Assistance with raised levels

[LouisaM]

Hello, I’m a 20 year old female who has had celiac disease for 10 years.

my levels have been below 15 for 9 years.  Recently they were raised to 44 and I’m very worried.

i did holiday in late January and had two meals prepared for me by hotel staff.  I had no symptoms of gluten-free cross contamination.  However, could these meals have raised my levels that high?  I have also started on the contraceptive pill for menstrual pain relief.  Can the hormone change affect my levels?  I’m very concerned and worried.  Can someone please help?   Thank you 🙏 

 

 

 

 

[knitty kitty]

Welcome to the forum, @LouisaM!

Taking Thiamine supplements helps with menstrual pain and irregularities.  Other vitamins like Riboflavin B2, Pyridoxine B6 and Niacin B3, and Vitamin D work with Thiamine and helped improve symptoms.

Even on a gluten free diet, Celiac people can develop nutritional deficiencies.  Discuss nutritional supplementation with your doctor and nutritionist.

References:

Nutritional Imbalances in Adult Celiac Patients Following a Gluten-Free Diet

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8398893/

The Effects of Vitamin B1 on Ameliorating the Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4825494/

The Effect of Micronutrients on Pain Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea: a Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7146731/

Menstrual cycle symptoms are associated with nutrient intake: Results from network analysis from an online surve

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10350787/

Hope this helps!  

[Scott Adams]

It is possible that the meals you ate were cross-contaminated, and since you were on vacation perhaps you also ate at more restaurants than usual, which is also the most common source of gluten cross-contamination.

This article has some detailed information on how to be 100% gluten-free, so it may be helpful (be sure to also read the comments section.):

 

 

[LouisaM]

Hi Scott,

thought I’d share my new blood test results to see if you could provide more feedback.

Upon diagnosis over 10 years ago my IgG level was 250!  After going gluten-free, it dropped to 29 within 3 years.  Fast forward to now, it has raised to 44 in my February test and is now 45 in my test from late April.  I’m concerned why it has raised?  Is this level concerning for long term health?

thank you for your help. 
louisa

[RMJ]

Have all of your tests been run by the same lab? What are the normal ranges and are they the same for all of the results?

The units used to report celiac antibody results are not standardized.  Even though I’ve had tests ordered through the same health system for twelve years the normal ranges have been  0 to 19, then 0 to 3 and now 0 to 4.99. My results (now that I’m gluten free) are always at the top of each of the normal range, for example 18, 3 and 4.9.

[LouisaM]

Hi Scott,

thought I’d share my new blood test results to see if you could provide more feedback.

Upon diagnosis over 10 years ago my IgG level was 250!  After going gluten-free, it dropped to 29 within 3 years.  Fast forward to now, it has raised to 44 in my February test and is now 45 in my test from late April.  I’m concerned why it has raised?  Is this level concerning for long term health?

thank you for your help. 
louisa

[LouisaM]

Hi RMJ,

thanks for your response.

yes, the range has been the same across the labs however it’s my personal level that has gone from 29 to 45.  Still not sure why?  Is reactive celiac common or could it be some other inflammation?  I’m just not sure why my level is creeping up after being consistently low for over 7 years.

 

[Scott Adams]

For people with celiac disease hidden gluten in their diets is the main cause of elevated Tissue Transglutaminase IgA Antibodies (tTG-IgA), but there are other conditions, including cow's milk/casein intolerance, that can also cause this, and here is an article about the other possible causes:

 

 

[LouisaM]

Thank you Scott!  You are always so helpful and I value your advice.