Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Celiac test questions

chocolatesunrise

Recommended Posts

chocolatesunrise Explorer
chocolatesunrise
Posted

Hi!

i recently had lab work done and my DGP IgG came back positive at 52. I’m getting conflicting feedback from doctors about the significance of this ranging from I almost assuredly have celiac to I most likely do not. The first GI I saw won’t even discuss these results with me until I undergo colonoscopy and endoscopy which he scheduled before these results even came back. Saw a new GI who thinks it is unlikely I have celiac but scheduled me for endoscopy and biopsy next month to find out for sure. My primary care seems confident I do have celiac. I’m very confused!!  Thanks in advance for any feedback! 

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

It only takes 1 positive on the celiac serum panel to trigger going forward with an endoscopic biopsy for celiac disease. With a positive DGP IgG, you have that. 

http://www.cureceliacdisease.org/faq/are-raised-dgp-igg-levels-an-early-sign-of-celiac-disease/

Cyclinglady only tests positive on the DGP IgA if I recall correctly & she is biopsy confirmed. Usually, this particular test in the panel only shows positive for kids & generally not for adults but there are certainly the exceptions! 

I'm curious what other tests they gave you. There are 6 in the full celiac panel.

MAKE SURE YOU CONTINUE EATING A NORMAL GLUTEN DIET UNTIL THE ENDOSCOPY IS COMPLETED.

Here's a thread addressing positive DGP IgG:

 

 

 

 

chocolatesunrise Explorer
chocolatesunrise
Posted
  • Author

Hi!  Thank you so much for your reply. The panel I had tested total IgA, tTg A and tTg G, DGP IgA and IgG. I have a pending HLA test. They also ran CBC and CMP which were normal, sed rate normal thyroid panel normal vitamin D low. and vitamin B low. 

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

You're so welcome! OK, so it just looks like you're one of those weird testers. LOL! Nothing wrong with that. We get all kinds of people on here with "not the usual" test results. Sometimes I wonder if the medical profession really knows what's "the usual" or not. But hey, that's why there's more than 1 test in the full panel and thank goodness b/c it caught you. If they had just done the total IgA & then only the tTg IgA which is what happens a great deal of the time, then you would not have been caught. I'm really glad someone was on the ball with that one.

With the DGP IgG & the low vitamin D & also the low B, it's all pointing to celiac. Do go ahead though & get the endoscopy. They should take at least 6 biopsies.

While you're waiting for the endoscopy & results, go ahead & familiarize yourself with what you'll need to do to keep yourself safe.

 

 

chocolatesunrise Explorer
chocolatesunrise
Posted
  • Author

Thank you!!!  This information is so helpful. I wish I could get my biopsies done sooner. Eating gluten is miserable!!!  When I first got my labs I stopped gluten because I freaked out. Lol. I only was off it for about 4 days but I was amazed how much better I felt. I am forcing myself to eat some every morning until my biopsies but it’s making me feel terrible. I’m just counting down the days until endoscopy. ?

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

The wait can be so tough especially when we know what is causing the symptoms. If you can get in on short notice call the GI's office and ask to be put on the cancellation list. That way they might be able to get you in sooner.  You can go gluten free as soon as the biopsy is done. Damage can be patchy and get missed and with positive blood work you need the diet no matter the results. I hope you heal quickly but it may take a bit of time.

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Hi,

Welcome to the forum! :)

It sounds like you already had your vitamins and minerals checked.  I suggest you try a 1000 IU Vitamin D pill and a small boron pill daily.  These are what helped me get my vitamin D back up to normal levels.  Vitamin D and boron and calcium all work together.

A B-complex with B-12 is good way to go also.

After the biopsy it's good to concentrate on unprocessed foods for 5 months.  No dairy or oats, no eating out in restaurants.  Whole foods you prepare yourself at home are the best choice.  Meats, nuts, veggies, and some fruit are a good diet.  There are milk substitutes like almond and cashew milk out there but they often have calcium carbonate in them and the bothers some people.  Mission corn tortillas are a cheap sub for bread and are gluten-free..

