Adherence to Biopsy Guidelines Increases Celiac Disease Diagnosis

Where is the logic to adhere to this recommendation? Endoscopy after a positive blood test, and especially after relief of symptoms with dietary modifications, smacks of creating reasons to get paid. Endoscopies are time consuming and painful. Why do unnecessary harm to the patient?! If there are antibodies, that means the Lyphocytes are primed to attack. Villous atrophy will occur, whether it has or not already. I for one WILL NOT put my 6 year old thru this painful procedure only to confirm what we already know!

I just got diagnosed with celiac in March of this year, and for one I am relieved to finally have a name to what I have. The Endoscopy and biopsy that they did on my small intestine was not painful at all and I wouldn't even know that they had done anything at all!! Thanks to celiac.com I'm getting lots of information, and It's helped me out a million! Thanks.

Where is the logic to adhere to this recommendation? Endoscopy after a positive blood test, and especially after relief of symptoms with dietary modifications, smacks of creating reasons to get paid. Endoscopies are time consuming and painful. Why do unnecessary harm to the patient?! If there are antibodies, that means the Lyphocytes are primed to attack. Villous atrophy will occur, whether it has or not already. I for one WILL NOT put my 6 year old thru this painful procedure only to confirm what we already know!

This is in response to Celiac Mom. As an Certified Peri- operative Nurse and a celiac patient, I have never observed nor felt any pain or discomfort either operatively or post-op endoscopy. In my experience, the average time spent in an out-patient setting is 1 hour prior and 1/2 hour in recovery room. The actual procedure is usually less than 15 minutes. I surely would want to rule out everything else prior to committing my child to a life time of such a restrictive diet.

Where is the logic to adhere to this recommendation? Endoscopy after a positive blood test, and especially after relief of symptoms with dietary modifications, smacks of creating reasons to get paid. Endoscopies are time consuming and painful. Why do unnecessary harm to the patient?! If there are antibodies, that means the Lyphocytes are primed to attack. Villous atrophy will occur, whether it has or not already. I for one WILL NOT put my 6 year old thru this painful procedure only to confirm what we already know!

Right on Celiac Mom! I was very fortunate when I was diagnosed. The blood screen came back positive. The doctor said we could do a biopsy, but, seeing as I already had a lot of inflammation, she personally didn't see the point in adding to it with a biopsy. "If you strictly follow the diet for four months, you'll know whether you improve or not." And she was right. This article just shows what a crock it is that endoscopies are considered the "gold standard" of diagnosis. The diagnostic protocol is spelled out by gastroenterologists. And they certainly aren't going to declare that one of their most profitable procedures isn't necessary. It's worth noting that the doctor I saw wasn't a gastroenterologist and her income didn't depend upon endoscopies.

This is in response to Celiac Mom. As an Certified Peri- operative Nurse and a celiac patient, I have never observed nor felt any pain or discomfort either operatively or post-op endoscopy. In my experience, the average time spent in an out-patient setting is 1 hour prior and 1/2 hour in recovery room. The actual procedure is usually less than 15 minutes. I surely would want to rule out everything else prior to committing my child to a life time of such a restrictive diet.

I just spent two months recovering from a severe hemorrhage and almost went into shock caused by a duodenal biopsy during a simple endoscopy! It was done with the intention to diagnose celiac disease. A simple, everyday test STILL can cause ill effects.

I tested positive on my blood test over a month ago. I saw the GI today and found out that I have to get an endoscopy and colonoscopy. The thing that worries me is that I was told to add gluten to my diet 2 weeks before endoscopy and biopsy. I had been doing really well on gluten-free diet but how am I going to handle the effects of eating gluten? I don't want to be calling in to work. I know I have to take day off for tests.

Where is the logic to adhere to this recommendation? Endoscopy after a positive blood test, and especially after relief of symptoms with dietary modifications, smacks of creating reasons to get paid. Endoscopies are time consuming and painful. Why do unnecessary harm to the patient?! If there are antibodies, that means the Lyphocytes are primed to attack. Villous atrophy will occur, whether it has or not already. I for one WILL NOT put my 6 year old thru this painful procedure only to confirm what we already know!

Biopsy to confirm a blood test are not 100%. If the child is correctly diagnozed then it is necessary to determine if family members are affected by this disease.