Jump to content
  • You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

Should I Get A Biopsy To Be Sure?


Laudahwiz

Recommended Posts

Laudahwiz Newbie

I posted this in my other topic but I figured I'd post it here too because it's more relevant.

 

My doctor (who does mostly acupuncture and naturopathic medicine) diagnosed me with celiac two days ago after the results of a blood test came back. She seemed to think from the panel that I definitely had it. But I've done some research and I've read that these panels are more often used as tools to indicate that one may have celiac but not a basis for a definite diagnosis?

 

Thing is, to get a biopsy would be really expensive. But if I don't get one I might go the rest of me life thinking 'do I actually have this disease?' and it'll be like an itch I can't scratch.

 

Here are the test results: http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac54/cyndersbane/TestResults_zps7ff6804d.webp I'd really appreciate it if some of you that are more knowledgeable than me can take a look at it and tell me if you think a definite diagnosis can be made based on just this?


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



kareng Grand Master

That doesn't look like a regular Celiac blood panel to me.  Perhaps you would have better luck going to a doctor for your blood tests?

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

 

So, I guess my answer is "Yes.  Get a biopsy".

NoGlutenCooties Contributor

I wasn't able to access your bloodtest results but in my opinion, if you can afford it, a biopsy is always a good idea.  They won't just check for Celiac, while they're in there they will look for other ailments too.  It's good to know that it's Celiac, and only Celiac, and not something potentially more immediately serious.

IrishHeart Veteran

I'm sorry, but that's not a Celiac disease panel you had done, hon. (those tests do not diagnose celiac)

 

I do not think a gastroenterologist will just do a biopsy before doing a celiac panel first.

 

 
Gemini Experienced

I agree with Irish on this one.  That is not a celiac panel and actually, I am not sure what those tests are for. Do not base a Celiac diagnosis on that.

 

You need to have a full celiac panel and most MD's should know what that is. If after having the correct testing, and it comes out positive, then you have a diagnosis. You can opt on for a biopsy, if you choose but if you have a positive tTg and EMA on the Celiac panel, you have Celiac Disease and the biopsy won't be needed for a diagnosis.  Many people, including myself, had very positive panels and were extremely symptomatic so opted out of a biopsy. If, after healing, you are still having problems, you can always have the scope done to see if you have additional problems but many times, that is not needed. 

Laudahwiz Newbie

Ok, thanks so much for helping me out with this everyone. I guess I've been a little confused, and feeling really skeptical about this diagnosis now. I'm going to talk to my mom about getting a blood panel done by an MD doctor and see what comes of that.

NoGlutenCooties Contributor

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this already, but make sure you continue to eat gluten until after your bloodtest.  If you go gluten-free the test is useless.  Good luck!


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      134,079
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      10,442

    jchamp080
    Newest Member
    jchamp080
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.7k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Sigh. I posted this yesterday based on the Safeway website. I went back again today to their website to double check. On the page where they are selling Vanilla Bean flavor, it has a distinct Certified Gluten Free label. Other flavors on the Safeway website didn't have the gluten-free statement. Today I went into the store. None of the flavors I looked at, including Vanilla Bean, have a Gluten Free statement. Is it safe? Who knows. The ingredients are either safe or nearly safe (some have "natural flavor"). There are warnings about "contains milk and soy" but not about wheat - this implies they are safe, but again, who knows. On the other hand, every flavor I checked of their Slow Churn line of ice creams has wheat as an ingredient. 100% not safe.
    • knitty kitty
      Do keep in mind that many of the newly diagnosed have lactose intolerance.  This is because the villi lining the intestinal tract are damaged, and can no longer make the enzyme lactAse which breaks down the milk sugar lactOse.  When the villi grow back (six months to two years), they can again produce the enzyme lactAse, and lactose intolerance is resolved.  However, some people (both those with and without Celiac Disease) are genetically programmed to stop producing lactase as they age.   Do be aware that many processed foods, including ice cream, use Microbial Transglutaminase, a food additive commonly called "meat glue," used to enhance texture and flavor.  This microbial transglutaminase has the same immunogenicity as tissue transglutaminase which the body produces in response to gluten in people with Celiac Disease.  Tissue Transglutaminase (tTg IgA) is measured to diagnose Celiac Disease in blood tests.  Microbial Transglutaminase acts the same as Tissue Transglutaminase, causing increased intestinal permeability and inflammation.   New findings show that microbial transglutaminase may be able to trigger Celiac Disease and other autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.   Microbial Transglutaminase is not required to be listed on ingredients labels as it's considered a processing aid, not an ingredient in the U.S.  Microbial Transglutaminase has been GRAS for many years, but that GRAS standing is being questioned more and more as the immunogenicity of microbial transglutaminase is being discovered. Interesting Reading:  Microbial Transglutaminase Is a Very Frequently Used Food Additive and Is a Potential Inducer of Autoimmune/Neurodegenerative Diseases https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8537092/
    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      There is a 10 year old post in this forum on Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream. The information is somewhat outdated and the thread is closed to further comment, so here is a new one. Edy's And Dreyer's Grand Vanilla Bean Ice Cream - 1.5 Quart is labeled "Gluten Free". This is a different answer than years gone by. I don't know the answer for any other flavor at this moment. On 1 May, 2026, Edy's website says: "As a general rule, the gluten in Edy's and Dreyer's® frozen dessert products is present only in the added bakery products, such as cookies, cake or brownies. We always label the eight major food allergens on our package by their common name. We recommend to always check the label for the most current information before purchasing and/or consuming a product. The exception to this rule is our Slow Churned French Silk frozen dairy dessert, which contains gluten in the natural flavors." https://www.icecream.com/us/en/brands/edys-and-dreyers/faq It seems that Edy's and Dreyer's are more celiac-friendly than they were 10 years ago. Once I found enough information to make today's buying decision, I stopped researching.
    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      probably not your situation @Mimiof2, but allow me to add one more to @trents list of celiac-mimics: "olmesartan-induced sprue-like enteropathy"  
    • knitty kitty
      My dad had an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.  Fortunately, it was discovered during an exam.  The doctor could feel my dad's heart beating in his stomach/abdomen.  The aneurysm burst when the doctor first touched it in surgery.  Since he was already hooked up to the bypass machine, my dad survived ten more years.  Close call! Triple A's can press on the nerves in the spinal cord causing leg pain.  I'm wondering if bowing the head might have increased the pressure on an aneurysm and then the nerves.   https://gulfcoastsurgeons.com/understanding-abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-symptoms-and-causes/ Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Presenting as a Claudication https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4040638/
×
×
  • Create New...