Gluten or remicade

[kcsharpe18]

I have had crohns for years and I'm on remicade. My symptoms have never stopped. They have messed around with my remicade, but it didn't help.
All the gi Drs I see say it has nothing to do with diet.
I cut out gluten for a few weeks and it seemed to really help. Now the dr wants me to add it back in so I can do the celiac blood test. One day with gluten I'm having all the symptoms again. But my dr is trying to say it's just my remicade working.... How do you know if it is really the remicade, not having gluten, or some other ingredient in the gluten full food that is making me sick?

 

[vonfunk]

The only way to be certain is by doing an elimination diet and food tracking. No way would I suggest stopping remicade, because you feeling better might be a combination of that and going gluten free.

Food is definitely a trigger for symptoms, and everyone is different. However gulten is a common trigger for those with IBD. My last freeloader also had Crohn's, her food triggers and mine were completely different. She needed to be gluten free and avoid beef, if she ingested some by accident she'd be sick for days. I could eat almost anything, but slip me goat cheese and I'd be done.

 

[UnXmas]

Getting the coeliac test sounds like the next step - keep eating gluten, even if it is making you feel bad, so at least you'll have an answer from the test.

 

[kcsharpe18]

I took the test tonight per Drs request. I guess I felt bad enough to allow for testing! Should know next week.

 

[rygon]

This should help regarding how they test for celiacs http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/#diagnosis

 

[akduck]

I am so tired of drs. who tell people with Crohn's that it doesn't matter what you eat! My GI said, eat whatever you want. He laughed off probiotics and vitamins!
I finally went to an alternative medicine doctor, and she did some allergy testing and vitamin /nutrient testing. I am allergic to wheat, and cutting that out made a huge difference! My vitamins B12 and D levels were both way below normal -it took almost 8 months of weekly B12 injections to get to the bottom of the normal range! There were other nutritional issues, too. When you have an absorption issue, and everything goes through you so fast, you don't get what you need from food!

kcs - if you don't have celiac, you might still have a food allergy, to wheat or other grains, and allergy testing will tell you. Most of the wheat is GMO now, and that can cause all kinds of issues. You really have to be your own advocate!

 

[kcsharpe18]

Akduck- thank you, I will try allergy testing next!

 

[UnXmas]

Akduck- thank you, I will try allergy testing next!

Be careful what kind of testing you get - a lot of nutritionists and alternative health practitioners offer completely useless tests for food allergies and sensitivities.

 

[akduck]

UnXmas - I agree with you! But I think testing for food allergies is not a bad idea. Finding that I am allergic to wheat, and cutting it out has made a tremendous difference for me, so I am glad the testing was done. The doctor I went to is an MD, and she uses both alternative medicine and traditional medicine, and she explains everything, and also respects your thoughts / feelings on treatment.

 

[rygon]

Allergies and Intolerance are totally different things.

Allergies (and coeliac disease which is an autoimmune condition) can be tested, and should always involve a trained person (ie GP)

Intolerances cannot be reliably tested (except lactose which requires a breath or blood test) and the best way of finding out is through the elimination diet.

Allergy
Symptoms come on within seconds or minutes of eating the food
In extreme cases it can be life threatening
Even a tiny trace of the food can cause a reaction
It is easily diagnosed with tests

Intolerance
Symptoms come on more slowly, are long-lasting, and mainly involve the digestive system
It's never life threatening
A reasonable portion of food is usually needed to cause a reaction, although some people can be sensitive to small amounts
You may crave the problem food
It's difficult to diagnose as there are only a few reliable tests

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Allergies/Pages/Foodallergy.aspx
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Allergies/Pages/Whichallergytest.aspx