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Diagnosis help

Kaatzal
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Go to solution Solved by trents,

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Kaatzal Newbie
Kaatzal
Posted


I am getting very confused with the process of getting a diagnosis of potentially coeliac disease.

I have been having all of the symptoms associated with coeliac disease so I cut out gluten and saw an improvement. I have visited a gastroenterologist and he tested me for genes that might lead to coeliac disease. I have tested positive for one of these genes (he hasn’t specified which). 

I had a blood test and to check for coeliac disease and it tested negative but I had stopped eating gluten for a few weeks before this test. So this test was ruled unreliable.

However, a few years ago I was tested for coeliac disease whilst I was eating gluten (had no symptoms at this time) and the test was negative. Due to the result of this test, the gastroenterologist is saying that I definitely do not have coeliac disease as he believes it would have tested positive even though I wasn’t having symptoms. 

I have been reading papers and information on the Coeliac U.K. website and it says that Coeliac disease can be developed at any time. This seems to be contradicting information.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

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plumbago Experienced
plumbago
Posted

The only way to reliably know if you have active disease is to go back to eating gluten, wait, and then repeat the comprehensive celiac panel.

From NHS Inform:

Before a blood test is taken, it's important that you eat gluten-containing foods in more than one meal every day for at least 6 weeks before the test. Remember to eat a normal gluten diet for 6 weeks before any tests.

Wheatwacked Veteran
Wheatwacked
Posted
18 minutes ago, Kaatzal said:

the gastroenterologist is saying that I definitely do not have coeliac disease as he believes it would have tested positive even though I wasn’t having symptoms. 

He is wrong.  It is not uncommon for it to take 10 or more years to be diagnosed with misdiagnoses of other diseases along the way.

"To make matters more challenging, celiac symptoms can also mimic symptoms of other diseases, such as anemia, Crohns disease, gastric ulcers, irritable bowel, parasitic infection, even various skin disorders or nervous conditions."

 

  • Solution
trents Grand Master
trents
Posted
  • Solution

The onset of celiac disease can happen at any stage of life. Before onset you will possess the genetic potential but all other tests will be negative.

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    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for a significant amount of time. It's called the "gluten challenge".  Yes, you can develop celiac disease at any stage of life. There is a genetic component but also a stress trigger that is needed to activate the celiac genes. About 30-40% of the general population possesses the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% of the general population actually develop celiac disease. For most with the potential, the triggering stress event doesn't happen. It can be many things but often it is a viral infection. Having said that, it is also the case that many, many people who eventually are diagnosed with celiac disease probably experienced the actual onset years before. Many celiacs are of the "silent" type, meaning that symptoms are largely missing or very minor and get overlooked until damage to the small bowel lining becomes advanced or they develop iron deficiency anemia or some other medical problem associated with celiac disease. Many, many are never diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life because they did not experience classic symptoms. And many physicians are only looking for classic symptoms. We now know that there are over 200 symptoms/medical problems associated with celiac disease but many docs are only looking for things like boating, gas, diarrhea. I certainly understand your concerns about not wanting to damage your body by taking on a gluten challenge. Your other option is to totally commit to gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. It can take two years or more for complete healing of the small bowel lining once going gluten free but usually people experience significant improvement well before then. If their is significant improvement in your symptoms when going seriously gluten free, then you likely have your answer. You would either have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity).
    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I attributed it to other things like bread spiking blood sugar- or to the things I ate *with* the bread or crackers etc   I went to a party in Nov and ate a LOT of a vegan roast made with vital wheat gluten- as well as stuffing, rolls and pie crust... and OMG I was so sick! the pain, the bloating, the gas, the nausea... I didn't think it would ever end (but it did) and I was ready to go the ER but it finally subsided.   I mentioned this to my endo and now she wants me to be tested for celiac after 2 weeks of being on gluten foods. She has kind of flip flopped on how much gluten I should eat, telling me that if the symptoms are severe I can stop. I am eating 2-3 thin slices of bread per day (or english muffins) and wow- it does make me feel awful. But not as bad as when I ate that massive amnt of vital wheat gluten. so I will continue on if I have to... but what bothers me is - if it IS celiac, it seems stupid for lack of a better word, to intentionally cause more damage to my body... but I am also worried, on the other hand, that this is not a long enough challenge to make the blood work results valid.   can you give me any insight into this please?   thank you
    • trents
      Accuracy of testing concerns

      By trents · Posted

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