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I had emailed everyone about a week ago asking about the advisability of doing an endoscopy and colonoscopy at the same time.  I was also very nervous about the endoscopy as I'd heard horror stories!   In addition, I wanted to know if the pills (Osmo-Prep) for the colonoscopy were a good idea.  You were all so generous and supportive with your responses.

Well, I had both procedures on Monday, May 5th, and they went fine.  I did the Osmo-Prep which some of you thought was much easier than all the other preps (you were right- I only felt very slightly nauseous at various times, but usually felt fine, unlike the severe nausea I experienced in the past with the other preps).  My doctor Jeffrey Aron (in San Francisco) knew how nervous I was about the endoscopy, so he used enough sedation that I don't remember a thing.  I did wake up during the colonoscopy because I had some heavy cramping briefly.  But it all was over quickly.  The best part is that the Dr. Aron said that everything looked very healthy.  (I have been on the gluten-free diet for five years).

I am waiting for the lab results of tissue samples.  There has to be a reason I had little appetite, stomach pain, diarrhea, and had to subsist on yams, bananas white rice and squash for three weeks!  (No fever, so it was NOT the flu).  But at least it looks like it was nothing very serious.  (I have a family history of cancer, so I was panicked).

Dr. Aron is not sure at this point whether I actually have celiac or whether I just have gluten intolerance.  I did NOT have an endoscopy five years ago when I was having symptoms.   I did have the gene test (I have the gene)  and my Gliadin Antibody, IgA was higher than 200 (it should be below 20). (Dr. Aron had never seen a test that high, which was scary!)  It took me 2 -3 years to get the Gliadin Antibody, IgA down to completely normal.  However, every other test including Gliadin Antibody IgG and Tissue Transglutaminase have always been normal, even 5 years ago.  I wonder if anyone else had that experience.

At any rate, I need to be gluten free!  This is more info than you may want to read... thank you for listening.  As I said before, 150 of you sent the most informative, supportive emails and it was so comforting.

Caryn Gottfried     

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