Am I gluten-free?

[brice1401]

What is the best way to determine if my diet has been truly gluten-free? celiac disease was the dx one year ago after a biopsy. My symptoms were mild so I removed the gluten gradually at first. But after learning more about the long term effects, I have been very careful over the last two to three months about being gluten-free. But I am the type of person that needs proof.

Is blood work the best way to tell? I have blood work result from May 2005 but my doctor was useless in helping me decipher it. I will be getting more blood work soon. Which is the best indicator that I have been gluten-free: WBC, RBC, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW-CV, Platelet, or Mean PLT Vol?

I recently found out about Enterolab (thanks to this forum). Is this better than blood work? Which method is least expensive? I have crappy (no pun intended) insurance with a high deductible.

Thank you in advance!

[KaitiUSA]

What tests did you have done that came back high before you were diagnosed? Those same tests in the celiac panel should be done to see if the levels are down.

WBC, RBC, etc will not indicate anything in regards to that though. You need a celiac panel done.

You can do an Enterolab...some doctors consider it valid while others do not accept it.

I would say the best way to go is with a celiac panel blood test..you likely had some of these performed before your biopsy-the ones that came back high should be redone:

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgA

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgG

Anti-Endomysial (EMA) IgA

Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG)

Total Serum IgA

[jenvan]

I would also recommend what Kaiti wrote. Also, start keeping copies of all your tests in a file at home, so you can refer to them when you need to track progress and take them to other doctors etc. if need be. I think a combination of continual follow-up blood work, monitoring of symptoms and periodic rechecking of the products you use and foods you eat is what works. You should see (IMO) a gi doc each year even when you are feeling well to have follow-up tests. My old gi doc said twice a year...

[brice1401]

Thank you for your response, Kaiti & Jen!

Next question, I have the results of the only two blood tests that my GI doctor has ordered. Appartently neither of the two are a Celiac Panel blood test because neither test shows levels for

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgA

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgG

Anti-Endomysial (EMA) IgA

Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG)

Total Serum IgA

Why would he not order a Celiac Panel test????? He is the doctor that diagnosed celiac disease!!!! Is he not aware of the correct blood work to order?

Thanks again,

Brian in Ohio

[Carriefaith]

In response to your first question, I would suggest getting the celiac blood panel and/or an intestinal biopsy.

Why would he not order a Celiac Panel test????? He is the doctor that diagnosed celiac disease!!!! Is he not aware of the correct blood work to order?

Do you know what tests he ran? Did you have a small intestinal biopsy? Not all doctors run a celiac panel. My doctor only ran the tTg blood test on me which is highly specific for celiac disease and I also had several biopsies done.

[brice1401]

He ran the test which showed the following:

WBC Count 4.4

RBC Count 5.3

Hemoglobin 13.3

Hematocrit 39.2

MCV 73.9

MCH 25.2

MCHC 34.1

RDW-CV 17.1

Platelet 293

Mean PLT Vol 9.8

Some were out of acceptable range

WBC Count: slightly low

Hemoglobin: slightly low

Hematocrit: slightly low

MCV - low

MCH - slightly low

RDW-CV - High

Should I schedule a follow up to discuss these results or is it a waste of time because this is not the best test? If this is not the best test, why wouldn't he know that being a GI specialist familiar with celiac disease?

Thank you for taking the time to further my knowledge!

Brian

[elisabet]

What is the best way to determine if my diet has been truly gluten-free?  celiac disease was the dx one year ago after a biopsy.  My symptoms were mild so I removed the gluten gradually at first.  But after learning more about the long term effects, I have been very careful over the last two to three months about being gluten-free.  But I am the type of person that needs proof. 

Is blood work the best way to tell?  I have blood work result from May 2005 but my doctor was useless in helping me decipher it.  I will be getting more blood work soon.  Which is the best indicator that I have been gluten-free:  WBC, RBC, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW-CV, Platelet, or Mean PLT Vol?

I recently found out about Enterolab (thanks to this forum).  Is this better than blood work?  Which method is least expensive?  I have crappy (no pun intended) insurance with a high deductible.

Thank you in advance!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

what about ferritin ,hemoglobin without ferritin doesn t say much,also TIBC is important ,so one can see how the iron absorption is,which can pin point,the health of villi.

best of luck

[KaitiUSA]

He ran the test which showed the following:

WBC Count    4.4

RBC Count    5.3

Hemoglobin    13.3

Hematocrit    39.2

MCV              73.9

MCH              25.2

MCHC            34.1

RDW-CV        17.1

Platelet          293

Mean PLT Vol  9.8

Some were out of acceptable range

WBC Count: slightly low

Hemoglobin: slightly low

Hematocrit: slightly low

MCV - low

MCH - slightly low

RDW-CV - High

Should I schedule a follow up to discuss these results or is it a waste of time because this is not the best test?  If this is not the best test, why wouldn't he know that being a GI specialist familiar with celiac disease?

Thank you for taking the time to further my knowledge!

Brian

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

None of those tests are used to detect celiac. Celiac has a separate panel of tests that are done to detect it.

Now, the Complete Blood Counts can possibly show problems in certain areas that may or may not be caused by celiac.

If you were diagnosed with a biopsy the way to find out if damage is healed is for another biopsy since he did not do blood work for celiac.