Seeking Advice About Diagnosis

[Brittm0807]

I’ve had issues for many years with my digestion and abdominal cramping/diarrhea. I have been told for so long that I have IBS, but recently my symptoms seemed to be getting worse and more random so I went back to the doctor for additional testing. The doctor ordered multiple blood tests and also stool tests. One test was the TTG-IgA test for celiacs disease, which I had done back in October and tested negative for. This time, the test for celiac came back positive, but I also tested positive for a GI bacteria that I seemed to have picked up in my recent travels to Portugal. I’m curious if there’s any possibility that the bacterial infection would have given me a false positive for the celiac test? Celiac makes sense based on the symptoms I’ve had for so long, but I can’t help but question it with having multiple diagnoses and a negative test last October. I know I can move forward and do the endoscopy, but am also happy to just try being gluten free and see how I feel. Thoughts? 

[trents]

There are some things that can generate positive tTG-IGA values. Crohn's disease, some tropical parasitic infections, some medications and even the dairy protein, casein,  in some people. You can develop celiac disease at any time in life. Some experts believe that gluten sensitivity (NCGS) can be a precursor to celiac disease. You can trial gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. But keep in mind that if you go for testing in the future, either antibody testing or biopsy, you would need to go back on regular amounts of gluten for weeks or months leading up to the testing in order for it to be valid. 

[Brittm0807]

2 minutes ago, trents said:

There are some things that can generate positive tTG-IGA values. Crohn's disease, some tropical parasitic infections, some medications and even the dairy protein, casein,  in some people. You can develop celiac disease at any time in life. Some experts believe that gluten sensitivity (NCGS) can be a precursor to celiac disease. You can trial gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. But keep in mind that if you go for testing in the future, either antibody testing or biopsy, you would need to go back on regular amounts of gluten for weeks or months leading up to the testing in order for it to be valid. 

Thank you for your response!! Glad to know that the bacterial infection likely didn’t offset the results. I’ve been suffering so long and I just want something to work!! Hopefully removing gluten from my diet will be that thing. Still waiting on some other tests to rule out crohn’s. 

[Awol cast iron stomach]

Welcome to the forum Britt. I am glad you have a Dr. looking into this for you further. Trents gave you excellent information. I just wanted to chime in as I was long misdiagnosed IBS by symptoms only. I am diagnosed NCGS with additional food intolerances. I have a cousin who is Celiac.  I was unable to complete my 2 week gluten challenge when I had my scopes. I hope your tests get you some answers, as Trents sometimes NCGS is determined, and still requires a gluten-free diet. There are a few of us on here who were diagnosed IBS, as testing for Celiac was done less in the past, and thought rare. I can share I found the forums very helpful. I live as a celiac despite being NCGS, as the Celiac Lifestyle of a gluten-free home, no restaurants, gluten-free products is what keeps my multiple symptoms,  and pain at bay. 

I wish you the best on your path to diagnosis enlightenment, and healing.