16 replies to this topic

[lyndszai]

I know how to find out if you have celiac but I was just wondering sence they're similar how do you do which is which ? Do they do some alergy test for gluten intolerent .I asked my gi doctor if they could find out but sticking the little needles in you and hes like no .So I was just wondering how they find out .thanks lynds

[Alexolua]

Okay.. this could be wrong, still learning.. so if someone says I am, then I'll bow to them, lol.

But Celiac Disease, by definition I think is when the vili in your small intestines get damaged by gluten. Gluten intolerance is when your body can't tolerant gluten. If you keep eating gluten containning foods while you are intolerant, than you can develope Celiac Disease.

I think that's right. But a lot of people say Celiac Disease for gluten intolerance, since it's basically the same thing sorta. I do so too.

So to more answer your question though, sorry.. I like to think aloud! The way to tell the difference, I think, would be by a biopsy. If it shows damaged, than it's Celiac Disease, if none, than you have a gluten intolerance. Somewhat different, but they have the same treatment, which is a gluten free diet.

Umm.. how to know if you are gluten intolerant? Well, if you stop eating gluten and you get healthy, that's one. Your blood can be tested for gluten anti-bodies, and enterolab can test your stool for anti-bodies, which is more accurate than the blood testing.

Hope this too long post helps! =D

[tarnalberry]

pretty much, if you produce antibodies (IgA and IgG) to gluten, you're gluten intolerant. *technically* you're not celiac unless you've got intestinal damage diagnosed by a biopsy. in the end, we don't treat (think on them) them much differently, since they're treated (dealt with) much the same. ;-)

I should add... just because a blood test doesn't show antibodies, though, doesn't mean you aren't producing them. They simply may not be making it into the bloodstream in high enough quantities for the lab to label you "positive". :-/

[GEF]

My understanding is that if you had an allergy to wheat, the doctor could prick you for it. The antibody that he/she would be looking for is IGE... which is a different reaction than intolerance (IGG & IGA). They've still got to prick you for that too... but for some reason they want a whole lot more blood.

I believe some doctors are pushing for a more-broad definition of celiac (gluten intolerance that has led to microscopically visual damage to the small intestine)... to include gluten intolerance. It would certainly end a lot of confusion, push treatment an probably get more mainstream products gluten-free!!! Now..... that would be great!

Gretchen

[dmbaird1230]

what about the skin prick allergy test, where they prick you with small needles and inject the antibody to see if your skin reacts to it? I had this done and they told me I was allergic to wheat. Does that mean I'm gluten intolerant?

[GEF]

what about the skin prick allergy test, where they prick you with small needles and inject the antibody to see if your skin reacts to it........... Does that mean I'm gluten intolerant?

Not necessarily, but don't rule it out. The tests that your doctor would run to rule in/out celiac are for specific antibodies (example: IGG, IGA), which are different from those (IGE) in an allergy. This would require blood to be drawn in much the same way that you would have done for routine blood tests. Really what it all comes down to is how your body is reacting to the foreign substance (gluten in this case)... exactly what part of your immune system has been fighting it.

Allergy and/or intolerance still means to go without it. (in one way or another)

Does that help?

Gretchen

[tarnalberry]

actually, there is one important difference, functionally, in being gluten intolerant or allergic to wheat. if you are allergic to wheat, you do NOT necessarily have to avoid rye, barley, and oats. (it depends on the extent of the allergy... most people allergic to wheat can at least still have oats.) from my understanding, the IgE response (allergy) is to a different protein than the IgA/IgG response (gluten-intolerance), which is what allows for those allergic to wheat to be able to consume things that those who are gluten-intolerant can not.

[dmbaird1230]

The tests that your doctor would run to rule in/out celiac are for specific antibodies (example: IGG, IGA), which are different from those (IGE) in an allergy.[QUOTE]

I came out positive for the wheat allergy (skin prick test) and I also was positive for the IGG antibody.

[tarnalberry]

nukapai, you DO need to be eating gluten before your test. hopefully the days you have been gluten-free won't affect the test, but two weeks of being gluten-free did affect mine.

[Alexolua]

Nukapai, the only thing I can think of saying that might offer some help, if you can't bear to stay on gluten.. and it messes up your test results, is try to get tested through enterolab.com.

They check stool for anti-bodies, and check for genetic markers too. And you can be off gluten for awhile, and not mess up the anti-body test. The only problem is insurance most likely won't cover it, and not many doctors would accept their testing.

But some of us here have gone that route, when our doctors didn't seem to be much help, or our tests didn't come out well.

[Alexolua]

Hmm.. not sure then if you could use them then if yer in the UK offhand. You could try emailing them to ask, in my experience they are quick in responding.

Though hopefully your tests come out positive, would make things easier.. umm.. yeah, I'm still not use to wishing positive test results on someone yet, lol.. sorry. =)

[ryeanddiet]

Hi Nukapai,
I assume today you're having your tests so this may be late but may offer some consolation if you are concerned about the results.

I was gluten-free for 3 months before my blood tests and still showed positive anti-bodies.

good luck!