Maybe A Mistake?

[goldibabi]

Hi!

 

I've had digestive troubles all my life - diarrhea  three to four times a week, stomach bloating, and within the last six months, daily diarrhea and extreme pain before bowel movements.  Two weeks ago, I finally decided enough was enough, and I stopped eating gluten to see if that was the problem.

 

Great news - I feel a lot better, and I'm only having diarrhea every other day or so.

 

Bad news - I just found this forum today, and now I realize that I probably should have stayed on gluten until I could be tested.  I called my PCP today, and they can see me in three days for testing.

 

Would it help to go back on gluten right away for the three days, or should I just see what happens at the blood test, and if it doesn't work, do a gluten challenge?

 

Thanks everyone!

[nvsmom]

Yes, I would definitely go back onto gluten if you are able. Some people stop making autoantibodies almost immediately, and if you are one of those, being gluten-free for two weeks could cause a false negative. resume eating gluten so you are making autoantibodies that can be detected by the blood tests.

 

Better yet, delay your test for a week or two so your test is as accurate as possible... if you can stand the wait. 

[Lisa]

Yes Goldi, three days off gluten will not likely mess up your results.  But insist that the below tests, be run in it's totality.  Print it off and require the full panel.  Insist if not demand. Many doctors are not Celiac Aware and don't order the full panel, and then the tests are not diagnostic in the end.  So request it ALL -the full Panel.

 

The following are the celiac specific blood tests:

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgA
Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgG
Anti-Endomysial (EMA) IgA
Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) IgA
Deamidated Gliadin Peptide (DGP) IgA and IgG
Total Serum IgA

 

Good luck

[goldibabi]

Thank you so much for your replies!