This may sound gross but...

corgilover · Joined: 07 Aug 2008 Posts: 13 Location: NW OH

Hi again,
First let me say thank you to all of you for your advice and wisdom on my previous post.

As I had said before, I have a sister with CD. Now here's the unpleasant part: Just today, I had a very pale almost white formed stool! No medications/vitamins, no recent viral infections or bacterial infections, no new foods either. I have never had this happen before. Could this be CD related?

My symptoms started once my son was born. Never did I have any GI distress until then. I have been told that pregnancy can bring out the symptoms.

Here are mine in a nutshell: Chronic gas and bloating after every meal. Sometimes with stomach pain. Feel very full and just miserable at times. I have been anemic since I can remember. As a child I was always sick/pale from URI. I also had eczema. Recently, I have started having canker soars and constipation. I have fatigue, mood disorders as well. Thyroid and hormonal imbalance have been ruled out more than once.

A year ago, I had terrible upper GI pain that I could not explain. Had both a colonoscopy done and an endoscopy done. Both were negative. However, I do not think the Dr. viewed my small bowel. He just focused on the stomach. I have not had the pain return to that degree, but I mostly have upper GI discomfort.

I thought this was interesting as well, a few years ago I went on the Adkins diet. I noticed immediately that my chronic GI symptoms disappeared. However, I could not live on that diet. I lost weight, but I stopped having BMs and I love sweets too much Wink

So, on Monday, I am going to contact the University of Chicago's CD Center and sign up for their free CD screening. I know my Dr. will probably not give me an order for blood work and my insurance will not pay for it anyway. Chicago is a 6 hour drive for me, but I would like some answers.

I may not even have CD, but I think it's worth a shot!
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Have A Blessed Day!

ostrich · Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 4170 Location: Nebraska

corgilover · Joined: 07 Aug 2008 Posts: 13 Location: NW OH

Ostrich,
No new foods or changes in diet. I am stumpped! Confused

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Have A Blessed Day!

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8607 Location: WI, USA

Corgi,

Keep in mind - you may not test positive for CD - but gluten may still be an issue for you. I had blood work and biopsies done - all negative. The only thing that allowed me to get my life back was going GF.

The free screening is the tTG test. While this test is very specific and sensitive to CD, it does not do well with detecting lesser amounts of damage. The Anti-Gliadin tests [while not as specific or as sensitive], will give a clue if gluten is causing your problems.

Check out Our Thread on Celiac Blood Tests & More Diagnostic Info. Also check out the Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity links in the page.

If all your testing proves inconclusive - give the GF diet a fair trial [3-6 months] and see how you feel. Let that be your guide. It appears that you've already stuck a toe into the pool of GF-dom with your Atkins diet. It's not surprising people feel better on Atkins...

Good luck! Please keep us updated.
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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

cruelshoes · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 2550 Location: Washington State

I think the U of Chicago does their screening drive in October, right? If so, please remember that you need to keep eating gluten until then. I think your family doctor should be willing to write you an order for the bloodwork, however, based on your family history alone. All first degree relatives should be tested regardless of symptoms. That is clearly stated in literature from all major celiac organizations. Your insurance may pay for it. It doesn't hurt to ask.

Most of us have a weird poop story (or 50!) to tell. I hope you are on your way to 100% healty really soon.
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-Colleen
Dx 8/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
10-YO son Dx 11/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
Daughters (12 and 2) have neg. bloodwork

A woman is like a tea bag-you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt

Fidissimus · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 1569 Location: Portland, OR.

Oh hei! The white poop - I'd nearly forgotten about those. You'll be okay, it's a sign that your body just isn't absorbing fat and it's showing up in your stool. If it was a floater - then that's what that was about. At least that's what my doctor told me when I was first learning about the root cause of my ill health.

While only a doctor, through blood work and biopsy, can officially dx you, many of the symptoms you describe can very easily be attributed to CD. You're wise to seek out help. And like Colleen said, keep eating gluten until you get your tests. That six hour drive could change your life!
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Cheers!
Jenn

GF BD: Feb. 2001
Free of wheat, barley, rye, oats, dairy, eggs, almonds, pineapple and brewers yeast.
http://graindamaged.blogspot.com/

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8607 Location: WI, USA

Some where around here I have a link to a site that discusses stool color...until then...

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stool-color/AN00772
http://www.medicinenet.com/stool_color/article.htm
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/stool_color.htm
http://www.steadyhealth.com/articles/Stool_Colors_Definition_a256_f0.html
http://www.enzymestuff.com/rtstools.htm - this is the one I was thinking of.

Ummm, enjoy? Wink

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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

celiacmaine-iac · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 702 Location: Maine

yup...The white poop was an "aha!" moment for me. When I read about it the first time in relation to CD I remembered that my DD who is dx'd with CD had that often as a child. It actually started when she was a baby. And just before I was dx'd that was another perplexing sx of mine. Fine since going GF.
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Steph

Demeter · Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Posts: 9

White poopies... lol. I've been there. This will help : http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/symptoms/pale_stool/causes.htm
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