Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    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):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Celiac Elusiveness Of Diagnosis In The Philippines

GeorgeDaniel

Recommended Posts

GeorgeDaniel Rookie
GeorgeDaniel
Posted

Good Morning Everyone! I hope you are all well. 

 

My name is George! My mom is half caucasian, her father is Scottish. 

I had a lot of health woes lasting for nearly a decade which took a huge and terrible toll in my life. I lost my promising career in being a ship's officer and also separated from my wife. I lost a lot of my teeth and had impaired vision. And the most cruel is being in pain for a very very long time. I mean waking up in the morning and feeling that pain coming at your tummy. Terrible. 

 

Sad to say, Ive also been to a whole damn lot of doctors and none of them could give me relief. I was diagnosed with so many conditions (GERD, Oesopaghitis, Gastritis etc). Took a lot of PPIs and other antacid... UNTIL...

 

I tried to find the answer on my own! And VOILA... GLUTEN! 

 

SO I went gluten free. That was already more than a year and a half ago.

 

My problem now is that I went and had a blood test done to me. But thjs is ONLY AFTER TWO WEEKS. 

 

Here are the results:

All units in U/mL 

 

Celiac DGP Screen 5.4 U/mL (POsitive is more than 10)

Gliadin IgG 5.5 (POsitive is more than 12)

Gliadin IgA 4.0 (POsitive is more than 12)

Human ttg IgA 2.9 (Positive is more than 10) 

Human ttg IgG 8.2 (Positive is more than 10) 

 

So with that, my doctor said I can continue then go for biopsy! I will have that this coming Monday <May 12) 

 

Can anyone please tell me if TWO WEEKS is enough to show positive in blood tests? Especially if you have been gluten-free for more than a year and a half and ate like tons of probiotics during the period?

 

And can you please look at my Human ttg IgG 8.2 which is just shy of 1.8 to make it 10 and show that there's damage happening to my intestines already? 

 

Also is ONE MONTH enough to test POSITIVE for BIOPSY (considering I eat a lot of Gluten containing wheat bread, about 4 slices a day)? 

 

Thank you everyone! YOu would think finding diagnosis is difficult there where you come from but imagine it here in my country where it is virtually unheard of.... 

 

Take care and hoping for any response to my queries. 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

You have had to been consuming gluten for 12 weeks prior to the blood test and two weeks before a biopsy.  Check out the University of Chicago's celiac website for more answers:

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

Keep us posted on your progress and I hope you are feeling better soon!

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

Yeah, two weeks probably wasn't long enough but.... that tTG iGG is pretty darn close to positive for only being on gluten for two weeks. It makes me wonder what it would have been if you had been consuming gluten for another 6 to 10 more weeks.

 

2 weeks on gluten is generally considered enough for a biopsy although some doctors like 4 weeks better.

 

I would REALLY push to have those blood tests run again when you go in for your biopsy, or even better, sometime in June. I wouldn't be surprised if that tTG IgG goes up with an adequate gluten challenge... if your body can hack it for that long that is.

 

Probiotics will not affect the blood tests - they simply support the growth of beneficial bacteria, that's all.

 

Lest us know how it goes.

GeorgeDaniel Rookie
GeorgeDaniel
Posted
  • Author

Thank You VERY VERY MUCH Ms cyclinglady! Yeah It is really a good information site this link you have sent me! THANKS ;) 

 

nvsmom yes that is indeed my line of thinking as well! THANK YOU! I feel so overwhelmed there are people like you guys who take their time to listen and give this kind of advice and moral support! You cant imagine how good it feels specially when you've been feeling terrible like hellishly for a long time! Im glad there are people like you!

 

I had my biopsy this morning! They also found some non specific colitis down there in my descending colon and took some sample for biopsy there as well! 

 

another question, its possible to have celiac and another digestive conditon as well right? I mean both at the same time right? Hope you dont think Im too stubborn! Im just thinking perhaps the colitis in rectum have somethng to do with celiac too. 

 

Anyway guys ill just rest a bit but I promise to be more active here in this forum later! 

 

I wish you all the best and pray for a positive result for me so I can finally accept that I am sane and didnt imagine all that ;) 

 

MORE POWER EVERYONE! 

GeorgeDaniel Rookie
GeorgeDaniel
Posted
  • Author

You have had to been consuming gluten for 12 weeks prior to the blood test and two weeks before a biopsy.  Check out the University of Chicago's celiac website for more answers:

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

Keep us posted on your progress and I hope you are feeling better soon!

Thank you maam! I will! Thanks for replying to my query! It means so much! ;) 

GeorgeDaniel Rookie
GeorgeDaniel
Posted
  • Author

Yeah, two weeks probably wasn't long enough but.... that tTG iGG is pretty darn close to positive for only being on gluten for two weeks. It makes me wonder what it would have been if you had been consuming gluten for another 6 to 10 more weeks.

 

2 weeks on gluten is generally considered enough for a biopsy although some doctors like 4 weeks better.

 

I would REALLY push to have those blood tests run again when you go in for your biopsy, or even better, sometime in June. I wouldn't be surprised if that tTG IgG goes up with an adequate gluten challenge... if your body can hack it for that long that is.

