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Negative Blood Test But Fbc Abnormal- Now What?


SasaMinks

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SasaMinks Rookie

I'm so confused and would love some friendly advice/support...

 

So I got my blood tests back yesterday and they were negative for celiac however my FBC was abnormal. They haven't told me what this means yet, they want to see me tomorrow but i'm guessing it's going to be that i'm anemic again despite taking supplements and eating an iron rich diet.  

 

The thing is I stopped eating gluten a week ago after the blood was taken and I genuinely feel like a different person already - I'm still bloated but my headaches have gone and for the first time in two years I don't feel like I need a nap at 11am - i actually have some energy and I feel sharp - like the fog has lifted - even my colleagues have noticed the difference! I don't know whether to bother pushing for a biopsy or whther I should just stay gluten-free - would being gluten-free affect the biopsy if you were gluten-free only for a few weeks? could I just be gluten intolerant? I don't really know what to do :(  my mum keeps saying 'it's just stress/IBS' which makes me feel like i'm making a fuss out of nothing - it's so frustrating!

 

 


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If you want to be sure about whether it is celiac disease or Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance (NCGI) you could push for the biopsy but chances are, after negative blood work, it will be negative too. There is a false negative rate on the blood tests somewhere below 25%, so it is possible that you are one of the minority.... but unlikely.

 

My guess (I'm not mediaclly trainedd) is that you have NCGI. The symptoms of NCGI are the same as celiac disease, even nutritional deficiencies pop up. Everone presents so differently - I was diagnosed celiac (with symptoms for a good 35 years) yet  have no deficiencies or anemias. There are many around here who are NCGI with symptoms more severe than my own and others with celiac who have recovered mych faster. It is very individual.

 

Either way, the treatment is 100% gluten-free diet. Those with NCGI must be just as strict as celiacs if they want to maintain good health.

 

Best wishes with whatever you decide to do.

SasaMinks Rookie

 met with the doctor today and he said the blood tests showed that my liver function is showing abnormal enzyme levels - I;ve just read this can be a sign of celiac too is that right?? he said we will look a scan to look for fatty tissue but was unclear whether he thought that was celiac related or just a precaution? he did say stick to a gluten-free diet though... 

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    • Scott Adams
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