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

Blood tests vs biopsy

Dp0155

By Dp0155
in Doctors

 Share

Recommended Posts

Dp0155 Rookie
Dp0155
Posted

Hi guys, 

I last week received diagnosis of celiac via blood tests and what the dr described as “pretty much 100% certain you are celiac as we don’t usually see numbers like that”. I suffered from severe symptoms nausea , vomiting , stomach pains , bloating. I dropped 6kg in weight rapidly and my state was awful to say the least especially as an advid athlete. 

I was advised by the dr to go gluten free immediately and the difference has been astounding. I can train again with increased strength , I can get outta bed some days I just couldn’t , no more nausea ect. I’m also on vitb12 and iron pills as I was also malabsorpbing. 
 

I was advised follow up appointments would be made and I now have an appointment with my dr to discuss a biopsy. I mean as I understand it’s the gold standard for testing in adults but my dr seems to be convinced I’m celiac, so it did take me by shock when she said once the biopsy date comes through I would need to eat gluten again for 6 weeks. Like what am I meant to do be happy with feeling horrendous again for 6 weeks and get weak ! Seems so counter productive to me. I’m just wondering if anyone else has had Similar issues and if I should contest a biopsy or not ? 
 

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

While I think an endoscopy to obtain biopsies can be very valuable (benchmark), getting one now during this pandemic seems risky.  Your blood tests were high and you responded to the diet.  You would have to do a gluten challenge of 2 to 4 weeks (for endoscopy, longer for blood tests) which can be pure misery once you have been gluten free.  If you need a solid diagnosis, consider waiting until this crisis is over.  In the meantime, in six months, repeat the blood tests to see if they are trending downward.  Consider a genetic test too.  Many doctors will give you a formal diagnosis based on all these results.  

  • 1 month later...
Larzipan Rookie
Larzipan
Posted

Hi there, I'm not a medical professional but I had a very similar experience. I got a very high result on my blood test and my gastro doctor thought it was pretty definite that I had Celiacs Disease. They wanted me to do a colonoscopy and an endoscopy to 100% confirm it, which I could not afford so I turned it down. I've been eating gluten free since November and all of my symptoms have gone away. I feel very confident that I have Celiacs even though I didn't get a biopsy. I no longer have nausea, chronic diarrhea, migraines, anxiety/depression, and terrible joint pain after quitting gluten. I personally don't think it's necessary to get a biopsy if you can feel your body healing itself while being gluten free. I don't think it's worth the pain of eating gluten again for weeks to get further proof that an ingredient really hurts your insides, but that's just me haha.  

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,510
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Naudine
    Newest Member
    Naudine
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      70.2k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Can gallbladder issues cause symptoms of celiac disease?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @robingfellow and @Mr-Collateral531, I also had to have my gallbladder removed in emergency surgery.  The gallbladder uses lots of thiamine vitamin b1 to function.   The gallbladder cannot secrete bile if it doesn't have sufficient thiamine.  Thiamine provides our muscles and glands energy to move and secrete needed enzymes and hormones.  The thyroid is another gland that requires lots if thiamine to function and secrete hormones.   Our brains, just thinking at a desk job, requires as much thiamine as our muscles do if running a marathon.   Migraines are linked to thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is the first of the eight B vitamins that our body needs. Thiamine can only be stored for three weeks at most.  Our thiamine stores can be depleted in as little as three days.  We need more thiamine when we have a physical injury (like recovering from surgery or fighting the flu), if we're emotionally stressed or traumatized, and if we're physically active.  Thiamine, like the other B vitamins, is water soluble and easily excreted in urine or most in diarrhea.  B vitamins are commonly poorly absorbed in Celiac Disease.  Thiamine and the other B vitamins need to be taken together because they interact with each other to make life sustaining enzymes.  Thiamine deficiency can affect individual organs.  Gallbladder dysfunction is connected to thiamine deficiency, as is hypothyroidism.    Migraines are connected to thiamine deficiency.  Gastrointestinal Beriberi (abdominal pain, vomiting, etc.) is a result of thiamine deficiency.  Tachycardia and fatigue are also symptoms of thiamine deficiency.   Thiamine and magnesium make enzymes that are essential for life.   Thiamine is needed to absorb certain minerals like iron.  Anemia and thiamine deficiency frequently occur together.  Thiamine deficiency can cause poor blood cell production (including low antibody production).   Thiamine interacts with other vitamins and minerals.  Vitamin D is not utilized by the body until turned into an active form by Thiamine. Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  High doses of thiamine correct deficiencies quickly which prevent further health deterioration.  A one a day type multivitamin is not sufficient to correct vitamin and mineral deficiencies that occur in the malabsorption of Celiac Disease.   The Gluten free diet is low in vitamins as they are not required to be enriched with vitamins lost in processing.  Supplementing with thiamine and the B vitamins boosts their absorption.   Helpful Reading: Hiding in Plain Sight: Modern Thiamine Deficiency https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8533683/ Gastrointestinal Beriberi and Wernicke's Encephalopathy Triggered by One Session of Heavy Drinking https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6739701/ P. S. Try a DNA test to see if you have any known genes for Celiac Disease before doing a gluten challenge.
    • Matt13
      Certified gluten free oats

      By Matt13 · Posted

      Thanks for the reply ! I am asking because tomorow i have egd and nobody told me not to eat gluten-free oats… and i was scared that it could ruin my biopsy results… 
    • trents
      Certified gluten free oats

      By trents · Posted

      Yes, I would think that for the 10% of celiacs who can't tolerate oats it would cause villous atrophy just like gluten. No, it would not produce marsh 3b villous atrophy in a couple of days. Nothing will produce measurable villous atrophy that fast. It takes at least two weeks of at least 10g of gluten consumption daily (10g is the amount found in about 4-6 slices of wheat bread) to develop measurable villous atrophy and even then probably not 3b villous atrophy. Are you asking these questions in because you are considering taking on a gluten challenge?
    • Matt13
      Certified gluten free oats

      By Matt13 · Posted

      Thanks for the awnsers i understand there is maybe system reaction but do they create or cause villious atrophy? And igmf you it them for example a couple of days di they instantly induce marsh 3b?
    • robingfellow
      Can gallbladder issues cause symptoms of celiac disease?

      By robingfellow · Posted

      My gallbladder was at 94% ejection fraction according to my HIDA scan before surgery, when the "normal" range is considered to be between 30-80%, so the surgeon recommended removal because I had been experiencing severe chronic upper quadrant pain and even vomiting despite having a strong stomach. A biopsy after surgery showed intense inflammation suggesting my gallbladder was on the verge of bursting if I hadn't gotten it removed.   The last time my iron and vitamin d levels were checked post-gluten free diet they were in a normal range (I take 60mg iron tablets every other day, and vitamin D capsules daily) I do also take magnesium daily, specifically 400mg magnesium bisglycinate at night to aid my sleep since I try to avoid taking melatonin due to personal preference.   I'll definitely have to keep in mind the point about celiac possibly causing gallbladder problems, I'll probably wait until I can see a proper GI and get their input before I attempt to reintroduce gluten back into my diet that way any reaction I may or may not have can be properly assessed.
×
×
  • Create New...