When I eliminated gluten for 4 weeks, I felt much better - normal energy, no GI symptoms. Then I reintroduced a little - breaded ahi tuna on a salad for lunch. Within 2 hours, I was exhausted, and I was absolutely worthless for the next two days.
My doctor did a Celiac blood test - it came back negative on 2 tests, and positive on the 3rd. I'm waiting on the results of a genetic profile, but my MDs said my self-experimentation is the clearest signal, and to stay gluten free regardless of what the tests indicate.
At the end of the day for an individual, the diagnostic label is much less important than curing the disease, which it sounds like you're accomplishing via experimentation. Cheers.
And this was just from eating a small treat, not even a full meal. So if you want to know for certain, follow the diet for some time, and then feast on gluten.
I can answer this one. It ain't 'telltale signs'. It's miserable hell. Imagine eating some bad food. The effects are far from subtle.