Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Help interpreting test results

armadillo
 Share

Recommended Posts

armadillo Newbie
armadillo
Posted

Hey everyone!

I'm a 20 year old student and today my doctor told me that me that I (likely) have celiac disease. To confirm the diagnosis, she's ordering an endoscopy, but I'm not sure how long this will take due to wait-times. She told me to cut gluten out of my diet, but I've also read that you should still eat gluten leading up to the endoscopy. Basically, I want some help interpreting my bloodwork results to see if it's very likely I have celiac disease, and if I should start cutting gluten or wait an indefinite amount of time for the test.


Deamidated Gliadin peptide+Tissue
transglutaminase Ab IgA+IgG; IA
Result: POSITIVE

Tissue Transglutaminase AbIgA; IA
Result: 56

Tissue Transglutaminase Ab IgG; IA
Result: 4


Deamidated Gliadin peptide Ab IgA; IA
Result: 29

Deamidated Gliadin peptide Ab IgG; IA
Result: 9
 

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


armadillo Newbie
armadillo
Posted
  • Author
7 minutes ago, armadillo said:

Hey everyone!

I'm a 20 year old student and today my doctor told me that me that I (likely) have celiac disease. To confirm the diagnosis, she's ordering an endoscopy, but I'm not sure how long this will take due to wait-times. She told me to cut gluten out of my diet, but I've also read that you should still eat gluten leading up to the endoscopy. Basically, I want some help interpreting my bloodwork results to see if it's very likely I have celiac disease, and if I should start cutting gluten or wait an indefinite amount of time for the test.


Deamidated Gliadin peptide+Tissue
transglutaminase Ab IgA+IgG; IA
Result: POSITIVE

Tissue Transglutaminase AbIgA; IA
Result: 56

Tissue Transglutaminase Ab IgG; IA
Result: 4


Deamidated Gliadin peptide Ab IgA; IA
Result: 29

Deamidated Gliadin peptide Ab IgG; IA
Result: 9
 

Also, I forgot to add but this is the range given. Result Range indication for tTG-IgA and IgG and DGP (Deamidated Gliadin Peptide) IgA and IgG
Negative: <20
Weak Positive: 20-30
Moderate to Strong Positive: >30

cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted
(edited)

Hi Armadillo and welcome to the forum!

I'd agree with your doctor looking at those figures.

It is usual for patients with suspected celiac disease to have a follow-up endoscopy to confirm the diagnosis.  It is important to continue eating gluten before the endoscopy - as I understand it, that's about two slices of normal (gluten containing) bread or the equivalent per day, for two weeks before the endoscopy (compared with six weeks before a celiac blood test).  

Does eating gluten cause you a lot of symptoms?   If so, I quite understand that you would want  to give up eating gluten ASAP.   However,  sometimes people find that when they give up gluten their reaction to it can become more severe if they reintroduce it a few months later.   That is something you may wish to reflect upon, when deciding the timing of your endoscopy as you will need to be consuming gluten in the run up to the test.

Do you have the option of having a follow-up endoscopy quite quickly? As your doctor is recommending one, and if you feel able to do it, there is perhaps some merit in getting it out of the way so that you can get on with your gluten free diet without having to interrupt it for a gluten challenge prior to an endoscopy further down the line.

Cristiana

Edited by cristiana
cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted
Quote

Basically, I want some help interpreting my bloodwork results to see if it's very likely I have celiac disease, and if I should start cutting gluten or wait an indefinite amount of time for the test.

 

My apologies... I didn't read the last part of this sentence properly.   I see your problem... not knowing how long the wait will be makes it a bit more difficult to know what to do.  This is a problem that is besetting our healthcare system in the UK.  Can you get sort of approximate idea of how long the wait times are from your doctor?   

trents Grand Master
trents
Posted

It does look like from the number that you have celiac disease. Judging by the way you spelled "celiac" it doesn't look like you are in the UK.