 

Probiotics will not affect the blood tests - they simply support the growth of beneficial bacteria, that's all.

 

Lest us know how it goes.

THANKS very very much! Exactly my line of thinking good ma'am! Thanks... I really appreciate it! 

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

So, you had both an endoscopy and a colonoscopy? I had both but the gastro took biopsies of the small intestine during the endoscopy to determine celiac disease. The colonoscopy was just a well-check since I was over 50.

Yes, you can have more than just celiac.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • 4 weeks later...
GeorgeDaniel Rookie
GeorgeDaniel
Posted
  • Author

So, you had both an endoscopy and a colonoscopy? I had both but the gastro took biopsies of the small intestine during the endoscopy to determine celiac disease. The colonoscopy was just a well-check since I was over 50.

Yes, you can have more than just celiac.

Hi Ms Cycling Lady! My biopsy result came out now and thus far they said it was inconclusive! The problem is I dont know how many tissue samples they took for the biopsy! Sigh.. But they said there was ulcers found in my large intestine and they might be investigating Crohns or other IBD sickness.... But this wasnt seen before a long long time ago when I first had symptoms and had an endoscopy more than 10 years ago! I mean I was sick already then and had more colonoscopy and nothing was found only now... sigh... and before they werent considering celiac at all! is it possible to have both Crohns and Celiac? Thanks! 

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

Find out how many samples they took by asking for copies. You should always get copies of all lab reports. Also, take copies of the testing requirements you saw on the University of Chicago's celiac website and I discuss with your doctor. I really do not think you were back on gluten long enough. Perhaps they will retest. If they refuse, you can always go back to being gluten-free to see if it resolves symptoms.

At least you know the ulcers! That is good news. The doctors should be able to treat those.

GeorgeDaniel Rookie
GeorgeDaniel
Posted
  • Author

Find out how many samples they took by asking for copies. You should always get copies of all lab reports. Also, take copies of the testing requirements you saw on the University of Chicago's celiac website and I discuss with your doctor. I really do not think you were back on gluten long enough. Perhaps they will retest. If they refuse, you can always go back to being gluten-free to see if it resolves symptoms.

At least you know the ulcers! That is good news. The doctors should be able to treat those.

Ok I will do that! Yes indeed I really hope it comes to pass that I get my desired result! I want to make sure because these ulcers in the large intestine weren't there before! Sigh! I will return to Gluten Free and I really know that it will resolve symptoms! Im 100 percent sure of that! Sometimes its frustrating! Im doing this for my kids btw, me and their mom are separated but shes not allowing them to be tested :( Thats why I am doing this! So that I can use for a court order to test them... I dont want them to suffer what I have been through... if you understand what I mean :( 

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,685
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    tdouglas2901
    Newest Member
    tdouglas2901
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I'd go with a vodka tonic, but that's just me😉
    • Rejoicephd
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Rejoicephd · Posted

      That and my nutritionist also said that drinking cider is one of the worst drink choices for me, given that I have candida overgrowth.  She said the combination of the alcohol and sugar would be very likely to worsen my candida problem.  She suggested that if I drink, I go for clear vodka, either neat or with a splash of cranberry.   So in summary, I am giving ciders a rest.  Whether it's a gluten risk or sugars and yeast overgrowth, its just not worth it.
    • Inkie
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Inkie · Posted

      Thank you for the information ill will definitely bring it into practice .
    • Scott Adams
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      While plain, pure tea leaves (black, green, or white) are naturally gluten-free, the issue often lies not with the tea itself but with other ingredients or processing. Many flavored teas use barley malt or other gluten-containing grains as a flavoring agent, which would be clearly listed on the ingredient label. Cross-contamination is another possibility, either in the facility where the tea is processed or, surprisingly, from the tea bag material itself—some tea bags are sealed with a wheat-based glue. Furthermore, it's important to consider that your reaction could be to other substances in tea, such as high levels of tannins, which can be hard on the stomach, or to natural histamines or other compounds that can cause a non-celiac immune response. The best way to investigate is to carefully read labels for hidden ingredients, try switching to a certified gluten-free tea brand that uses whole leaf or pyramid-style bags, and see if the reaction persists.
    • Scott Adams
      Inconclusive results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is a challenging and confusing situation. The combination of a positive EMA—which is a highly specific marker rarely yielding false positives—alongside strongly elevated TTG on two separate occasions, years apart, is profoundly suggestive of celiac disease, even in the absence of biopsy damage. This pattern strongly aligns with what is known as "potential celiac disease," where the immune system is clearly activated, but intestinal damage has not yet become visible under the microscope. Your concern about the long-term risk of continued gluten consumption is valid, especially given your family's experience with the consequences of delayed diagnosis. Since your daughter is now at an age where her buy-in is essential for a gluten-free lifestyle, obtaining a definitive answer is crucial for her long-term adherence and health. Given that she is asymptomatic yet serologically positive, a third biopsy now, after a proper 12-week challenge, offers the best chance to capture any microscopic damage that may have developed, providing the concrete evidence needed to justify the dietary change. This isn't about wanting her to have celiac; it's about wanting to prevent the insidious damage that can occur while waiting for symptoms to appear, and ultimately giving her the unambiguous "why" she needs to accept and commit to the necessary treatment. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.