Should I Be Tested?

[bayba792]

I have been on here since my eight year old son was hospitalized and we believe that he has celiac disease. My husband was diagnosed in June so we are assuming my son has it also since he has improved with gluten-free diet. Well the specialist ran a Prometheus Celiac plus on my son since he was gluten free and we refuse to put him back on gluten and she said today that the results came back that he has DQ2 and DQ8 genes putting him a high risk for celiac. My question is when my husband was diagnosed he tested positive for DQ8 only So Does That Mean I Have DQ2???? I have no symptoms but have noticed improvements since going gluten-free also such as BM regularity, Pilaris Keratosis and Dandruff have cleared up, and no more migraines or sinus infections. Should I be tested??

[nvsmom]

That would make sense that you have the DQ2 gene too unless it is only detectable/expressed as a recessive gene pair (needing one recessive gene (not expressed) from both parents... My past lie as a science teacher is emerging.  LOL

 

If migraines, infections and rashes cleared up after going gluten-free, I would say that you have a gluten intolerance but without eating gluten for 6+ weeks and then being tested, there is no way to know if it is caused by celiac disease or non-celiac gluten intolerance (NCGI). Getting tested for the DQ2 and DQ8 genes would only tell you that there is a chance that you at at increased risk of developing celiac disease someday (or already have), but you already know that because of your positive reaction to the gluten-free diet.

 

If you are fine staying 100% gluten-free without knowing if it is celiac disease or NCGI, then I wouldn't bother putting yourself through a two month gluten challenge to find the answer. If knowing will help you in your own health care, then I say go for it.  

 

Best wishes with whatever you decide.

[bayba792]

That would make sense that you have the DQ2 gene too unless it is only detectable/expressed as a recessive gene pair (needing one recessive gene (not expressed) from both parents... My past lie as a science teacher is emerging.  LOL

 

If migraines, infections and rashes cleared up after going gluten-free, I would say that you have a gluten intolerance but without eating gluten for 6+ weeks and then being tested, there is no way to know if it is caused by celiac disease or non-celiac gluten intolerance (NCGI). Getting tested for the DQ2 and DQ8 genes would only tell you that there is a chance that you at at increased risk of developing celiac disease someday (or already have), but you already know that because of your positive reaction to the gluten-free diet.

 

If you are fine staying 100% gluten-free without knowing if it is celiac disease or NCGI, then I wouldn't bother putting yourself through a two month gluten challenge to find the answer. If knowing will help you in your own health care, then I say go for it.  

 

Best wishes with whatever you decide.

Thank you, my husband and son are very sensitive so I will not be able to bring gluten into the house at all. I have be exclusively gluten free but in the back of my mind had the idea that I could go with a friend or family while kids are in school or husband is at work to have some yummy sushi! Haha, but every time I think about my migraines coming back I have second thoughts. I am getting use to gluten free living and it is not that hard when you are doing it with your loved ones.