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):

Negative Blood Panel While On Steroids

SICKfor20Years

Recommended Posts

SICKfor20Years Newbie
SICKfor20Years
Posted

I have been sick for a very long time.    Over 20 years.  I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and adrenal insufficiency for which I take thyroid meds and Prednisone.   I seem to not absorb nutrients well, as I struggle with low Vit. D, Vit. B, iron, etc... and have to liquid or powders or easily dissolvable pills for them to have any effect on me.  

I have heartburn often, and bloated stomach, which is sensitive to anyone or anything pressing on my stomach.   I look pregnant even though I am not.   I had lab work done last year for food allergies, and I am allergic to about 60 different food items. 

I had a Celiac Panel done in 2011, which was normal.   I wonder though if the results would have been accurate since I had already been on Prednisone for about 4 years by then?

 

Here are my results:

Transglutaminase IGA :  3.8 (<20)

                             IGA : 187 (68-378)

                 Gliadin IGA :  1.6 (<20)

                 Gliadin IGG : 16.0 U/ml (<20)

         Reticulin AB IGA : Neg.  (Neg.)

Reticulin AB Addl Testing :  Report N/A

 

I have a long list of symptoms over the years, just to name a few, migraines, foggy head, memory and balance issues, My pupils will sometimes be different sizes.  

I am going to have a colonscopy soon, due to blood in stool.   I would like to request biopsies for Celiac's also.   What do I ask for?

 

               

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Looks like the steroids would be an issue.  Are you eating a regular gluten diet?  and not taking steroids?  Also, a colonoscopy is not used to diagnose Celiac disease.  You need an endoscopy (the top half of the intestines) for that.  They are easy to do at the same time.  You could re-test your blood if you have been off the steroids and eating gluten.

 

 

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

 

Would taking steroids cause the blood tests to be inaccurate?

Yes, but only if you have been taking steroids for a prolonged period of time.

nora-n Rookie
nora-n
Posted

Someone on the delphi celiac forum had negative  biopsies because of steroids. He/she was close to death but biopsy was only showing increased inflammatory cells 

SICKfor20Years Newbie
SICKfor20Years
Posted
  • Author

I have been on full replacement steroids for about 7 -8 years.   I have secondary adrenal insufficiency, so my body does not make enough ACTH to tell my adrenal glands to make Cortisol.   I cannot go off the steroids.  I could go into shock and die.   So, whatever tests that I have done would have to be ON the steroids.   So, what choices do I have?

 

Nora_N - Is it possible to link that post for me?   So, even the biopsy was negative because of the steroids??   And, what do you mean by he/she was close to death???  I am new to learning about Celiac's Disease, can it kill you?   I would imagine that IF I do have Celiac's, then I have probably been dealing with it for a very looooooong time.    I have had two ASYRA / body scan type tests done.   One about 7 years ago, one just last month.   Both showed that my digestive system was all the way in the red (the worst reading you can get), and that I have a lot of inflammation in my whole body.   

I have tried Gluten Free diets.  But, I have never done it 100%.  For a few months, I was avoiding all breads and grains, but I didn't go so far as to read salad dressing, and condiment ingredients, so I was still getting some gluten in my diet, I am sure.

The last few months have been very stressful, due to having several extreme family emergencies, and I have been eating anything and everything.  

 

I don't understand why an Endoscopy would have to be done to get a biopsy?   Doesn't Celiac's affect the Intestines, not the Esophagus?   I had an Endoscopy done about 10 years ago, due to severe heartburn, and pain.  I wasn't sedated enough, and I "woke Up" feeling like I was choking and tried to pull the tube out of my throat, before they sedated me more.   I had nightmares of that for months.   I really don't want to have another Endoscopy.

 

I would really like to have an actual diagnosis though.   Going completely Gluten Free is such a difficult and expensive commitment, I worry that I didn't know for sure that I had Celiac's that I wouldn't stick to the diet like I should.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

You have to do the endoscopy to get a sample of the small intestine. I don't think they have figured out any other way to do it.

Yes, Celiac disease can kill you. If you can't absorb any food and vitamins, you will die.

moosemalibu Collaborator
moosemalibu
Posted

Endoscopy goes from mouth to the small intestine, not just the esophagus. 

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • 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):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      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
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      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
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      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
      EDG 3 years ago fine, now it shows focal villous blunting,

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      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
      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      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...