gastroparesis

[mawdiejean]

I was recently diagnosed with gastroparesis but there were no celiacs, which is good, but I was told that I could still have gluten intolerances and to go gluten free for several weeks to see how it goes. I am just baffled, was told all my life I just need to eat more fiber or take some supplements, well, apparently the Fibercon that I have been taking for 25 years is not a good thing, so I quit it and am trying to change my eating habits. They also diagnosed me with GERD and gave me Prilosec for that, well, I found out that if I take that too long I may never be able to digest protein and I am a rancher and a beef eater from way back.
Please clue me in on where to start. Thank you.

[patient915]

Good, keep us updated.

[mawdiejean]

Thank you for your info and your quick response, I will take it into consideration.

[mawdiejean]

Thank you so much for your reply, I am getting the saliva test done for gluten intolerances, and then I can worry more if it does come back positive. I'm so in hopes it doesn't. Having gastroparesis is one thing, but adding fuel to the fire is just the pits.
My soon to be DIL has celiacs disease so she has been helping me some on what to look for, and she is forever reading labels.

I appreciate your response.

[mawdiejean]

I am doing the saliva test tomorrow and will send it off to find out if I do have any gluten, egg, soy or casein intolerances. I did go back on the gluten -- ate some whole wheat bread and such just so it will be more accurate. I felt fine after eating the gluten, actually better than before, because I have been so hungry, I can't find out what will not make it hurt so I haven't been eating at all, much anyway. I'm sure my poor stomach just welcomed the  food...or maybe for a day or so. Thanks for your reply, I do appreciate it.

[CalGal]

Mawdiejean, has your doc tested you for gluten issues? There's a couple of different things that might be done if you're feeling better being off of gluten. Have your total IgA levels checked via blood test. You can also ask to have IgA gliadin (gluten) checked as well as IgG gliadin and transglutaminase. If you come back low on the IgA (total) versus the typical range suggested by the lab, and also turn up negative for IgA-IgG-transglutaminase (gliadin), be suspicious of problems with the testing. Low levels of total IgA suggest a person might not be able to mount a response to gluten in their system.

The only problem with the blood tests are- if you've been off of gluten- you may not get a true answer. You'd have to be one gluten for several weeks before blood testing - which is unfortunate...................but.................if you turn up negative and your total IgA is low  (or if you want to skip going back on gluten) take the next step and go to Enterolab.com and order the fecal antibody IgA-gliadin test. It's more sensitive than the blood test. If that test is positive, believe it.

Many who have been mis-diagnosed with 'no gluten issues' have used Enterolab and have found the answer to GI problems that plagued them for many years.

[patient915]

It can often be very difficult to eliminate all gluten from your diet, as gluten seems to be in everything.  My tips would be to read the labels of all the foods you eat (because some surprising things have gluten, like soy sauce) and only eat out of your home; when you eat out at restautants you often don't know every ingredient they are using.

[mawdiejean]

Thank you so much for the info, I didn't know about the perhaps going off all lactose till just last night, someone suggested I might try that in the event that gluten doesn't work. I actually feel a bit better since going off the gluten, but still kinda nauseous so I'm probably still not getting it all eliminated. I'm sure it will be trial and error for me.