Have you read about the Specific Carbohydrate Diet that treats IBD, IBS, Celiac Disease and other digestive problems? It is gluten free, but there are other restrictions as well. I don't know that much about it because I've never used it, but if you google Specific Carbohydrate Diet you will find an endless number of websites, forums, etc, devoted to the topic.
http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.i.../beginners.htm
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/553039_6
You might also check out these pages of The Gluten File:
IBS, IBD, Crohn's
H.Pylori,Colitis, Gastritis
Not Celiac?
While there is no guarantee that a gluten free diet will eliminate all of your symptoms, there is a good chance it will. You may need to remove other foods, too. And, there are reports of Crohn's, IBD, etc, improving after eliminating wheat and sometimes other foods.
You could still follow up with a GI in the event they want to do any further testing. It has been two years since your sigmoidoscopy and imaging scans were found to be normal. Maybe something has changed.
Quote:
- GI specialist in May 2005, underwent sigmoidoscopy, looked normal. Doctor suggested bleeding likely due to fissure. Did not address other gastro. concerns. Seemed dismissive
- Went back to family doctor who decided to order Lower GI series; result: colon was imaged well, and looked normal.
|
If you are going to follow up with a GI, you might as well keep eating gluten and get that biopsy done. I do think there is a chance that an endoscopy could be positive for celiac disease. Based on the statistics of blood testing, it is better than a 50% chance. [UGH... if you really have to WAIT months for a first appointment, and longer still to schedule a biopsy... that is criminal. Makes me swing back to thinking you should just starting the diet! ]
But, if a celiac biopsy is negative, and they find nothing else... I would definitely move forward with a gluten free diet, possibly SCD.
If you decide to stick with the diet now, you could still follow up with a GI to make sure there is nothing ELSE is going on, but you'd close the door on celiac testing.
Tough Decisions! The unintended weight loss is worrisome. What did your new physician recommend you do? Did he recommend a follow up with the GI? IF so, you should probably follow through with that.