Gluten free chicken broth

[nightwolf8769]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and new to the gluten lifestyle. I'm currently pre diagnosis for stomach issues but have found out that Im gluten sensitive not intolerant. Pretty much told I should stay away from gluten all together. I'm on a clear liquid diet before a procedure tomorrow, and haven't been able to find a gluten free chicken broth. Anyone know of some good brands that are actually gluten free? Thank you! 

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, nightwolf8769!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Swanson-100-Natural-Gluten-Free-Chicken-Broth-48-Oz-Carton/10308003

In the gluten disorder world, terminology can be confusing and used variously by different people. Are you equating "intolerant" with celiac disease? Have you actually been tested for celiac disease?

[nightwolf8769]

Hi there, thank you, glad I found this site! I had some blood tests done to test for Celiac disease..the first one they said was negative/inconclusive.  The second one all I was told was that I was gluten sensitive not intolerant and to stay away from gluten. So I'm pretty confused myself. 

[trents]

Can you be more specific about which tests for celiac disease were done? Do you have access to them and would you be willing to post them on the forum, along with the reference ranges for negative vs. positive?

When I read that some tests were positive yet the practitioner's conclusion was that it means you are gluten sensitive rather than having celiac disease, I cringe. That is often a false dichotomy based on a lot of ignorance in the medical community relating to gluten disorders.

May I ask what procedure you are having performed tomorrow that you are needing to be on a clear liquid diet? I assume this is some kind of scoping, either an endoscopy or a colonoscopy.

Edited January 4, 2023 by trents

[nightwolf8769]

 I had two tests at two different places. My primary ordered one and then my gi specialist made me do another. I don't mind sharing, I'm having both of those procedures tomorrow. I'll have to go back through my paperwork and re read exactly what they wrote 

[trents]

Here is an overview of what blood tests can be run for celiac disease: https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/screening-and-diagnosis/screening/

The most common test doctors run for celiac disease is the tTG-IGA. But because individual immune responses may be atypical, it is a good idea to run a "full celiac panel". What one test may miss, others may catch. I think it is incorrect for physicians to conclude that because the tTG-IGA may be negative that positives in some of the other tests indicate NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity) rather than celiac disease.

[nightwolf8769]

Thank you for sharing this with me, it's very much appreciated, I think I'll go back and have the test done again properly 

[trents]

Do you know if during the scoping they will be taking biopsies of the small bowel villous lining? If so, realize that this is considered the definitive diagnostic test for celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation to the small bowel lining when gluten is ingested. Over time, this inflammation damages the villi that make up the lining and this in turn creates a host of other medical issues, many of them related to poor nutrient absorption. The blood test or tests you had done are designed to detect specific kinds of antibodies produced by this inflammation. An endoscopy with biopsy directly samples the small bowel lining which is then sent off to a lab and microscopically examined for damage caused by the inflammation. This is considered to be the definitive test for celiac disease. So, if that is being done tomorrow, there would be no need for further blood antibody testing.

[nightwolf8769]

I'm honestly not sure...my gi specialist is an Indian and I have a really hard time understanding what she says most of the time. She isn't very forth coming with information either, I've had to talk to other people with my issues and look stuff up on my own..you mentioned inflammation which I definetly think is one of my issues...I'm experiencing severe bloating and gas inside my stomach with occasional abdominal pain..been going on for four months and I also have had ibs like symptoms for over a year now. I'm stubborn and hate doctors and don't go unless I have to...I have anxiety including white coat which makes things harder and I don't go in until I absolutely have to. I have been pretty much gluten and lactose free for almost three months now. My doctor did mention possibly doing some biopsies...I want to be checked for SIBO as well, hopefully they will check for everything when they do the procedure but now after what you've said I'm definetly going to ask. 

[Scott Adams]

Here are some more brands of GF broth:

 

[nightwolf8769]

Thank you very much!

[RMJ]

45 minutes ago, nightwolf8769 said:

I have been pretty much gluten and lactose free for almost three months now. My doctor did mention possibly doing some biopsies..

If you have been gluten free for several months, celiac disease is harder to diagnose, because if you had it the healing process will have started.

[nightwolf8769]

So I would have to eat something gluten again to get it accurate?

[nightwolf8769]

If you wrote a reply I'm not able to see your comment 

[trents]

44 minutes ago, nightwolf8769 said:

If you wrote a reply I'm not able to see your comment 

Nightwolf8769, You can't just eat something containing gluten right before going in for a test for celiac disease, whether it is a blood test or the endoscopy/biopsy. The tests aren't measuring gluten levels but the inflammation or the damage that consuming gluten over time causes. If you eliminate or severely curtail the amount of gluten you have been eating for a period of weeks or months before going in for testing, the inflammation begins to subside and healing of the villi begin. This sabotages any testing.

The Mayo Clinic guidelines for pretest gluten consumption are the daily consumption of two slices of wheat bread (or the gluten equivalent) for 6-8 weeks preceding blood antibody testing and for two weeks preceding an endoscopy/biopsy. If you were already cutting back on gluten before your blood antibody testing was done that would explain low test numbers. Unfortunately, many doctors neglect to tell their patients these things or don't know enough about testing for gluten disorders to do so. This is a very frustrating phenomenon but all too common.

Yes, you would have to go back to eating regular amounts of gluten (according to the Mayo Clinic guidelines I penned), in order to get valid testing done. Not what you wanted to hear, I'm sure. Sounds like you should be shopping for a new physician.

Edited January 4, 2023 by trents

[nightwolf8769]

Thank you for explaining all this..I am new to all this so no idea what to expect or do. I've honestly adjusted to the gluten free lifestyle, and don't really want to go backwards  and chance getting more sick trying to test again. In some sense I do believe it has helped getting rid of gluten, hard to say with any real certainty with  everything going on and my symtpoms..Just glad I can finally get some real information on all this.

[trents]

Lower gluten eating is easy to achieve but eating truly gluten free is much more challenging than most people imagine at the outset. Gluten is tucked away in so many ways in so many every day foods you would never expect to contain wheat, like canned tomato soup and soy sauce for example. If you have celiac disease you will keep the inflammation smoldering unless you get rid of all gluten. Until you achieve truly gluten free eating, it will be difficult to sort out whether ongoing medical problems are being caused by celiac disease or something else. This might be helpful:

The biggest challenges are social. Eating at other people's homes or eating out. Those are situations where you don't have total control. Was that gluten free menu item cooked on the same surface or in the same pan/pot as the gluten stuff. Was it handled and sliced with the same utensils? Did well-meaning Aunt Sally "gluten" you because she didn't have a clue what gluten is and the myriad of ways it finds itself into common food items like that can of soup she used to make the casserole?

Edited January 4, 2023 by trents

[nightwolf8769]

I read a good portion of this and will finish it..honestly it's very overwhelming realizing how tough it is to truly be gluten free

[trents]

Yes, it is overwhelming at first but over time it becomes the new normal. Over time, you develop a sort of sixth sense as to what might have gluten hidden in it. Take heart.

[nightwolf8769]

Thank you! 

[Scott Adams]

21 hours ago, nightwolf8769 said:

So I would have to eat something gluten again to get it accurate?

To get a blood test for celiac disease you would need to eat at least 2 slices of wheat bread's worth of gluten daily for 6-8 weeks, and at least 2 weeks before an endoscopy.

[nightwolf8769]

Ok, ty!