Is It Celiac Or Allergy

[timbalou]

Hello,

I have been getting allergy symptoms after eating gluten lately. Nasel stuffyness, sinus pressure, achy teeth, etc. When I take clariten in the morning, I do not get these symptoms.

I got tested to Celiac last year and I was told I was negative.

Can this just be an allergy to wheat or the onset of gluten Intolerance?

[Lisa]

  On 10/12/2011 at 1:25 AM, timbalou@comcast.net said:

Hello,

I have been getting allergy symptoms after eating gluten lately. Nasel stuffyness, sinus pressure, achy teeth, etc. When I take clariten in the morning, I do not get these symptoms.

I got tested to Celiac last year and I was told I was negative.

Can this just be an allergy to wheat or the onset of gluten Intolerance?

Welcome! And yes, it can just be a wheat allergy. What type of test did you have for Celiac?

[timbalou]

  On 10/12/2011 at 2:28 AM, Lisa said:

Welcome! And yes, it can just be a wheat allergy. What type of test did you have for Celiac?

Thanks for responding.

I had the blood tests.

IGA serum was a little low 66 scale (88-453)

TTg AB IgA<20 - range is less than 20

[nora-n]

This was the total IgA test, and the ttg IgA test, so the ttg test is not valid, and they should have automatically ran the ttg IgG test.

Good on them for testing for the total IgA in the first place.

[timbalou]

  On 10/12/2011 at 3:52 PM, nora_n said:

This was the total IgA test, and the ttg IgA test, so the ttg test is not valid, and they should have automatically ran the ttg IgG test.

Good on them for testing for the total IgA in the first place.

Thanks Nora,

So the response I got was that my Celiac test game back negative. Does this seem right?

[salexander421]

  On 10/12/2011 at 8:13 PM, timbalou@comcast.net said:

Thanks Nora,

So the response I got was that my Celiac test game back negative. Does this seem right?

Your total IgA was low which makes the ttG IgA test invalid, you need to have them run a ttG IgG test. You can not determine from these results whether or not you have celiac disease. From what I understand it is very common for people with celiac to be IgA deficient. Hope this helps!

[Pac]

  On 10/12/2011 at 1:25 AM, timbalou@comcast.net said:

Hello,

I have been getting allergy symptoms after eating gluten lately. Nasel stuffyness, sinus pressure, achy teeth, etc. When I take clariten in the morning, I do not get these symptoms.

I got tested to Celiac last year and I was told I was negative.

Can this just be an allergy to wheat or the onset of gluten Intolerance?

If you have allergy symptoms after eating wheat and claritin helps, then it's probably allergy. On the other hand that doesn't mean you cannot have celiac or gluten intolerance. Did you get tested for wheat or gluten allergy?

[nora-n]

Any IgA type test will be false since you make too little of IgA.

The antibody tests from Enterolab will also be negative since they all are IgA based, so that won

[timbalou]

Thanks for all the feedback.

I have talked with my Dr. and he is adamant that I do not need anymore testing (must be insurance based)and that I do not have celiac disease due to the blood results. He told me to refrain from eating gluten if that will mak me feel better. I have tried with mixed results.

Now I am being told I have borderline B12 levels, where last year my levels were good.

[RandallPotter]

Time for another doctor.

You can contact the Celiac foundation to see what doctors they recommend.

That's what I did and I found a new one, first appointment is next week.

The doctor has to do whatever you ask. Most patients don't know that.

If you want more tests, and they won't endanger you, they have to give them to you. If they refuse then move on.

I want to encourage and empower you. A doctor does not control your medical life, no matter that they are a "doctor" - that doesn't mean they are right. My doctor diagnosed me with IBS without testing for Celiac, then told me to go Gluten free before my blood test... big no-no's.

Here's the website for the Celiac foundation:

Open Original Shared Link

I just called and asked, they also have a section where you can search for a doctor.

Prayed for you!

[Curlyqueen]

  On 12/29/2011 at 8:41 PM, timbalou@comcast.net said:

Thanks for all the feedback.

I have talked with my Dr. and he is adamant that I do not need anymore testing (must be insurance based)and that I do not have celiac disease due to the blood results. He told me to refrain from eating gluten if that will mak me feel better. I have tried with mixed results.

Now I am being told I have borderline B12 levels, where last year my levels were good.

May I suggest that you go to GI ( if your insurance allows you to go without referral). If you need a referral your doctor shouldn't really be opposed to it. I think GI have a better understanding of this. If that GI isn't familar with gluten and celiac he/she might know a specialist who would. It sounds like the doctor you are going to doesn't have the same level of concern that you have and I don't think that means you should leave him but just be more proactive about your health and research. It took me a while to realize that my issue was digestive related and I needed to see a GI because both of my internist couldn't figure it out. One internist was pretty sure it wasn't celiac and I felt like I couldn't talk to her about my concerns without feeling silly. So going to a GI is the best thing I could have done.

Even my GI has determined so far it doesn't look like celiac but maybe a gluten sensitivity. Shes understands why I would suspect celiac and is concerned that maybe these symptoms are the result of something else. She is determine to figure it out and appreciate that because it could be something else thats more serious. Its nice to have a doctor who shares your concern.

If you don't want to go to a GI even going to see an Allergist would probably be more helpful. If you think that its more of allergy related issue than a digestive thing an allergist would be help to help you determine that. For example you could have a wheat allergy. For example My boyfriend is allergic to soy and didn't realize until he had some soy milk and felt his throat tighten. Once we eliminated all the hidden soy his daily sneezing, stuffyiness went away. So food allergies can present themselves in many different ways.

Sorry for writing so much but I also wanted to touch on your point about your b12. I have also had some issues with my b12. It was low and then I got it back up and it seemed to sustain itself for a while and then it got really low again. Having a low b12 sucks because of the neurological symptoms that accompany it so make sure you get a b12shot when needed and get the b12 sublinguals from whole foods (Jarrow brand is gluten free). My vitamin D is low so I'm on a supplement for that too. So I know how it can be baffling and annoying trying to make sense of all of your symptoms in addition to having a doctor that seems to not be too concerned. Hang in there you will figure it out.