coeliac disease

[old-wos-is-name]

Hi all,

My other half was diagnosed with coeliac disease when she was 25. after a year of gluten free, her weight went back up, and the doctor told her to start introducing wheat back into the diet. She is now in her 60's, but never been a well person. we have recently been informed that there is no cure for celiac, and it is for life. this new bit of news is very worrying. Is there now an easier way of testing other than a biopsy? Also, She also has thyroid problems, been on carbimazole for 15 years, just been told that 18 months on the tablet is the maximum
time you should take it as it can cause bone marrow depletion and leukemia.
they ( the hospital)are now talking of iodine radiation tablet. any experiences and views are much appreciated. must just add ( I hope she never reads this) but She had breast cancer 20 years ago and had radiology then. my worry is will this iodine radiation thing start that Cancer that up again? sorry for lots of questions on the topic, but I'm sure some one has had similar problems, and experience counts..
thanks.

[Sqad]

My first query is that she was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease and the gluten re-introduced into the diet at a later date. This, to me, put's the initial diagnosis into question as a gluten free diet is a life time management of the disease.

The ultimate diagnosis IS by biopsy, but antibody tests to some serum proteins and against proteins in the bowel wall may be assayed by blood tests.

Carbimazole can be taken long term but is probably best to consult an Endocrinologist for a better or alternate treatment regime.

Carbimazole very RARELY causes leukaemia.

Radioactive Idodine would seem a better alternative than carbimazole and will not have the slightest effect on the long term prognosis of a treated breast cancer.

[hibiscusrose]

Hi old-wos-is-name

I don't know much about Coeliac disease, but I have had the iodine radiation tablet because of a toxic thyroid many years ago.

I'd had Hashimoto's disease and was feeling rather bad and the doctor sent me for this treatment. After three months my thyroid disappeared! (it was supposed to take over a year) So now I take a Thyroxine tablet every day. I haven't had any major after-effects, just a slight tic in my right hand.

I have to watch when I'm filling in my crosswords! but it's a small price to pay.

Ann

[old-wos-is-name]

Thanks for the replies. The coeliac bit was done by a biopsy, and when my wife was put on the gluten free diet Her weight went back up and She fellt very well.
We were told by the Doctor at the hospital ( last week) that carbimazole should not be taken for longer than 3 years as it can cause bone marrow depletion and leukemia, but, every doctor we see says different things.

[Sqad]

So I presume, that she is no longer on a gluten free diet.

You have my opinion.

Perhaps an Endocrinologist may give you a more informed one.

[old-wos-is-name]

Hi Squad,
As I said earlier, every doctoe seems to have a different opinion. She has been off of the gluten free diet for about 30 years. The breast cancer thing was about 20 years ago, and she was told it was terminal. a year later they did another bi-opsy of the nymph nodes ( hope I got this right) and said they were Cancerous and removed them. At the same time as all this was happening, She had the thyroid problem, the coeliac bit was in the past. I remember this all so well, She was on so many tablets (She also had a stroke after the breast cancer op, the next day) that Her skin started peeling , like sunburn. they took Her off of loads of tablets, and She returned to normal
( ish)
She obviously has no defence system, and a cold can bring on a serious asthma attack ( we now have a supply of prednisilone) so every thing is a worry. I read this back and think its a mick take,no one could be that ill, but She is fine and normal as most 60 odd year olds. but just to add the latest problem, there is a peculiar heart beat, it goes beat beat beat, then nothing, nothing, then fast beat beat beat. now on warfarin, as it is suspected problem to rear of heart and She will not have the camera down the throat and round the back to see what the problem is.
Makes a cold seem a bit mediocre.

[daisya]

Someone in my family has coeliac and thyroid problem, they can go hand in hand being the auto immune system attacking the body. Both are for life and the coeliacs always has to be treated by diet, I was most surprised your wife was told to come off the diet all those years ago. Thyroid specialists (endocrinologists) all differ in their opinion of the illness, rarely do they agree and each interpret the bloods differently even when the results are within range. IMO the thyroid problem is one of the most difficult to medicate as most patients will tell you. All I know is that coeliac disease can be helped with diet for life and the symptoms of it can be mistaken with thyroid problems. I don't suppose any of that helps you or your wife but it's what I know of it and especially where the medics really aren't in tune with one another over thyroid conditions. I wish your wife well, I do hope something comes good for her with her health.