I am 34 years old. Had a major depressive episode in fall 2007. Been taking amitryptiline (initially 75 1 year and down to 25 mg for 6 months) and 10 mg cipralex for 2 years. In 2007 I was taking .5 clonipin as needed and since 2008, 1 mg ativan 2-3 times a week as needed.
I haven't had a drink since August 2008. Used to binge drink on the weekends. Had a liver function test in summer 08 when I told my doctor about my decision to quit drinking. ALT came back at 40. Ferretin was 38. Sent me to a hepatologist. Got in October 2010 (yes almost 2 years later) and they drew a new blood panel. Ferretin was down to 14 and ALT went up to 48. Initial ultrasound in spring 2009 came back clean. They have scheduled me for another ultrasound for May 2011. Such a long wait.
Hypothyroid was ruled out by blood test. Occult blood test in stool came back clean.
Symptoms include: bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain (maybe from gas), flat stool. Mood swings, irratibility, anxiety, depression, extreme fatigue. Pain seems to go away when I stop consuming gluten. Maybe just in my head. I know that to run both the endoscopic and blood test for celiac, you need to be consuming it. Celiac test was done but I haven't had any results yet. Are false negatives possible with a blood test?
I also had bilateral stress fractures on my tibias. I am scheduled for a bone scan next week. X-ray showed no fractures.
Heck Yes it could be celiacs! Depression is one of the over 300 symptoms for celiacs. Also osteopenia and osteoporosis are effects of Celiacs, not to mention all sorts of GI problems. Also just for your information, 70% of all celiacs are thin, while 30% are over weight. As far as the test, you don't hear of false positives, but the blood test can be wrong with a false NEGATIVE. Your symptoms sound right on but it can be other things too. So I wish you the best in discovering your problem.
The Following User Says Thank You to jwmom7172 For This Useful Post: Soo Tired (12-13-2010)
I have celiac too- I was dx'd in August, I had some of your symptoms, but for me mostly left sided pain. How is your GF diet going?
I have been doing a ton of reading on Celiac and wonder how I could have gone undiagnosed for so long. GI issues since I was 2. I have been contacting many food manufacturers and reading these forums to ensure GF foods and products. Still have a bunch of gas and abdominal pain.
I am really mad at my family doctor as I asked her to send me for a bone density exam after my two tibia stress fractures and she told me that calcium deficiency and osteoporosis are really rare in 34 year olds. OMG! Bone scan results are in tomorrow but these can't diagnose osteoporosis apparently. A walk-in dr sent me for the bone scan which is different from a bone density exam.
I am looking for a new doc now that has a better understanding of Celiac.
I was 55 when diagnosed and had problems since 2 also. My son was diagnosed when 2 years old. That was in the year 1982. The doctors never told us it was genetic. We thought it was an allergy. In time we let him resume a normal diet because we thought he had outgrown it. We lived in a rural small town and eating gluten free was nearly impossible back then. Plus we didn't understand it, nor were we given any instructions. Today in 2010, I have an enlarged liver, atrophic pancreas, gastritis and unresponsive celiacs to a diet for 18 mos. Specialist after specialist missed it with me. If I was a Dr. any child with GI problems would be tested immediately. Any anemic child would be tested immediately. It is really sad when the patient knows more than the physician. I emphathize with you. Hang in there and look for a Dr. who cares.
The Following User Says Thank You to jwmom7172 For This Useful Post: Soo Tired (12-14-2010)
So I got the results of my bone scan yesterday (not bone density exam) and it showed no stress fractures. Dr was surprised. He suggested it my be neuropathic pain but since he was a walk in, he woudn't further pursue it and printed off my results to share with my family dr. I have a meet and greet setup with a new family dr in Jan so maybe he can figure it out.
I have the same exact symptoms as you, including flat stools which have been freaking the crap out of my. Been through the ringer with tests for the past few years and nothing so I got labeled IBS. Never tested for Celiac though and I am starting to wonder. Did your stools vary in color as well. I get normal color but I also get alot of yellow and orange stools too.
