Gluten challenge

[penguin11]

My doctor said I didn`t need to eat gluten before doing a blood test for celiac, only if a biopsy was needed if the results from the blood test indicated it was relevant. Can any useful conclusions be drawn from the blood test if I haven`t eaten gluten in one year (gene test, etc.)? 

Another question: I experience a reduction in heartburn when taking fish oil. Does anyone else have experience with fish oil, and know if/how this can be good for a potentially destroyed stomach after years of ignoring issues that indicate celiac disease?

[Wheatwacked]

If he is testing for genetic markers for Celiac Disease, your Gluten free diet is not a factor. If testing for antibodies and you are successfully navigating GFD the results will be negative for Celiac. If you are Non Celiac Gluten Sensistive all the tests will be negative for Celiac Disease and you have to go by your response to GFD. With Celiac affecting your small intestine absorbtion you likely had vitamin and mineral deficiencies that by now, on a nutrient rich diet should be mostly resolved. At this point, after a year GFD, my opinion is that if you are still having heartburn and other symptoms you need to investigate just which nutrients you are not getting enough of in your diet because they determine how quickly your body can do it's job and heal itself.  People without Celiac Disease get acid reflux. In a way that is the blessing of Celiac Disease; you know that it is not normal to have pain and antacids are not the solution.

Fish oil is touted for its anti-inflamatory effect.  Better to rout out the cause of the inflamation.  I prefer Cod Liver Oil for its real vitamin A (antioxident) content in addition to the omega 3 and some vitamin D.

This is the meal plan I follow most days.

 

[penguin11]

Great answer. Thanks!

The road on GFD has been bumpy, but most of the symptoms have disappeard. As mentioned, I get heartburn when I don`t take fish oil, and I also have some fatigue. Maybe this indicates that there still is some inflamation and maybe also issues with nutrient absorption. Anyway, I will take some blood tests and hopefully find out!