As a follow up to my response to the gross oily poop thread…I may have celiac disease. I had my blood and stool sample come back with results indicating celiac as the leading cause of my intestinal suffering, with a few other possibilities. I am unfortunately going to be violated in a few weeks so they can take a peek inside and see what the damage is like…lol. joy. I am now on a wheat and glutten free diet and can say it is tuff, but I a doing better. I also found out I am anemic, as a result of malabsorption, and begun taking iron pills. This has made the best improvement so far. I am starting to gain energy back. It’s been slow, but I have hope.
My question to the gallery - Can lipitor or zetia, two statins I have taken in the past, lead to intestinal problems? I can trace the start of my intestinal problems to December 2003. The month i started taking statins and the month after I did my 2nd Ironman. Could the Ironman have contributed? I am trying to find literature on statins affecting absorption in the intestines, so if anyone has any info it’d be greatly appreciated.
What I know about celiac is that the blood work test is for antibodies and I seriously doubt that those meds would effect it. The biopsy is not as reliable because of the expanse of our intestines. As far as your IM- perhaps messed with your immune system, and made your IGE hyper. When I hear “oily” stools, I think giardia. Don’t forget to avoid rye & barley for celiacs. Best of luck!
I don’t know about all the reasons that it can suddenly rear it’s ugly head, but try glutenfreemd.com Michelle Pietzak (MD) is a pediatric GI doc, who is considered a world expert on celiac, adult and pediatric. I think she takes emails on her site. I’m also pretty sure that she would tell you go back on the gluten until you can have the biopsy done. The mucosa reverts to normal pretty quickly,in some cases and can give a normal result. The celiac panels are suggestive, but no diagnostic, as far as I know. The biopsy confirms the diagnosis.
I was diagnosed with celiacs nasty cousin dermatitis herpetiformis in my 30’s, I don’t get the intestinal problems that celiacs do, but rather a very horrible itchy, burning rash in some very uncomfortable places. I’ve followed a gluten free diet since then and while I can cheat a little now and then, I prefer to stay gluten free which can be tough as it is hidden in the ingredients of many non-whole foods. Lots of info. on the internet for you in the event you have celiac. Best of luck.
imatoad…luckily i haven’t developed the rash symptoms. I know what you are saying about gluten. It’s in everything.
Question to the doctors out there. Zetia, one of the statins i was on says it blocks intestinal absorption of certain fats to prevent cholesterol. Can zetia do damage to the villi in the intestine. I am currently unable to absorb fats and that was the marker in my stool sample.
I am a celiac - being diagnosed was simply the best thing that ever happened to me. In my experience it’s possible to live your life sick and never know because you’ve never been well.
Zinc…that’s good to hear. I know I am sick b/c I am miserable and have been for quite some time. However sucky it may be, I want to get my diagnosis so I can attack the issue and get better.
I’m with Imatoad in that I get a rash. Been gluten free for about 5 years now. was kinda tough initally ( and working in Micky D’s) but best thing I could have done. Also the lack of cakes and buiscuits means I keep the weight off, and no one bothers if I order the steak :~)
Hang in there, it’ll get better.
Yours,
Neil
If this is indeed your condition and can stay on a gluten free diet (more difficult than it sounds), you will feel SO much better.
Best of luck with it. You’re not alone and labels are getting better about verifying if a food is gluten free or even processed in facility that also processes wheat.
I had the skin rash very badly in my 20’s before I figured out the problem a few years ago. I can’t believe I lived and suffered that way for so long.
Yeah…posted a few weeks ago that it turned out to be colitis from the colonoscopy. Less of an adjustment, but still something I have to work with and take medication to control…but I can eat pizza. woohoo.