Keep in mind that an endoscopy is an invasive procedure.

If you don't have a strong indication for it, I'd just do the GF diet and see what happens over the next few months.

It is your choice after all.. but if you search endoscopy risks, you'll see what I mean.

Thank you MrsD. I don't want invasive procedures. Its just I am becoming too desperate.

--should be able at least not only to look at what is going on in the stomach, but in the duodenum, which does contain villi and from which samples can be taken.

Sometimes, evidence of frank celiac may be found there. But, as noted, the damage to villi may be patchy, and may occur farther down the small intestine. And a standard endoscopy may not get that far down--for one thing, a different, smaller scope may need to be used.

There were a spate of recent articles referencing a study concluding underdiagnosis of celiac due to lack of sufficient villous samples taken on "standard" small intestine biopsies--here's one link to it (and it gives the original study reference):

http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.co...nored/updates/

As for colonoscopy...is there any way the scope can be um, DISINFECTED? Can traces of someone else's bacteria - even some harmful? - be deposited?

My dd-adult (now 27) was shown to have intolerance to gluten after blood work only-about four years ago. Doc left it up to her if she wanted further testing. She opted for a change in diet and has NOT looked back. She went YEARS on Synthroid (T4) replacement ONLY - with NO testing of diet. How long she had this "intolerance or sensitivity" is anyone's guess. Her weight ballooned from 160 to 210 in a matter of weeks, along with increase of BP and extreme fatigue. Nothing was done until she finished school and returned home, for I demanded the gluten blood work.

We also suspected Sjogren's, which I have read that treatment focuses on relieving symptoms, which often subside with time. (mayo clinic dot com site) Which do we focus on? Her Hashimoto's? Hypothyroidsim? PCOS? The extreme fatigue *EBV+? The newer complaints of achy swollen joints? The extreme and often debilitating constipation issue that is NEVER addressed by the endos/docs? Possible affects from the first trial/inject of GARDASIL her primary care physician demanded? (She became so ill after Round 1. Being newly separated from dh, her doc said it was imperative she get that vaccine. Then the spiral down with her health. I am suspecting EXTREME CANDIDA in gut, now) Diet has helped TREMENDOUSLY.

We don't miss gluten. Or corn. Or soy. She has reintroduced some items found upsetting, and she is doing much better while taking probiotics, fermented foods, beta glucans...in fact, I feel better too! Embarking on liposomal vit c to see if there is any difference.

There are alternatives to moldy fungi filled grains. I like throwing already made pasta in the water - since she cannot have CORN (and rice which is in most gf pastas I wonder if it can become problematic for those on gf diet) - there is Andrean Dream pastas that have NO CORN, NO RICE and is wonderful. Quinoa. Kaniwa. Tapioca. All very good!!!!

We won't even go NEAR peanuts! No intolerance per se, just they are found to be so moldy and those molds are carcinogenic. Why chance it? So many OTHER choices. ;0

Proper diet can help in so many ways. If gluten is being eliminated in diet take a look at supplements and personal care products as well. Get familiar with the terms, you will find these items everywhere *flour is used as an agent to help liquids flow!

We don't miss corn. Won't TOUCH canola - whatever THAT is No soy here unless fermented. Raw dairy in limited amounts. NO SUGAR. NO PROCESSED. NO RESTAURANTS unless the kitchen is dedicated to gf. No chemicals used on yard, in home - NO CANDLES OR AIR "fragrences." Clean filtered - NO MERCURY, CHLORINE, FLUORIDE - water only. She does supplement Iodine, selenium, a little zinc, magnesium citrate, to name a couple. We try to get mins/vitamins from our foods as much as possible.

Good health wished to you Idiopathic PN

Thank you Glenn for your reply.

Do you think that it would be wise if i request another test, not using the "deaminated", just before considering the biopsy?

I am wondering if one is celiac, can she/he still absorb nutrients? I ask this because i am taking Vit B12 (just an example) and my blood shows the max number after 3 months, which means that I absorb VitB12. I am not sure if my thinking makes sense, just thinking aloud.

I have a strong suspicion that I have Sjorgren's, though, all my tests are negative. I have all the dryness of eyes, mouth, throat and nostrils. AND I have fibronodules in my lungs. I doubt that even my neurological symptoms may also be caused by the Sjorgren's.

When you use the B12 5mg daily on an empty stomach as we do here, you bypass the need for intrinsic factor. It is passively absorbed therefore.

It seems that the gluten intolerant people may have damage to the system that utilizes intrinsic factor for transport of cobalamin from animal food source protein.

Not all people with gluten intolerance get GI inflammation.
What happens is that the leaky gut (enlarged Zonulin channels),
allow the gluten peptides to enter the blood stream where they don't belong, and they arouse antibodies against nerve tissue.
From reading the gluten sites and forums, there seem to be people who don't have the diarrhea, gas, bloating, and the converse constipation all equally.

The Celiacs with the genetic markers, seem to be intolerant of many foods and have severe GI symptoms, however. They have the most inflammation in the intestine, and hence nutrient absorption there can be reduced. This includes many vitamins
and minerals, not just B12.