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Blood test results, NHS UK


Poppifleur

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Poppifleur Newbie

Hello, I am new here - thank you very much for letting me join!

I saw my GP a few weeks ago following two positive finger-prick tests which I had purchased online, and was booked in for a blood test at the surgery.  I did the home tests because I was getting dreadful burning, itchy rashes on my elbows and 'Dr Google' made me suspect dermatitis herpetiformis.  

I received my blood test results today and have been told I do have coeliac disease.  Please, could anyone tell me from my results if an endoscopy will be likely?  I have been given an appointment to see the Nurse Practitioner in a few weeks but other than that, I am still very much in the dark as to what happens next.  I have no idea whether to keep eating gluten or if I should give it up straight away?

I am fifty-eight years old and in Scotland if that helps?

My results: IgA t-TG antibody 87.0 U/ml  H  Reference Range (< 7.1)  This is the only test result I have.

I would be so grateful for any insight as feeling a bit overwhelmed and lost.  Thank you very much.

 


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trents Grand Master

Welcome to the forum, Poppifleur! In the UK it is common for physicians to assign an official diagnosis of celiac disease when the tTG-IGA is 10x normal range or greater and so to forego the endsocpy/biopsy. You would fit this category. But do not start a gluten free diet until you get definite word from your physician that he/she is not opting for biopsy. If you go on a gluten-free diet before all tests are complete you will experience healing of the villi that line the small bowel and in so doing you may invalidate the biopsy which is designed to look for damage to the villi.

Do you have other questions?

Poppifleur Newbie

Thank you so much!  I will keep eating the gluten until I know the next step my GP wants to take - a final farewell to lovely naughty foods!!

I can't think of any other questions at the moment thank you, I will I'm sure have many more as I come to terms with everything.  I'm only just beginning to realise how many symptoms I actually have of coeliac... 

So glad to have found this wonderfully supportive space on the internet 😊

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