Accidental Celiac Disease Diagnosis

[Risky725]

Hi all, long time reader, first time poster. Two weeks ago, at 59 yrs old and relatively healthy, I was tested for Celiac (by mistake as the nurse at Dr's office during physical checked the wrong box for my bloodwork) and my results came back back highly positive on the Celiac panel. My CBC is good, with good hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. My Vit D level is at 49, and my iron is a tad on the lower end but within range and TIBC and UIBC both ok. My saturation % is however at 13, off from the low range number of 15%. I present no clinical signs of Celiac or symptoms. I'm hoping I caught this in the early stages as my iron and ferritin levels have always been perfect even up to last year.

I am very familiar with maintaining a strict gluten free diet and I'm hopeful that I will transition seamlessly as I don't eat a lot of wheat or wheat based products anyway. I have 2 close family members who have had Celiac for 10 years each. I'm an idiot for not actually getting myself tested years ago, but I'm hopeful that I haven't had it forever due to my ok blood work and lack of stomach issues. My doc never knew to test me because I honestly never brought it up in our appointments.

I have been strict gluten free for 2 weeks, and I must say, I have noticed 2 things curiously: 1) I don't seem to have any bloat, which I have experienced before on occasion and 2) and not be gross, but my bowel movements have been MUCH different and I believe, much better. Maybe those were two symptoms I had and never realized it.

I'm not planning on getting a biopsy right now, as I'm due for a colonoscopy early 2023 and I'll have it done at that time. I'm going full bore gluten free and will get blood tested at physical next year and will see if any improvement.  

Anyway, I appreciate reading this and all other posts on the forum and look forward to seeing more!

 

[Scott Adams]

Welcome to the forum, and it's interesting that a mistaken check box led you to get a diagnosis. Many celiacs are asymptomatic, so that part isn't unusual, but most do notice that they did actually have symptoms but just didn't realize it, and this also is true in your case. If you're fine with a gluten-free diet, there isn't a need for the endoscopy, but most doctors recommend it to make a formal diagnosis, and to check the level of villi damage.

If you do get an endoscopy later, just remember that you will need to eat ~2 slices of wheat bread daily for at least two weeks beforehand.