Positive blood tests, on the waiting list for a endoscopy

[Amber2019]

I've had positive blood tests for coeliac. I do have some symptoms and always have but nothing enough to make me think I had something like coeliac disease.

I've been waiting for the endoscopy for about 8 weeks now and I hate that I'm probably just basically poisoning myself and causing damage to my intestine whilst I wait around for it and continuing to eat gluten.

How likely is it that you can get a false positive blood test? I'm just really hoping it's wrong x

[cyclinglady]

Hi!  

False positives are not common.  They can occur if you have another autoimmune disease like Type 1 diabetes.

https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/screening-and-diagnosis/screening/

I am sorry that you have to wait for your endoscopy.  Be sure that you are consuming gluten at least two weeks prior to the scope.  

As far as symptoms, I did not have any GI issues.  I did have decades of anemia. That was my main symptom of celiac disease.  

[Amber2019]

  On 8/9/2019 at 4:03 AM, cyclinglady said:

Hi!  

False positives are not common.  They can occur if you have another autoimmune disease like Type 1 diabetes.

https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/screening-and-diagnosis/screening/

I am sorry that you have to wait for your endoscopy.  Be sure that you are consuming gluten at least two weeks prior to the scope.  

As far as symptoms, I did not have any GI issues.  I did have decades of anemia. That was my main symptom of celiac disease.  

Expand Quote  

Thanks so much for your reply. I have TPO antibodies for thyroid disease, could that have caused it to be positive maybe?

I've just found out that I'm pregnant too which is bit of a disaster whilst being under investigation for all of this. 

[cyclinglady]

Congratulations on your pregnancy! ?

Is the rest of your thyroid panel (TSH, etc.) normal?  Do you have an actual enlargement of your thyroid?  Have they determined which type of thyroiditis you have?  It is very important to treat your thyroid while you are pregnant if your thyroid is not functioning.  Talk to your doctor about your possible need for medication (e.g. thyroid replacement).  

I had Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (enlargement, TPO antibodies, etc) long before my celiac  disease diagnosis.  Autoimmune thyroiditis is commonly linked with celiac disease. 

Can you try to get your endoscopy bumped up?  Do they know you are pregnant?  

I am not a doctor, but with thyroid and celiac antibodies, your chances of having celiac disease are strong.   I would call and ask for cancellations at the Gastroenterologist’s office.  

Going gluten free is an option, but you would have to do a challenge later to confirm your diagnosis and having a diagnosis can help many adhere to the diet and get better support from family and medical staff. Doing a gluten challenge while pregnant would not be good in my non-medical opinion.  Once you are gluten free, exposures to gluten can increase your symptoms when you might not have had many in the past.  

Your best defense is to research and talk to your doctors.  

Again, congratulations!  My only child  is going off to university this Fall.    Child rearing goes by so fast!