<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

The recent post by Steven Palmer led me to wonder how many of us on the
list have symptoms of celiac sprue, but do not merit a diagnosis.  I became
gluten interolent apparently after going wild with a breadmaker six months
ago.  After going increasingly more gluten-free for these six months, I am
just now starting to get over my symptoms of gas, bloating, cramps, 'funny'
stools, chronic fatigue, and fuzzy-headedness.  But apart from a positive
anti-gliadin antibody test, the endoscopy/biopsy was 'negative' (after a
two-day gluten challenge).  The lab botched my anti-reticulin and
anti-endomysial tests.  I do not have any malabsorption problems that seem
to be so devastating for some celiacs.   At this point I do not want to go
back on gluten just to satisfy my curiosity as to whether I am a 'true'
celiac.

Are these two conditions, celiac sprue and gluten intolerance, two points
on a continuum or two entirely different diseases?  Is the prognosis for
gluten intolerance different?  Are any researchers studying this
difference?

Reimar in Toronto