do I need to start a gluten challenge after a week of gluten-free

[Emilyrose]

Hi 

I'm looking at being tested for celiac disease but find 'the gluten challenge' a bit confusing so would like some clarification if possible. 

most people's stories, I have read about starting a 6+ week gluten challenge had been on a gluten free diet for several months. 

my story, I started getting severe abdominal pain, bloating, fatigue, inflammation etc... around a month ago, it got so bad I ended up in hospital for several days. they did many tests but couldn't find the cause. during three of these days I didn't eat anything....after coming out of hospital I only ate fruit and vegetables and rice, not thinking it could be an intolerance, just to try and not aggregate my stomach, although by no means completely better but after about 6 days some of the worst symptoms began to go, so I started introducing my normal diet again including gluten...the symptoms worsened. its been several days and I've continued to carry on eating gluten despite the pain.

so my question, with those three days in hospital and then a couple days later for 6 days of not eating gluten... do I need to start a gluten challenge from now and wait 6-8 weeks or is a week of no gluten not long enough to prevent the test from being accurate, should I get tested in 3 weeks time (as they are wanting to rule other things out too, so they want to do the test sooner rather than later) 

thank you for taking the time to read my question 

[trents]

Hi, EmilyRose and welcome to the forum.

I would think if you go ahead with the test as planned you would get valid test results. I don't think 3 days off the gluten that far out would mess too much with the test results.

[GFinDC]

Hi Emily,

You should eat at least some gluten daily until all testing is complete.  Testing is blood antibodies and an endoscopy.  These are usually done separately.

[Emilyrose]

2 hours ago, GFinDC said:

Hi Emily,

You should eat at least some gluten daily until all testing is complete.  Testing is blood antibodies and an endoscopy.  These are usually done separately.

hi thanks, yes completely understand this, but what I'm trying to figure out is whether I have to wait another six weeks till I can get the test because I didn't eat gluten for 6 days last week but did eat gluten before that.

[Scott Adams]

It’s possible that your numbers could be a bit lower that than they would be had you not skipped those days, so keep this in mind when you get the results, but I would still do the tests sooner if I were you.

[MeatSuitOfMoths]

On 2/7/2021 at 12:31 PM, Emilyrose said:

Hi 

I'm looking at being tested for celiac disease but find 'the gluten challenge' a bit confusing so would like some clarification if possible. 

most people's stories, I have read about starting a 6+ week gluten challenge had been on a gluten free diet for several months. 

my story, I started getting severe abdominal pain, bloating, fatigue, inflammation etc... around a month ago, it got so bad I ended up in hospital for several days. they did many tests but couldn't find the cause. during three of these days I didn't eat anything....after coming out of hospital I only ate fruit and vegetables and rice, not thinking it could be an intolerance, just to try and not aggregate my stomach, although by no means completely better but after about 6 days some of the worst symptoms began to go, so I started introducing my normal diet again including gluten...the symptoms worsened. its been several days and I've continued to carry on eating gluten despite the pain.

so my question, with those three days in hospital and then a couple days later for 6 days of not eating gluten... do I need to start a gluten challenge from now and wait 6-8 weeks or is a week of no gluten not long enough to prevent the test from being accurate, should I get tested in 3 weeks time (as they are wanting to rule other things out too, so they want to do the test sooner rather than later) 

thank you for taking the time to read my question 

Hi Emily, 

Depending on the type of test your doctor orders, you may or may not need to undergo a gluten challenge or be on a gluten free diet. 

If your doctor is looking for antibodies, it is helpful to be on a gluten containing diet, however, if you have only taken a break for a week, it's likely that you may still have antibodies, just fewer. 

If your doctor is looking at your genetic makeup, a gluten containing diet is not necessary, however this test alone would not be conclusive, as not everyone with genetic markers for celiac disease will actually have celiac disease. 

As others have said, testing and colonoscopy are conclusive for diagnosis. 

Having said that, my testing came back negative for antibodies, as I had been gluten free for ~a month. My genetic testing came back with 1 of the common indicators for celiac disease.

For personal reasons, I have not gone for colonoscopy, however my doctor is comfortable with a diagnosis of celiac disease based on my reactions to "gluten free" foods that have popped up on this website, and others, as being unsafe for people with celiac disease. 

So, my point is that, if you don't get the results you were looking for with an antibody test, try the genetic mapping test. 

[trents]

MeatSuitOfMoths, I think you meant to say "endoscopy" instead of colonoscopy. A colonoscopy would examine the lower bowel.

[MeatSuitOfMoths]

15 minutes ago, trents said:

MeatSuitOfMoths, I think you meant to say "endoscopy" instead of colonoscopy. A colonoscopy would examine the lower bowel.

You are correct 😅 thanks!