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Serology testing wait time

Tutuology

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Tutuology Newbie
Tutuology
Posted

Hi everyone,  

 

Back story:  I was diagnosed with a borderline wheat allergy as a toddler, but the same allergist told my mother that spelt and Kamut (types of wheat) were ok to feed me.  So, I have no idea how reputable that doctor was, and I’ve been eating wheat most of my life.  I’ve got tons of issues because of it, and recently went to a gastroenterologist familiar with celiac to see if I needed to worry about complications developing or anything like that.  He said I needed to do the gluten challenge and serology testing to find out whether I have Celiac, or gluten sensitivity with some other condition, before he could move forward.  After much deliberation, I decided to do the gluten challenge, and I am currently two weeks in.  I am miserable, worried it’s affecting my job stability, and struggling to get through my days.  The doctor told me I could do the gluten challenge for a minimum of two weeks, but that I should really do it for a month if I can.  I can’t.  I’m going to try and get through a third week and then give up.  

 

Question:  The doctor’s nurse told me to go in for the blood test 4 weeks after I stop the gluten challenge.  I can’t find anything about waiting any length of time between the challenge and the serology.  Does anyone have experience with this or know anything about that waiting period?  

 

Thanks for your time,  

Cassandra

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kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted
16 minutes ago, Tutuology said:

Hi everyone,  

 

Back story:  I was diagnosed with a borderline wheat allergy as a toddler, but the same allergist told my mother that spelt and Kamut (types of wheat) were ok to feed me.  So, I have no idea how reputable that doctor was, and I’ve been eating wheat most of my life.  I’ve got tons of issues because of it, and recently went to a gastroenterologist familiar with celiac to see if I needed to worry about complications developing or anything like that.  He said I needed to do the gluten challenge and serology testing to find out whether I have Celiac, or gluten sensitivity with some other condition, before he could move forward.  After much deliberation, I decided to do the gluten challenge, and I am currently two weeks in.  I am miserable, worried it’s affecting my job stability, and struggling to get through my days.  The doctor told me I could do the gluten challenge for a minimum of two weeks, but that I should really do it for a month if I can.  I can’t.  I’m going to try and get through a third week and then give up.  

 

Question:  The doctor’s nurse told me to go in for the blood test 4 weeks after I stop the gluten challenge.  I can’t find anything about waiting any length of time between the challenge and the serology.  Does anyone have experience with this or know anything about that waiting period?  

 

Thanks for your time,  

Cassandra

You wouldn't go gluten-free for 4 weeks and then test!  She didn't understand.  

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

A gluten challenge is the period of time when gluten is added back into a person’s diet to assist in the diagnosis of celiac disease. Antibodies take time to build into the blood stream before they can be detected through blood analysis. For a gluten challenge we recommend eating 1/2 slice of bread or a cracker each day for the duration of the challenge.

  • Prior to blood testing we recommend 12 weeks of eating gluten.
  • Prior to an endoscopic biopsy we recommend 2 weeks of eating gluten.

In the case of a severe reaction to gluten, a medical professional may opt to shorten the 12-week challenge and move immediately to an endoscopic biopsy.

From:

Open Original Shared Link

 

No, you do not go gluten free & then test. The whole point of a gluten challenge is to eat gluten right up to the time of testing.

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