Hello everyone. Would someone offer an experienced opinion to my situation?

I completed a saliva cortisol panel for my ND which contained a screening test called Gliadin Ab, SIgA. The results were 27 with normal range < 13. The description states "mild intolerance or reactivity to Gliadin and may be clinically asymptomatic, howere an ongoing low-grade intestinal inflammation following Gliadin intake has been demonstrated".

I was intrigued by this result and began gathering info via, what else?, the internet. This is how I found this site. I have no GI symptoms whatsoever...

My history in short is: Graves Dz and Hashimotos Dz with radioactive iodine ablation of thyroid. Since the ablation I have had persistent and drastic hair loss (for 3 yrs, I am 38 now). I have been on a quest for the cause of this as it hasn't resolved since the radiation, even tho my thyroid levels have been stabilized and I feel great. One important factor is that I was severely malnourished by the time I was dx'd with Graves Dz and had lost 13 lbs and was breast feeding. I gained the weight back easily once the thyroid was dealt with.

My only remaining symptoms were severe scalp itching and hair loss (no sores, scabs, blisters) and itchy skin, mostly on my arms (again, no sores, scabs, rash, blisters) and unrelenting acne as if I were 15 (which I didn't have when I WAS 15).

I thought I'd try Gluten Free for a few days to see what happened. My skin cleared and became wonderfully smooth and soft (4 weeks in and NO pimples at all!) and within 4 days my head and body stopped itching. Now, I believe, I can tell when I have been exposed to gluten as my scalp itches terribly and my arms too. This happened when, stupidly, I ate Dorito's (saw it on a gluten-free list somewhere). I didn't figure it out until I went back to the bag, searching everything I had eaten in the past 2 days to find gluten... there it was! Otherwise, my hair has gained it's texture, scalp not itchy, and I have new hair popping out everywhere.

My Endo was interested in this finding so ran a panel of Celiac tests (anti gliadin TTG, IGG, TTG-IGA, Immuglobulin, endomysial antibodies) and All were negative. I had been Gluten free for 2 full weeks at that point but he thought it wouldn't matter. I have no intention of going back on gluten for re-testing. He feels, definitively, I don't have Celiac. I know for a fact I am sensitive to gluten.

Do my symptoms make sense to anybody? Is it possible not to have GI symptoms? Can I just be "sensitive" to gluten without having Celiac sprue? Can my hair loss be related?

Thank you so much and sorry for the long post!

Tracy

Your symptoms are very much like mine. I am not celiac but have a low tolerance for gluten. Some forms give me the GIs and zap my energy. I call that one the ladder, because first I get euphoria as I move up the ladder but when I get to the top, I start to feel really wiped out and as I move down the ladder I feel worse and worse. When I get to the bottom I feel like my head is in a vice, and I would have to feel better to die. Some forms mess with my head, sinus and throat. Some forms make me itch and give me scalp symptoms like you describe. One in particular causes me to have incontinence, and I don't mean it in a mild way. I'm talking like every 30 minutes you have to wiz, and it is one of those you better stop the car right now or else. I also have a low tolerance for yeast, broccili, olives, pecans and various forms of mold. Lately it has been taking about 20 hours for the symptoms to hit me and they can stay with me 3-5 days. However when I am off the gluten I can work out for 2 hours on the treadmill, home gym and free weights without getting really tired. I try to exercise 3 times a week and take a protein, banana, peanut butter, pure yogurt, low fat milk as a supplement.