Whats the point of testing?

[Bluegrass]

I feel a whole lot better have gone gluten-free. But I don't like the idea of going back on gluten for a few weeks just so I can be tested for Celiac. Is there any reason I should?

[Ennis-TX]

Well it depends, offical diagnosis can be a damn good reason not to ever cheat, and celiac gluten free is MUCH more restrictive then "Diet" gluten free....we have to have dedicated cookware, dedicated cooking areas, limit where we eat out to places have been trained for gluten free and have dedicated cooking ware/area. Crumbs, flour residue, cross contamination....any bit of it can make us sick.

Many get the offical diagnosis for various reason some can get local government assistance with food, and school plans with offical diagnosis. You know since it is genetic that family needs to be tested. IF you ever get hospitalized having it on record is great....imagine your stuck in a hospital completely out of it and they feed you gluten.

You do not have to...the gluten challenge is much worse once going gluten free. But it is highly suggested....you could always find a good doctor willing to either A. Do a shortened challenge with endoscope if you get get it done in 2 weeks. B if your have obvious and violent reactions like I did. Eat a sandwich/burger in the doctors office and let the results show....
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[mom2boyz]

I'm a nurse, and I pretty much diagnosed myself, I'm not going to test for many reasons.  First because I'm cheap, and I plan on having a nice retirement instead of spending a ton of money on multiple blood tests and endoscopies all so they can tell me to stop eating gluten.  Second, I've worked with countless doctors and it's pick and choose the right day, right time and right person whether they're going to listen to you and take you seriously or make fun of your complaining to the nurse in the hallway after they see you and take your money.  Third, I don't trust the FDA or their supplementation, medication or diet recommendations.  They've been bought out by the big food and big pharma.  Finally,  I think the entire process of diagnosis totally violates the "do no harm" motto.  Going back on gluten would be harmful.  Having an endoscopy, while it may not be harmful, it's not comfortable nor is it a risk free procedure.  It involves medication and it seems a bit over the top for something that's not an emergency.  They need to come up with something better.  I read a study coming out of Norway, and it looks like it may be a one step process pretty soon, and I'm content to wait for that.

Last, in a situation where you're hospitalized, they're probably not going to have your records right there anyway unless you've been hospitalized before, just put gluten under allergies when they ask for it.   I don't think they'll question it, I wouldn't have if I were doing intake.  It's not like the nursing staff is going to be happy about cleaning up after you, nor would they want to risk a lawsuit if they ignore you.  Gluten or any common food allergens for that matter wouldn't be an ingredient in anything they would feed you if you weren't conscious.  However, I could see a long term care facility deciding to be cheap and wanting documentation.