Most definitely, you should be consuming a significant amount of gluten daily right up until the day of the endoscopy/biopsy. Your doctor gave you a bum steer by telling you to go gluten free.

What are your symptoms if any and how severe? 

armadillo Newbie
armadillo
Posted
  • Author
1 hour ago, cristiana said:

Basically, I want some help interpreting my bloodwork results to see if it's very likely I have celiac disease, and if I should start cutting gluten or wait an indefinite amount of time for the test.

 

My apologies... I didn't read the last part of this sentence properly.   I see your problem... not knowing how long the wait will be makes it a bit more difficult to know what to do.  This is a problem that is besetting our healthcare system in the UK.  Can you get sort of approximate idea of how long the wait times are from your doctor?   

Hi! Thanks for your responses.

With COVID, all non-critical surgeries and some other procedures have been postponed here. With that, my best guess is that the wait-time could be months. I'll try to phone my doctor back to see if they have a better estimate.

Also, I wasn't aware that your symptoms might get worse after being off gluten for awhile! If that's the case, I might try to have the minimum required amount while starting a transition to an otherwise gluten-free diet.

Thank you for the help!!

trents Grand Master
trents
Posted

Just to be clear, the symptoms don't get worse after being off gluten for a while unless you go back on gluten. What happens is you lose whatever tolerance you had before going gluten free.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


armadillo Newbie
armadillo
Posted
  • Author
On 10/21/2021 at 8:07 AM, trents said:

It does look like from the number that you have celiac disease. Judging by the way you spelled "celiac" it doesn't look like you are in the UK.

Most definitely, you should be consuming a significant amount of gluten daily right up until the day of the endoscopy/biopsy. Your doctor gave you a bum steer by telling you to go gluten free.

What are your symptoms if any and how severe? 

Hi! Thanks for the reply.

My doctor informing me that I might have celiac's was quite surprising for me, considering that no one in my family has the disease (that I know of) and I didn't know much about it until a few days ago.

And you're right, I'm in Canada. Wait-times for medical procedures here are quite long right now, which is why I'm unsure about how long until I can get diagnosed.

My symptoms manifest in the form of stomach cramps and pain after eating gluten, bloating, gas, and other digestive problems. I also have iron-deficiency (which I take vitamins for) and skin problems. While these symptoms are manageable, they are quite annoying to deal with for an indefinite amount of time. 

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. ShariW
      - ShariW commented on Scott Adams's article in Frequently Asked Questions About Celiac Disease
      4

      What are Celiac Disease Symptoms?

      In addition to gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, I had gastroesophageal reflux that was becoming intolerable despite treatment with PPIs and antacids. When I went gluten-free, the GERD lessened tremendously (as did the other symptoms).
    2. klmgarland
      - klmgarland replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      2

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      Thank you so very much Scott. Just having someone understand my situation is so very helpful. If I have one more family member ask me how my little itchy skin thing is going and can't you just take a pill and it will go away and just a little bit of gluten can't hurt you!!!! I think I will scream!!
    3. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      2

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      It is difficult to do the detective work of tracking down hidden sources of cross-contamination. The scenarios you described—the kiss, the dish towel, the toaster, the grandbaby's fingers—are all classic ways those with dermatitis herpetiformis might get glutened, and it's a brutal learning curve that the medical world rarely prepares you for. It is difficult to ...
    4. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      1

      My only proof

      It's very frustrating to be dismissed by medical professionals, especially when you are the one living with the reality of your condition every day. Having to be your own advocate and "fight" for a doctor who will listen is an exhausting burden that no one should have to carry. While that 1998 brochure is a crucial piece of your personal history, it's infuriating...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Colleen H's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      Methylprednisone treatment for inflammation?

