I’m planning to get tested for celiac in the spring (in my country you can get financial support if you have the diagnosis). But I’m wondering if it’s worth the agony if it doesn’t seem that I have it anyways.

I’ve been gluten free since March. As soon as I stopped I got much better, so it was clear my symptoms were a reaction to gluten. I talked to my doctor about getting tested for celiac, who said I didn’t need to because a gluten allergy and celiac is the same. So I didn’t do it, and now I have to do the whole 6 weeks of hell to get tested.

The thing is that I react to gluten immediately. I can take a few bites, and my face and upper body go red right away, and I get horrible nausea. This will last a few hours, longer or shorter dependent on how much I’ve eaten. My sensitivity has gotten worse, to the point that I’m reacting to “possible trace amounts.”

I’ve heard that most people with celiac react after at least an hour but usually longer. I’ve read similar things about gluten intolerance. I can eat wheat starch, so I’m assuming I don’t have a wheat allergy.

To me this sounds like it’s likely not celiac? And maybe I can avoid the testing?