Well Whaddya Know, My Biopsy Was Positive After A 6 Week Challenge

[BelleVie]

Hi! I just wanted to let anyone know who is interested in the timing of gluten challenges that after being gluten free for 9 months, I did a 6 week gluten challenge and got the results of my biopsy this morning which showed slight villous atrophy and increased lymphocytes. My TtG test, however, was negative, which I expected. During the challenge, I ate a pretty obscene amount of gluten, usually having bread at every meal. And lots of donuts. Oh the donuts! 

 

I actually feel really good and very thankful that I finally know for sure that this is the reason for feeling so "off" for most of my life, and for all of the weird illnesses I've been through. Now I'm hoping that my family will take my requests for them to get tested seriously! 

 

Thank you to everyone for all of the help and advice you have offered in the short time that I've been a member of this forum. I hope to be able to pay it forward! 

[powerofpositivethinking]

so glad that you got an answer!!  happy healing time

[greenbeanie]

That's great that you got a clear diagnosis! Now you know for sure.

May I ask if your biopsy report said which part of the intestines had the villous atrophy? I was shocked that my biopsy came back negative after a six-week challenge, but they didn't do lymphocyte counts and did not take any samples from my duodenal bulb. Just wondering if the duodenal bulb is usually the first place to show damage.

I hope you're feeling better and that things just keep improving from here!

[1desperateladysaved]

I am glad you got your diagnosis.  Happy going back to gluten free!

 

D

[nvsmom]

It's good to know.

[GottaSki]

Good to know you had a positive biopsy result after challenge...and happy for you that you can be sure of the transitioning to a completely gluten-free life.  Thanks for sharing

[BelleVie]

Thank you, everyone. I'm really looking forward to getting healthy for good!

 

Greenbeanie, my pathology report just says "Duodenum, site unstated, blunting of villi, increased intraepithelial lymphocytes in tip of villi/suggestive of celiac disease." I was under the impression that that duodenal bulb was the most likely place to find damage. Is it possible for you to get a second opinion? I think that the only reason my doctor knew to be on the lookout for the increased lymphocyte count in the villi tips was because I gave him a copy of the study that came out this year on that topic. If they still have your slides, maybe someone could go back in and have another look?

 

Oh one more thing that I forgot to mention is that he also did some kind of staining during the endoscopy, where he sprayed a blue dye which made it easier to see the patterning in my small intestine, and you could see in the photos areas that were patchy and didn't show up as clearly as others. I'd never heard of that before on any other site, so I just thought it was interesting to share. 

[AlwaysLearning]

Very cool about the dye for seeing the patches. Anyone know if this is common in the testing process?

[BelleVie]

I had never heard of it before, which is why I was so surprised when my doctor showed me the images. And I was just so impressed with my doctor! He spent an HOUR with me explaining everything he looked at and all of his results. He even got out a sketchpad and drew a few diagrams for me! 

[0range]

I had never heard of it before, which is why I was so surprised when my doctor showed me the images. And I was just so impressed with my doctor! He spent an HOUR with me explaining everything he looked at and all of his results. He even got out a sketchpad and drew a few diagrams for me! 

 

I love doctors like this (bless their souls!). Wish they were a dime a dozen?!?  

[BelleVie]

Agreed!