      Methylprednisolone is sometimes prescribed for significant inflammation of the stomach and intestines, particularly for conditions like Crohn's disease, certain types of severe colitis, or autoimmune-related gastrointestinal inflammation. As a corticosteroid, it works by powerfully and quickly suppressing the immune system's inflammatory response. For many...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,908
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    ebrown
    Newest Member
    ebrown
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • klmgarland
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By klmgarland · Posted

      Thank you so very much Scott.  Just having someone understand my situation is so very helpful.  If I have one more family member ask me how my little itchy skin thing is going and can't you just take a pill and it will go away and just a little bit of gluten can't hurt you!!!! I think I will scream!!
    • Scott Adams
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It is difficult to do the detective work of tracking down hidden sources of cross-contamination. The scenarios you described—the kiss, the dish towel, the toaster, the grandbaby's fingers—are all classic ways those with dermatitis herpetiformis might get glutened, and it's a brutal learning curve that the medical world rarely prepares you for. It is difficult to have to deal with such hyper-vigilance. The fact that you have made your entire home environment, from makeup to cleaners, gluten-free is a big achievement, but it's clear the external world and shared spaces remain a minefield. Considering Dapsone is a logical and often necessary step for many with DH to break the cycle of itching and allow the skin to heal while you continue your detective work; it is a powerful tool to give you back your quality of life and sleep. You are not failing; you are fighting an incredibly steep battle. For a more specific direction, connecting with a dedicated celiac support group (online or locally) can be invaluable, as members exchange the most current, real-world tips for avoiding cross-contamination that you simply won't find in a pamphlet. You have already done the hardest part by getting a correct diagnosis. Now, the community can help you navigate the rest. If you have DH you will likely also want to avoid iodine, which is common in seafoods and dairy products, as it can exacerbate symptoms in some people. This article may also be helpful as it offers various ways to relieve the itch:  
    • Scott Adams
      My only proof

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It's very frustrating to be dismissed by medical professionals, especially when you are the one living with the reality of your condition every day. Having to be your own advocate and "fight" for a doctor who will listen is an exhausting burden that no one should have to carry. While that 1998 brochure is a crucial piece of your personal history, it's infuriating that the medical system often requires more contemporary, formal documentation to take a condition seriously. It's a common and deeply unfair situation for those who were diagnosed decades ago, before current record-keeping and testing were standard. You are not alone in this struggle.
    • Scott Adams
      Methylprednisone treatment for inflammation?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Methylprednisolone is sometimes prescribed for significant inflammation of the stomach and intestines, particularly for conditions like Crohn's disease, certain types of severe colitis, or autoimmune-related gastrointestinal inflammation. As a corticosteroid, it works by powerfully and quickly suppressing the immune system's inflammatory response. For many people, it can be very effective at reducing inflammation and providing rapid relief from symptoms like pain, diarrhea, and bleeding, often serving as a short-term "rescue" treatment to bring a severe flare under control. However, experiences can vary, and its effectiveness depends heavily on the specific cause of the inflammation. It's also important to be aware that while it can work well, it comes with potential side effects, especially with longer-term use, so it's typically used for the shortest duration possible under close medical supervision. It's always best to discuss the potential benefits and risks specific to your situation with your gastroenterologist.
    • Scott Adams
      I think I am gluten intolerant

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Based on what you've described, it is absolutely possible you are dealing with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS).  Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS.   Your situation is a classic presentation: a negative celiac panel but a clear, recurring pattern of symptoms triggered by gluten. The symptoms you listed—particularly the extreme fatigue, bloating, neurological-psychiatric symptoms like depression and anxiety, and even the skin manifestations like facial flushing—are all well-documented in research on NCGS. It's important to know that you are not alone in experiencing this specific combination of physical and emotional reactions. The only way to know for sure is to commit to a strict, 100% gluten-free diet under the guidance of a doctor or dietitian for a period of several weeks to see if your symptoms significantly improve. It is also crucial to rule out other potential causes, so discussing these symptoms with a gastroenterologist is a very important next step.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.