Testing in Ontario

[Noglu10pls]

Hello I am new here. I have experienced a few signs of gluten intolerance for a couple of years now, recently my reactions are getting worse. I have symptoms such as swelling of the eyelids, facial rash and eventual skin splitting around my eyes, also my sinuses get clogged on my left side and my eye tears frequently . I have recently found that if I eat any processed foods containing gluten my joints ache. 
My main course of action is to try to avoid gluten as much as possible. My family dr has suggested that I get tested for celiac but tells me the test is $125. I am on a pretty tight budget does anyone know if any of this may be covered by my manulife benefits? With me avoiding most gluten at all costs how will the outcome of the test be ? Do I have to be eating it ? I can’t imagine what my skin is going to react if I start eating it again 😳

thanks in advance 
 

 

[psawyer]

Welcome to the community.

I can't say for sure, but Manulife is my insurer and under my plan this would probably be covered. Call them and ask. The number on my card is 1-877-261-8222. You do need to be eating gluten for the antibody test to be valid.

[Noglu10pls]

Thank you. Do you have any idea  much gluten is needed and  how long prior to the test ? I am dreading this now. A slice of bread or a cup of pasta per day ? More ? Less ? How many days prior to the test should I do this ? 

[Scott Adams]

Welcome to the forum. For a gluten challenge the normal amount and time for a blood test would be at least 6 weeks and one slice of wheat bread per day, and for a biopsy it's 2 weeks at one slice per day:

If you were to get a positive blood test your doctor may want to confirm it with a biopsy, and it's my understanding that there could be a long wait due to covid to get that procedure.

[Noglu10pls]

Thank you for the welcome. 6 weeks of daily bread sounds daunting ! I appreciate the link. 

[Scott Adams]

If your rash is dermatitis herpetiformis, then 6 weeks could be very difficult--and really it may be longer because your doctor may want to do a biopsy confirmation, and they usually want you to continue eating it until that is finished. Let us know how it goes, and good luck!

[Noglu10pls]

Thank you 😞 What can they do for me if it’s positive? I have been asked by family why bother if they are only going to tell me to avoid gluten and that’s what I have been doing anyway?

[knitty kitty]

On 2/17/2021 at 9:29 PM, Noglu10pls said:

Hello I am new here. I have experienced a few signs of gluten intolerance for a couple of years now, recently my reactions are getting worse. I have symptoms such as swelling of the eyelids, facial rash and eventual skin splitting around my eyes, also my sinuses get clogged on my left side and my eye tears frequently . I have recently found that if I eat any processed foods containing gluten my joints ache. 
My main course of action is to try to avoid gluten as much as possible. My family dr has suggested that I get tested for celiac but tells me the test is $125. I am on a pretty tight budget does anyone know if any of this may be covered by my manulife benefits? With me avoiding most gluten at all costs how will the outcome of the test be ? Do I have to be eating it ? I can’t imagine what my skin is going to react if I start eating it again 😳

thanks in advance 
 

 

Noglu10pls,

Welcome to the forum!

You said your symptoms are getting worse.....do the eye swelling and sinus clogging happen right away after consuming gluten?

If the facial edema occurs immediately after gluten ingestion, I would suspect you may have an allergy to wheat.  An allergic reaction to wheat could case anaphylaxis (throat and sinuses swell so you can't breathe).  You would be wise to discuss this (and carrying an epi-pen) with your doctor before starting a gluten challenge.

There's a difference between Celiac and wheat allergy, but it is possible to have both.  

I have an allergy to dairy. When I consume dairy, my eyes water and puff up, my sinuses stuff up and my skin acts up, my knees ache... 

Just be careful!  

Best wishes

 

[Scott Adams]

7 hours ago, Noglu10pls said:

Thank you 😞 What can they do for me if it’s positive? I have been asked by family why bother if they are only going to tell me to avoid gluten and that’s what I have been doing anyway?

Your family is correct, besides follow up care for celiac disease which, according to studies often doesn’t happen, the only other reason to get diagnosed would be if you needed the piece of paper to help you stay on the diet and/or be able to justify to your loved ones being on the diet.

If you don’t need any of this, just go gluten-free, and a positive benefit will be far less expensive life insurance premiums (yes, they will make you pay!).

[Noglu10pls]

On 2/20/2021 at 7:42 AM, knitty kitty said:

Noglu10pls,

Welcome to the forum!

You said your symptoms are getting worse.....do the eye swelling and sinus clogging happen right away after consuming gluten?

If the facial edema occurs immediately after gluten ingestion, I would suspect you may have an allergy to wheat.  An allergic reaction to wheat could case anaphylaxis (throat and sinuses swell so you can't breathe).  You would be wise to discuss this (and carrying an epi-pen) with your doctor before starting a gluten challenge.

There's a difference between Celiac and wheat allergy, but it is possible to have both.  

I have an allergy to dairy. When I consume dairy, my eyes water and puff up, my sinuses stuff up and my skin acts up, my knees ache... 

Just be careful!  

Best wishes

 

Thank you for your response. It usually takes 24-48 hours after consuming and my left eye starts watering and sometimes swells  then my itchy spots appear. Then my face puffs up and depending on how much I have consumed I get sore muscles and joints. 

[Noglu10pls]

On 2/20/2021 at 2:23 PM, Scott Adams said:

Your family is correct, besides follow up care for celiac disease which, according to studies often doesn’t happen, the only other reason to get diagnosed would be if you needed the piece of paper to help you stay on the diet and/or be able to justify to your loved ones being on the diet.

If you don’t need any of this, just go gluten-free, and a positive benefit will be far less expensive life insurance premiums (yes, they will make you pay!).

I started reintroducing wheat three days ago. This morning I was a mess, facial swelling, itchy skin and my eye is running, this evening my joints are so painful and my nausea is growing. I think it’s enough to convince myself that I don’t need to continue this any longer. The test will confirm that which I already know. Thank you for your help. I am going to hope this clears my system quickly and go back to avoiding gluten 

[Scott Adams]

13 hours ago, Noglu10pls said:

Thank you for your response. It usually takes 24-48 hours after consuming and my left eye starts watering and sometimes swells  then my itchy spots appear. Then my face puffs up and depending on how much I have consumed I get sore muscles and joints. 

I hope that you're not having an allergic reaction as well. Some of the symptoms you describe, especially the watery eyes and facial swelling, sound more like an allergy. It is, of course, possible you have both a wheat allergy and intolerance to gluten. Be extra careful if you experience swollen lips, itchy throat, swelling in your throat, etc., and you may want to mention the symptoms you're having to your doctor, and have some antihistamines around just in case.