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

What does it mean by 'routine phone call from GP' to discuss blood test result in UK?


salsasaki

Recommended Posts

salsasaki Newbie

Hi, I have extremely itchy rashes all over my body which my GP suspected as Dermatitis Herpetiformis and ordered a blood test to confirm it last week. I phoned the surgery this afternoon and the receptionist just said that the results have come back, and I will get a routine phone call from the GP to discuss the result, which the earliest slot is 2 weeks from now. I tried to ask about the result, but the receptionist said that she was unable to tell me, I had to wait for the phone call from the GP to know that.

I'm feeling anxious right now and don't think I can wait 2 weeks to know the result and what should I do next. The burning itch is driving me crazy, and I really want to start eating gluten-free if that will make me feel better. Does anybody have any advice on what should I do now? And about the 'routine phone call' to discuss the result, does that mean that my blood test result is probably not serious/not urgent? I live in Wales, UK.

Any help is very much appreciated, many thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



trents Grand Master

Even after the physician discusses the results with you there is a very good chance he will want to set you up with a GI doc for an endoscopy with biopsy of the small bowel lining to confirm the results of the blood work which is the normal process unless the blood antibody tests are 10x normal levels. So, don't start eating gluten free until all testing is complete, including the endoscopy/biopsy if that will be ordered. Starting a gluten-free diet now would sabotage the results of the biopsy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Rogol72 Collaborator

If it's suspected Dermatitis Herpetiformis and the itch is that bad, you should be referred to a Dermatologist for a skin biopsy ASAP to either confirm or rule out DH. I have DH and the itch can be terrible. A blood test won't confirm DH, only a skin biopsy will. A positive diagnosis for DH is a positive diagnosis for Coeliac Disease according to the dietitian with the Coeliac Society of Ireland. Dapsone helps to relieve the itching of DH until a gluten free diet takes effect., though it has some side effects and requires monitoring.

Is it possible to see a dermatologist privately without an NHS or GP referral?

https://www.bad.org.uk/pils/dermatitis-herpetiformis-gluten-sensitivity/

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Scott Adams Grand Master

Another member here who has DH reported that the very best thing to stop the itching was grinding up a 25mg pill of Benadryl (or perhaps get capsules and just open one) into a little water, then rubbing the solution over the rash or itchy areas. Just be careful about using too much too often, as you can absorb the drug through the skin.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
salsasaki Newbie

Hi all, thank you for your replies!

I just went to the surgery this morning to ask for a bit more details about the blood test results, and they said that the TTG-IgA came back normal. They required me to book a phone call with the GP not because of the coeliac test result, but because of the full blood count.

Does this mean that I don't have coeliac and my rashes are not DH? Or should I ask the doctor about doing the skin biopsy?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
salsasaki Newbie
13 hours ago, Rogol72 said:

Is it possible to see a dermatologist privately without an NHS or GP referral?

Unfortunately seeing a dermatologist privately seems a bit out of my budget. Do you think I should ask my GP to be referred to the dermatologist?

12 hours ago, Scott Adams said:

Another member here who has DH reported that the very best thing to stop the itching was grinding up a 25mg pill of Benadryl (or perhaps get capsules and just open one) into a little water, then rubbing the solution over the rash or itchy areas. Just be careful about using too much too often, as you can absorb the drug through the skin.

I might try Benadryl as a temporary solution for the itchy before getting the chance to speak to my GP. Thanks very much!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
shadycharacter Enthusiast
55 minutes ago, salsasaki said:

Hi all, thank you for your replies!

I just went to the surgery this morning to ask for a bit more details about the blood test results, and they said that the TTG-IgA came back normal. They required me to book a phone call with the GP not because of the coeliac test result, but because of the full blood count.

Does this mean that I don't have coeliac and my rashes are not DH? Or should I ask the doctor about doing the skin biopsy?

I think a skin biopsy for DH looks for a slightly different ttg-iga antibody. There are at least three types. Type 2 is associated with gastro symptoms, type 3 with DH, and type 6 with the brain and nerves. I think you can have DH despite being negative on the ttg-iga blood test.

If it's DH it might help to eat less iodine.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Rogol72 Collaborator
1 hour ago, salsasaki said:

Does this mean that I don't have coeliac and my rashes are not DH? Or should I ask the doctor about doing the skin biopsy?

If he suspects DH, then I don't see why you haven't been referred to a Dermatologist for a skin biopsy to confirm or rule out DH. It could be some other skin condition similar to DH. As shadycharacter said, you can have a negative blood test for Coeliac Disease and a positive skin biopsy for DH as they're two different antibodies.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
salsasaki Newbie

I see... I will ask the GP about a skin biopsy and the possibility of having DH with a negative blood test then. Thank you very much!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      125,727
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    StephanieA
    Newest Member
    StephanieA
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.8k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Wheatwacked
      Try whole milk yogurt.  I eat Stoneyfield vanilla.  Add fruit if you like.  Cultured Pasteurized Organic Whole Milk, Pectin, Vitamin D3. Live Active Cultures S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium BB-12®, L. acidophilus, L. paracasei and L. rhamnosus. Looking at the NO Fat Greek Yogurt, consider that to give the mouth feel of real yogurt ahd Manufacterers of no fat yogurt add various processed ingrediant that many Celiacs have digestive issues with such as gums.  Consider it processed food.  Fat is an important factor in our appestat to tell us we've eaten enough.  Remove fat and we eat more.  Compared to whole milk yogurt Chobani no fat greek yogurt has a cardboard mouth feel. Chobani no fat greek: Cultured Nonfat Milk, Cane Sugar, Black Cherries, Water, Fruit Pectin, Guar Gum, Natural Flavors, Cherry Juice Concentrate, Locust Bean Gum, Lemon Juice Concentrate. 6 Live and Active Cultures: S. Thermophilus, L. Bulgaricus, L. Acidophilus, Bifidus, L. Casei, and L. Rhamnosus Funny that since recommending low fat diets in the 1970's the US population has gone from 15% to 50% obese.
    • sh00148
      Just had my daughter diagnosed and am currently awaiting blood test results for my son. As well as many bowel issues, mostly loose stools with mucus and lots of gassy moments sometimes leading to leaning stool, he has recently soiled himself in his sleep twice. He has been toilet trained for a long time, but is not waking up with the poo. It’s not just a little, it’s a lot.    We have had to make an appointment re his blood test results next week so will find out if it is coeliac too but I’m just wondering whether anyone else has had this? Ive read online that it could mean he’s constipated, but he poos all the time and it’s often soft, never hard. 
    • captaincrab55
      I know this isn't an IBS Forum, but it looks like they may have cracked the code on treating it.  They think the new discovery may make it possible to treat other autoimmune diseases.  Even if they develop a treatment I think I would continue eating strict gluten-free, but it may allow me to eat out gluten-free without the fear of being glutened.  That would be especially helpful when traveling.   I hope you find this article as promising as I did.   https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/scientists-have-discovered-a-cause-of-inflammatory-bowel-disease-they-said-it-s-a-holy-grail-discovery-
    • jmiller93
      Thank you! I might give it a try.
    • trents
      You still may have NCGS. NCGS shares many of the same symptoms of celiac disease but does not damage the lining of the small bowel as does celiac disease. There is no test for it. A diagnosis for NCGS depends on first ruling out celiac disease. It is 10x more common than celiac disease. Some experts feel it can be a precursor to the development of celiac disease. Eliminating gluten from your life is the antidote for both. You would do well to consider trialing the gluten free diet to see if your symptoms improve.
×
×
  • Create New...