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Biopsy BEFORE blood test?

KatG18

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KatG18 Newbie
KatG18
Posted

Hi everyone.

Has anyone ever heard of a doctor ordering an endoscopy biopsy before doing a blood test?

When I asked my GP for a celiac test she sent me straight to a GI doctor without doing any blood tests. The GI asked about all my symptoms and I litterally handed him the list (in addition to describing some of it). He immediately ordered an endoscopy with biopsies and a colonoscopy. After he left the room I realized he didn't mention blood work so I asked his nurse to ask him about it. She came back saying he said he would do it after. 

I'm actually fine with that because I've read horror stories of people with negative blood tests not being diagnosed for years.  But I'm curious as to why he would choose to do it in that order. I can't find any stories or articles showing the biopsy preceding the blood test. Is it possible he saw all my symptoms and decided not to beat around the bush and just go for it?

With that in mind, I had the endo and colonoscopy today (no turning back now). If the biopsies show celiac, will there be any reason for the blood test?

Thanks, 

Kat

 

 

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tessa25 Rising Star
tessa25
Posted

If you have celiac the blood test will give you baseline numbers. After going gluten free subsequent blood tests should show your celiac numbers going down.

RMJ Mentor
RMJ
Posted

If you have celiac it will be easier to see if you are healing by repeating blood tests than by repeating the endoscopy/biopsy!

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

In the old days, celiac disease was diagnosed via biopsies before they developed the antibodies tests.  The blood tests made it much easier to screen for celiac disease, but today they also help to solidify the celiac disease diagnosis.  Villi damage can occur from many other things like milk, NSAIDS, or Crohn’s (google it).  Before the blood tests, they would trial the gluten-free diet and repeat the biopsies.  Much easier, as others have stated, to follow-up and monitor with a simple blood test.  

Advocate for your health.  Print off the celiac disease guidelines for testing and show your doctor or email him (nothing like the written word to scare a doctor who is avoiding malpractice lawsuits).  Be polite and nice.    Insist on the blood test before going gluten free (GI or PCP can order the tests).   Your GI must either  be ancient or is not celiac-savvy.  He should be following the American or British GI Association’s guidelines.  If he is not, what else is he not doing?  Missing cancer?  Maybe time to ditch this GI?  

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