I DO NOT HAVE CELIAC'S DISEASE!!!!!!!! Woo hoo!
I had an endoscopy done the Friday before Easter to test for Celiac's Disease. In order to get ready for the test I had to reintroduce gluten into my diet. I had about two months to get ready for this test, not because that is how long you need to be eating gluten to take the test but because that was the most convenient time for me and my family to have the endoscopy.
Here's what happened after eating gluten for two months: I gained 20lbs. (I'm sure me binging on all the foods I abstained from for the past two years helped helped with the weight gain), my stomach issues returned, and I was bloated all of the time. 😖
On the day of the endoscopy I was put under for about 30 minutes and then I was able to go home once I woke up. While I was under, the doctor took a couple of biopsies to run a couple of different tests: Celiac's and food intolerances - I had no idea doctors could legitimately see what foods I'm intolerant to. The rest of the day I was pretty groggy, so I was able to nap all day. *Note: If you have children who are not school age, I suggest you get this test done on a day your spouse is able to take a day off work and take care of the kids. You are not allowed to drive for the entirety of the day and you will be sleeping, whether you want to or not.*
The results are in: I am Celiac free and my enzyme levels are higher than normal to be able to break down gluten properly. However, I am severely lactose intolerant. According to my doctor, people who can break down lactose normally are at a 7.5ish or higher. My score ... 0.2. 👎 I find this pretty hilarious since I was diagnosed lactose intolerant years ago, but now I have concrete proof I absolutely cannot tolerate any dairy without the aid of something like Lactaid.
My doctor did suggest that I stay on a gluten-free diet for the next couple of weeks to see if my bloating and stomach sensitivities will go down. I am noticing I am able to eat a small quantity of gluten without any ramifications. 👏 I'm planning on staying mostly gluten free at home, but now I don't have to go overboard about keeping gluten completely out of my diet and out of my home. This also means I'm not restricted to specific brands of body wash, lotions, lipsticks, dishwasher detergent, etc.
