Gluten Free For A Week Before Testing, Will The Antibodies Still Be There?

[Mcfmommy]

Hi. I'm new here. I have a huge host of symptoms that doctors kept treating individually until I asked for a celiac test, which I'm getting in one week. However, I want to go gluten free NOW! I started yesterday and believe it or not already feel slightly better (no headache for first time I weeks). Will the test still be able to pick up antibodies after a week of being gluten free? I imagine antibodies stick around longer that a week, but don't want to get a false negative and then the docs try to put me back on steroids and anti depressants and anticonvulsants. If you know anything please help. Also, if it is positive will I absolutely have to get an endoscopy????

[kareng]

Why can't you get it today? It's just blood work.

[Mcfmommy]

Why can't you get it today? It's just blood work.

This lab work was scheduled 6 weeks ago when she first discovered severe vitamin d deficiency and hypothyroidism. So it was just supposed to be a follow up to that but I asked for the celiac as well since they would already be drawing blood.

[Intrepid1]

Hi,

 

I was just hoping whomever answers Mcfmommy's question could expand a little, because I'm in a slightly but not substantially different boat, but thought I'd keep my question contained in the same post.

 

I've been trying gluten free for a while because I thought I might be intolerant, but after several months where certain health symptoms cleared up that I never thought would be a problem and after several accidental glutenings, I'm thinking I should get tested for celiac.  Just to know for sure.  How much gluten is needed in your system to generate antibodies?  Especially if I've have been mostly off of it except for accidental glutening (or possibly 3 within the last 3 weeks)?  Is it something where you can eat your last krispy kreme for the rest of your life the night before the blood test or do you have to be on pasta for a week?  I really hate how my body reacts with accidental glutenings, so the idea of going back on gluten for a length of time really doesn't sound appealing.  (Although, if its for medical purposes, I suppose I could manage one last krispy kreme.)

 

Thanks in advance.

[GottaSki]

Most of the major celiac centers recommend at least one slice of gluten containing bread for 6-12 weeks.