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Opinions Please On Stopping Gluten And Biopsy

michiganlynn

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michiganlynn Newbie
michiganlynn
Posted

Hello,

 

I had a biopsy yesterday for Celiac.  The doctor said my duodenum appeared normal.  I could still have Celiac though, right?   I had a negative blood panel last week.

 

However, from mid August to mid September (for 21 days) I was on the ketogenic diet.  So no gluten.

 

Then a few weeks ago, blood work via my oncologist indicated I have iron deficiency anemia.  Ferritin was 6 and they say that's pretty low.

 

So far there are no other reasons for the anemia (no bone marrow issues, no gastro bleeding, no girl issues).  I have been tested for those over the past week.

 

So what do you think?  Is 21 days of no gluten then 1 month of gluten good for a positive result if Celiac?

 

Thank you in advance!

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cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

Did your doctor take six or seven tissue samples during your endo (biopsy)?  A visual means nothing!  My only symptom was anemia besides having been diagnosed with thyroiditis some 15 years ago.  But, I do have Thalassemia too which is another type of anemia and causes low hemoglobin too.  My ferritin levels have been as low as a 2.  

 

I can't answer your question about being gluten-free for 21 days and then eating it for a month before the blood test, but my blood test was barely positive.  My biopsy though showed moderate to severe damage.  

 

I hope this helps!

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Hi Michiganlynn,

 

If you are concerned it may not be a long enough time on gluten, you might be able to delay your doctor appointment for a couple weeks more.  It used to be the standard time for a gluten challenge was 3 months.  There is no guarantee it will be be a positive test of course.   Have you noticed any change in symptoms from stopping gluten before?  If symptoms changed on stopping gluten previously, that is  good indicator something is going wrong in your body when you eat gluten.

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