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      126,091
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    equivokate
    Newest Member
    equivokate
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.9k
    • Total Posts
      69.2k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Celiac Maybe a Possibility?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, and thank you for sharing your story! It sounds like you’ve been through an incredible journey with your health, and it’s no wonder you’re starting to piece things together and wonder about celiac disease. Your experiences—from childhood through adulthood—paint a picture of symptoms that are often associated with celiac disease, though they can overlap with other conditions as well. The recurring sinus infections, being underweight as a child, chronic gastrointestinal issues, nutrient-related symptoms like cramps, and the persistent fatigue and brain fog are all things that many people with undiagnosed celiac report. Your reactions to gluten also stand out. The improvement in symptoms when you reduce or remove gluten, followed by the resurgence of pain and other problems when you reintroduce it, is a common experience for those with celiac or gluten intolerance. While your frustrations and trials with elimination diets might not have given you concrete answers yet, they’ve provided valuable clues. It’s also worth noting that celiac disease doesn’t always present in the classic way. Many people, like yourself, may not experience severe gastrointestinal distress but instead have “atypical” or extraintestinal symptoms like joint pain, menstrual irregularities, fatigue, and more. It’s a condition that can go undiagnosed for years, especially when symptoms are subtle, sporadic, or mistakenly attributed to other issues. The fact that you’ve sought alternative approaches to feel better shows just how determined you’ve been to find relief, even without a definitive diagnosis. Given your history and how your body responds to gluten, it would be worth exploring celiac disease further with a medical professional. Before removing gluten completely, it’s important to get tested while you’re still eating it, as going gluten-free beforehand can affect the accuracy of the results. A blood test for celiac antibodies (like tTG-IgA) is usually the first step, and if positive, an endoscopy may follow to confirm the diagnosis. If the testing process feels daunting, keep in mind that getting answers could give you clarity and help guide your health decisions going forward. Whatever the outcome, you’ve already made significant strides in identifying triggers and managing your symptoms. Your awareness and persistence are key, and this community is here to support you as you continue to seek answers. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of blood test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
    • More2Learn
      Celiac Maybe a Possibility?

      By More2Learn · Posted

      Hi, I am new!  (Although I've used this forum as a reference over the past couple of years.) I'm just looking for some initial reactions to if I actually might possibly have Celiac Disease, or if I'm reaching here.  I have had lifelong health issues and not once has a doctor suggested I look into celiac. I always thought it was basically an extreme allergy that needed an EpiPen, and I know that's not me.  However, I stumbled upon some symptoms, realized I was wrong, and after some research I'm almost shocked at what I have found.  It seems like anything I've ever struggled with has a potential correlation to this disease!  I'm in my 40's, now.  Here is my journey to date... Issues as a Kid: tons of allergies, and had sinus infections all the time... however I didn't have hayfever-like allergies and the scratch tests didn't register much, it was more that when I was exposed to allergens (like say I spent hours with a cat) I was certain to get a sinus infection and it lasted months. was extremely skinny and everyone always said I was anorexic (I wasn't) always getting sick and the illnesses hang on for a long time always cold (my favorite thing to do is sit in front of a space heater or be out in 90 degree weather) intermittent bad constipation (still happens but not as severe) horrible toe cramps that would wake me up in the middle of the night As I got older (teenage/college years): acid reflux diagnosis learned that beer made me EXTREMELY sick, cannot tolerate it horrible issues with menstrual cycle - I wasn't regular, had awful cramps and PMS, sometimes cannot function the first couple of days night terrors/sleep walking more stomach issues - I learned I couldn't have black coffee.  I often had issues especially when traveling.  For example I finally noticed a pattern that I could never, ever eat at a hotel buffet spread - it would always make me sick afterwards. More recent problems: always tired periodic pain on right side that can be so painful I can't stand up straight. Have had all kinds of scans and doctors always say I'm fine.  I was so sure I had gallstones or my liver was failing but... nope. chest pain brain fog not diagnosed but many, many ADHD symptoms lots of inflammation, am overweight now toe cramps evolved into leg/calf cramps None of my symptoms from any era of my life ever really resolved, except I went from being skinny to ~20/30 pounds overweight, and as I got older I got less outright sinus infections.  Largely due to the pain in my right side and the fact that I always, always seem to pick up every illness, especially when traveling, I started pursuing alternative medicine paths... I did the Pritikin lifestyle, I tried an elimination diet, I followed the Root Cause Protocol, I did a Leptin reset.  A lot of these paths recommend removing gluten, and in the past year or so some of my symptoms have gone away!  Specifically less issues with toe cramps, sometimes the side pain would go away for a long time, and my acid reflux got much better.  But, because I was never diagnosed with any specific intolerance, I wasn't militant about the gluten - I had cut out dairy, soy, all kinds of things.  So I would say cross-contamination is ok, or make an exception at a group outing. Then one day, I just got frustrated and ate some normal slices of pizza... and my side pain came back!  I started doing research and now I'm here and wondering... could I have actually had this my whole life??!? Thoughts and observations welcome.           
    • Wheatwacked
      Ground meat absolutely full of gluten?

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      "grass-fed" meat by definition cannot contain wheat as it means the animal is only fed grass  organic meat can be fed wheat feed
    • Scott Adams
      Weird Symptoms

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your symptoms would not be typical celiac disease symptoms, but still could be related due to possible nutrient deficiencies.  The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs.      
    • Scott Adams
      Everyday life

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is a difficult situation, and one that your employer may not take seriously. It's possible that they don't have a way to accommodate your issues, but I don't know much about your work environment. Obviously moving you to another work area would be ideal, but would or could they do that? If not, you might be stuck having to wear a K95-type mask at work to avoid breathing any particles, but they still could end up on your skin. Another alternative is searching for a new job.
×
×
  • Create New...