yr old women. Thet also felt that the celiac diease was a factor. I showed this to my dr. and at this time he not not sure about testing me for the celiac. On top of this my other sister who is 5 years younger than me is confirmed with celiac after being hospitalized for a week about 4 months ago. I did not even consider that untill the findings of my upper scoope as I mentioned above. I have had classic sysptoms for several months now. Could there be a connection with the bile reflux and the celiac? The specialist wants to see me back on Oct 2 but suggested I go to my primary care Dr. to see about scheduling to be tested for celiac. He did tell me that if I would have mentioned all of this before the scoope surgery he would have taken the required tissue to sample. I did not know before the surgery.

[CalGal]

1goose, do yourself a favor and get the fecal antibody test and gene test put out by enterolab.com and get yourself checked for celiac. It's quick and easy, and you'll get an answer within about 2 weeks time. It will tell you whether you've got celiac and which genes you're carrying (major or minor, or mixed).

Celiac disease can skew things in the digestive system quite a bit, so you really need to find out what's going on. Celiac can cause issues with the gallbladder and liver, so check it out.

If the doc wants to do the blood test, do IgG/IgA gliadin, transglutaminase, total IgA and endomysial tests - all are necessary with the blood tests to even get close to a 'real' answer. Blood tests are not that accurate (and neither, IMO is the biopsy). But with two siblings with celiac, I'd bet that you have it, too. If the blood tests come back negative and you don't do the fecal antibody test, do yourself a favor and go gluten-free. It could be one of the best things you ever do for yourself to find out how gluten affects you.

[1goose]

Thank you for all the information. I am printing it out and taking it with me this week to my doctor.

[bgb1976]

Is the IgG/IgA like an hpylori test?

[CalGal]

No, you're testing for two completely different things.

The IgG and IgA test for antibodies to gliadin. The H. pylori test looks for the presence of antibodies made to H. pylori, or for the presence of H. pylori itself.