Getting Tested For Celiacs Without Eating Gluten Again?

[poneelovesyou]

Is there any way to get tested for celiacs without having to reintroduce gluten into the diet? I suspect that I have celiacs, and I also feel like a real diagnoses would make people take me a little more seriously. I just dont know if it's worth it to purposely expose my self to gluten. My reactions are so violent and uncomfortable for a matter of weeks. What do you all suggest? Is there another way to get the results?

[kareng]

Not currently.

[BlessedMommy]

No, unfortunately there isn't a way to test for celiac, without extensive gluten exposure.

 

If your reactions to gluten exposure are that violent, then you likely have your answer already.

 

I attempted to gluten challenge and to had to quit after 10 days, due to severe neurological symptoms that landed me in the E.R. I just made the decision that I was going to be gluten free for the rest of my life. For me, getting a diagnosis is unquestionably not worth it. 

 

Really, if you want a diagnosis so that other people will take you seriously, a diagnosis may or may not help you with that. There are many DX'ed celiacs who have to deal with people not taking them seriously.

 

My close friends and family know what I've been through and where I'm at. My inlaws even purchased  a separate grill for gluten free only items for me to use at their house. (I didn't ask or even imply that such a thing should be done, they just bought it out of the goodness of their hearts) Many people don't really know or care what my DX is, they just know that I can't and won't eat gluten, period, end of statement. Overtime, if you display consistent behavior and never willfully cheat on the diet, most people will understand that it's serious and that you're not a fad dieter.

 

If you decide to stay with a gluten free diet without a diagnosis, being up front with your family and friends helps. Let them know that you may have celiac but are unable to safely nail down a diagnosis, so for your own safety, you have to follow a strict gluten free diet. Let them know what that entails and also let them know that you don't expect them to go out of their way for you and that you will plan to provide your own safe food items for any event.

 

I've often seen hospitalization cited as a reason to get a diagnosis (i.e. getting safe food if you had to be in the hospital) but I don't think that's a huge issue. When I was with my son in the hospital for a broken leg, they cheerfully allowed us to order off of the gluten free menu, no proof of diagnosis necessary. And if you're in a hospital without a reliable gluten free menu, you can pretty much plan on eating whole fresh fruit until your spouse/friend/parent/child brings you food from home.

 

Good luck!

[nvsmom]

If you have been gluten-free for, let's say, less than a year it is possible to still have a positive celiac disease test, but unlikely. I was still testing positive in the tTG IgA test at around a year gluten-free, although I doubt that is the norm.

 

The endoscopic biopsy only requires a 2-4 week gluten challenge. Could you last two weeks or so?

 

You may just have to stay gluten-free without testing if it is too much for you. There are many people around here in the same boat.

 

Just an aside on terminology: it is celiac or celiac disease. Celiacs are people who have celiac disease.