Diagnosis after Barium Swallow

[babco120]

Hi everybody,

I was just recently diagnosed with Celiac after an Upper GI x-ray (with barium swallow and air contrast). However, most of my bloodwork came back negative. I was just wondering if anyone else has also been diagnosed in the same way, as well as what I should expect in the first couple of weeks after diagnosis (i.e. possible other tests). Thank you so much!

Ashley

[kareng]

19 minutes ago, babco120 said:

Hi everybody,

I was just recently diagnosed with Celiac after an Upper GI x-ray (with barium swallow and air contrast). However, most of my bloodwork came back negative. I was just wondering if anyone else has also been diagnosed in the same way, as well as what I should expect in the first couple of weeks after diagnosis (i.e. possible other tests). Thank you so much!

Ashley

They can't biopsy during that - so they have not actually diagnosed you with Celiac.  Maybe if you had positive blood work and genetics....  

[kareng]

20 minutes ago, babco120 said:

Hi everybody,

I was just recently diagnosed with Celiac after an Upper GI x-ray (with barium swallow and air contrast). However, most of my bloodwork came back negative. I was just wondering if anyone else has also been diagnosed in the same way, as well as what I should expect in the first couple of weeks after diagnosis (i.e. possible other tests). Thank you so much!

Ashley

They can't biopsy during that - so they have not actually diagnosed you with Celiac.  Maybe if you had positive blood work and genetics....  

[kareng]

"If antibody tests and/or symptoms suggest celiac disease, the physician needs to confirm the diagnosis by obtaining tiny pieces of tissue from the small intestine to check for damage to the villi. This is done in an endoscopic biopsy procedure. Under sedation, the physician eases a long, thin tube called an endoscope through the mouth and stomach into the small intestine, and then takes samples of the tissue using small instruments passed through the endoscope. "

 

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[babco120]

20 minutes ago, kareng said:

"If antibody tests and/or symptoms suggest celiac disease, the physician needs to confirm the diagnosis by obtaining tiny pieces of tissue from the small intestine to check for damage to the villi. This is done in an endoscopic biopsy procedure. Under sedation, the physician eases a long, thin tube called an endoscope through the mouth and stomach into the small intestine, and then takes samples of the tissue using small instruments passed through the endoscope. "

 

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The diagnosis was due to villous atrophy...is that enough to call it a diagnosis or do they still need more? Thank you so much for your help!

[kareng]

26 minutes ago, babco120 said:

The diagnosis was due to villous atrophy...is that enough to call it a diagnosis or do they still need more? Thank you so much for your help!

Then they biopsied?  I don't think you can see on a microscopic level with a regular xray.

[emma6]

this is so strange i've never heard of being diagnosed from a barium swallow. i didn't know it was even possible to see villous atrophy from an xray.

someone else probably knows more information about but im pretty sure there are other things which can cause villous atrophy so villous atrophy doesn't always means celiac disease.

[squirmingitch]

1 hour ago, babco120 said:

Hi everybody,

I was just recently diagnosed with Celiac after an Upper GI x-ray (with barium swallow and air contrast). However, most of my bloodwork came back negative. I was just wondering if anyone else has also been diagnosed in the same way, as well as what I should expect in the first couple of weeks after diagnosis (i.e. possible other tests). Thank you so much!

Ashley

When you say "most" of your blood work came back negative. Can you be more specific? What blood tests were done & what were the results along with the reference ranges?

Never, ever heard of anyone being dx'd by X-Ray with barium and air contrast. Never, ever, never. I don't think they can see that well on an X-Ray. They take biopsies & send them to pathology in order to be able to see the villi. Is this a GI doc who did this? In this in the US?

[cyclinglady]

It is possible, but the Gold standard is still biopsies obtained from an endoscopic procedure, along with testing for antibodies.  CT scans are often ordered when adults have unexplained abdominal pain.   In the old days they would use xrays like the procedure the OP had.  Radiologists are hoping to catch more celiacs by looking at abnormal thickness, etc.  Still they usually refer patients to a GI for an endoscopy and blood tests.  

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