I have been very frequently sick for the past couple years along with extreme fatigue, pains in my chest, bloating, gas and mouth sores. My doctors were never much help. One of my friends suggested I try the blood type diet which suggested cutting out wheat (I did not cut out completely) and I started feeling so much better. I noticed when I ate more wheat I would always get sick, then I found this site purely be accident and all the problems I have been having seem to make sense now. I haven't been tested for it because I just started a new job and am waiting for the insurance to still kick in, but I have been completely gluten free for only about a week and I feel so much better! Do you think testing is necessary? I am afraid to eat gluten again to get tested because I get so sick.

Welcome!

Many, many here are self diagnosed by positive dietary response. It is alway a simple, inexpensive way to go. Others, feel the need for a medical diagnosis. The choice is yours.

You could go completely gluten free (it is very tricky in the beginning) and if you feel better, wonderful. If not I would recommend seeing a doctor to test.

I was told by my doctor that in the short time I had my testing done that going gluten free would not affect the tests, so I cut gluten out of my diet. I was in about as bad a shape as your indicating. One week into gluten free I felt immensely better and my blood work test came back positive for antibody levels that indicated Celiac Disease. However three weeks gluten free and my Endoscopy biopsy came back with no signs of damage due to gluten.

Basically, it comes down to a personal choice. Get tested while on a gluten free diet now and risk getting back results that say you don't have it. Or risk feeling awful again just to get positive test results. If you feel great on the diet you can also just stick with the diet and don't worry about the testing.

Janessa

Welcome, I pretty much self diagnosed myself with the help of my sister who is also going thrugh the same thing. We were both gluten free when tested last year I was gluten free for 3 months and lost 14 lbs and shes was for 6 months and lost 30lbs everything came back negative, I was very disappointed with the results, because I was so sure that since I felt better on the diet all symptoms went away, and my doctor also said that I would not make a differance with the diet which he misunderstood me when I said months he heard weeks. So if you are going to get tested do it now if not (i know insurance is a problem) and you feel better on the diet and happy with that then continue with the diet like my family practice doc said to me the 3 weeks ago, just everybody hear has been telling me to do but of course Im hard headed, and I want and need the diagnoses from a Doc to make sure that I am correct silly I know.

donna