Possibly Celiac Disease But Not Sure - Canada

[milkmommy]

My doctor called and said my blood test was positive for celiac but it doesnt mean that i have it and should not change my diet but will need a endoscopy with biopsy in 3 weeks. Does this make sense?

Can you have a positive test without having it?

My test was antitransglutaminase and was a level of 47? what does that mean?

I also have low ferritan, low iron saturation, and low hematocrit, (low normal hgb)

I have been told for 15 years, (since i was 16) that it was ibs but now they arent sure.

Im not sure of celiac fits though because I am overweight and have constipation with severe abdominal pain.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thank you

[psawyer]

While being underweight and having diarrhea are classic symptoms of celiac disease, constipations and weight gain are also symptoms. You did not provide reference ranges for your test, but 47 is a high level in any case.

If you are going to have the endoscopy, do not change your diet until after the procedure.

A high reading on a test for antibodies to gluten is very suggestive of celiac disease. Some doctors will diagnose celiac disease based on that alone. Others still stick to the "gold standard" of biopsy-confirmed damage to the villi. False negatives on the biopsy happen from time to time. They can result from the disease being in an early stage and not yet doing enough damage to the villi, or because the damage is spotty and the biopsy did not hit the right spot. Ask the doctor to take at least six (6) samples from different locations.

IBS is not a diagnosis. It is a cop out when the doctor has no clue what is CAUSING the problem.

[milkmommy]

Thanks for responding. I am very confused at all this.

I am not sure of the range for the lab where the test was performed but from what I can find online it is 0-20.

I am continuing to consume gluten and actually have increased my intake quite a bit. Before the test results came back the doctor told me increasing my fiber would help my abdominal symptoms. I have been eating high fiber for 4 weeks and am in more pain/bloatin than ever.

Have there ever been false positive blood tests? what else could cause elevated levels? I also forgot to mention that my IGA was normal. Is that important.

Is it common for people with celiac to be sensitive to MSG and aspertame as these make me very ill?

My pain is almost always in my left upper abdomen and is present everyday.

Sorry for all the questions. I am a nurse so very inquisitive with these things especially when they are about me.

[psawyer]

False negative results are fairly common, especially in children. I am not sufficiently familiar with the tests to comment on what might cause a false positive, but I do know that they are rare.

Sensitivity to MSG occurs in people with celiac disease at about the same rate as in the general population. Despite urban myths to the contrary, MSG is gluten-free.

I don't have any useful info on aspartame, other than that I have used without any troubles ever since it was invented.