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Hi there all.  I would really appreciate you help as I believe I may
have Celiac disease but all my medical specialists disagree.  I need to
know if i'm worrying over nothing or whether I should keep pressing for
more tests.

Early last year I started getting v.bad diarrhea and cramps in my bowel.
This seemed to settle down but for almost every day last year I felt
nauseas. I also had the occasional flair up of diarrhea, needing to go
after each meal.  The Doctor diagnosed me as having IBS.

In December last year it all flaired up again, but this time didn't
settle back down.  I was referred to a GI specialist who again diagnosed
me as having IBS.  He also stated that foods had no impact on IBS and I
felt this was wrong.  I then started an elimination diet to see if I
could establish a link.  For 3 months I was off carbohydrates and lost
about 1.5 stone. During this time I was almost entirely off Gluten
except for a small amount in sausages and things like vinegar. Symptoms
during this time varied.

At one stage I reintroduced wheat into my diet and within 5 days my
symptoms were returning - Diarrhea, nausea and also a general
dizziness/malaise.  I came back off wheat (and all other gluten sources)
and symptoms subsided.

During this time (unfortunately I don't know exactly when) I had a blood
test done for gliadin and this was negative.

After referal to a second specialist, I had a colonoscopy done. 1 week
beforehand I asked if he could also do a small bowel biopsy at the same
time. He reluctantly agreed but said he didn't think I had Celiac.  At
this point I went back onto Wheat and, as expected, my symptoms started
to return.  The biopsy was negative. The colonoscopy showed some
inflammation (1 out of 6 biopsies taken)

Since then I have stayed off gluten and seen symtoms disappear.
Unfortunately I did inadvertantly digest a very small amount of flour at
a restaurant. The next day I had severe dizziness and my insides are
only now settling down again, 4 days later. dizziness and malaise is
also settling back down.

My key question is whether, having been off most gluten for 3 months,
then back on for 1 week, then strictly off for 3, then back on for
another week before my biopsy - can the result be trusted ?  Can a wheat
intolerance as opposed to Celiac disease account for my symptoms ?

Please, any feedback would be appreciated as this is causing me a lot of
anxiety.

thanks

Nick