Symptoms

[penguin11]

Hello,

I went gluten-free for a year, and started eating gluten again one year ago. The reason for this was that my doctor said that the blood works didn`t show any sign of celiac disease (after one year of gluten-free). I generally feel fine, but I get more gas and loose stools after I started eating gluten again. Does this indicate celiac disease? 

 

[knitty kitty]

Yes.  

The blood work your doctor did was probably testing the amount of antibodies your body produces against gluten.  Your body only produces these antibodies when gluten is present in the diet.  

When you remove gluten from your diet, your body gradually stops producing antibodies against gluten.  These antibodies attack not only gluten, but also cells in our bodies that resemble gluten.  When our antibodies accidentally attack our own bodies, this is an autoimmune reaction.  Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder.

You want your blood work to show no antibodies.  Having a clear test like that, one that shows NOT ACTIVE Celiac Disease, is GOOD.  It does not mean that you are no longer Celiac.  It does not mean can eat gluten again.  It means that you have got your Celiac Disease under control.  You are Celiac.  You will always be Celiac. 

You have already started showing early symptoms of inflammation in your digestive system with the recurrence of gas and bloating.  Your symptoms will continue to worsen as your immune system gears up and produces more and more antibodies that will attack not only gluten but your body as well.  You must stay gluten free.

I am so sorry your doctor conveyed information to you in a way you didn't understand.  My heart goes out to you.

{{{HUGS}}}

Edited October 10, 2022 by knitty kitty
Typo correction

[penguin11]

Thanks for your reply.

I have never been diagnosed with celiac disease, I was to eager to try gluten-free two years ago and didn`t wait for my doctor`s opinion. I thought the symptoms I had back then indicated that there was something that my body reacted to, and I wanted to try gluten-free to see if there were any improvements. There were. However, now I feel that something is a little bit off again, and it is maybe time for another blood work, since I have eaten gluten for a year. If I have celiac disease it should be active by now, right?

[knitty kitty]

Yes, if you've been eating gluten for a year, you should be producing antibodies by now.

The gluten challenge calls for consuming at least two slices of bread or equivalent for six to eight weeks before testing.  

Be sure to ask for the complete Celiac panel of tests:

tissue transglutaminase (tTG) immunoglobulin A (IgA) and tTG immunoglobulin G (IgG) tests

endomysial antibody (EMA) -IgA test

deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP) -IgA and DGP-IgG tests

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/professionals/clinical-tools-patient-management/digestive-diseases/celiac-disease-health-care-professionals

[penguin11]

Thanks!