What to expect?

[KellyinPA]

 Hi all. I’m a newb on this board and I have to admit, I’m nervous to be here. I’m getting my first round of blood work done tomorrow and I don’t know if I’d rather NOT have celiacs, or if I’d rather have it. I’ve tested negative for *everything* else, so I’m hopefully to finally get answers to all of these health mysteries.

So, what can I expect?  After I get my lab work back (hopefully that’s fairly fast) I have a biopsy done? How exactly does that go down?  Is it like a colonoscopy?

After that, is that everything and they can official know if it is or is not celiac disease?

If it does come back that I do indeed have celiac disease, how hard is it to make the lifestyle changes? What struggles have you faced? Are there issues that go beyond diet? Give it to me straight!

🙂 K 

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, Kelly!

If the antibody count from your blood work is strongly positive your physician may forego a biopsy and declare you to have celiac disease. The centerpiece of the antibody testing is the tTG-IGA but other antibody tests can be run. If you are comfortable with it you can post the values on the forum if you want our opinions. Be sure to post reference ranges so we know what value that particular lab uses for negative vs. positive. If your physician does want a scoping don't start the gluten free diet until after it is done or you will likely invalidate the results.

The biopsy is done via an endoscopy. The scope is inserted through the mouth, throat, stomach and into the small bowel. Not from the bottom end. In the US they usually give you some kind of conscious sedation and your will feel no discomfort and likely won't even remember it after waking up.

[KellyinPA]

2 minutes ago, trents said:

Welcome to the forum, Kelly!

If the antibody count from your blood work is strongly positive your physician may forego a biopsy and declare you to have celiac disease. The centerpiece of the antibody testing is the tTG-IGA but other antibody tests can be run. If you are comfortable with it you can post the values on the forum if you want our opinions. Be sure to post reference ranges so we know what value that particular lab uses for negative vs. positive. If your physician does want a scoping don't start the gluten free diet until after it is done or you will likely invalidate the results.

The biopsy is done via an endoscopy. The scope is inserted through the mouth, throat, stomach and into the small bowel. Not from the bottom end. In the US they usually give you some kind of conscious sedation and your will feel no discomfort and likely won't even remember it after waking up.

Thanks for the quick response!  I’m a pretty open book, so if things need to be discussed, I’ll be sure to share my lab numbers.  I can’t say the scoping sounds very nice 😬 and I DO help I don’t remember much. Yuck.