Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Introduction & Start of Journey


Arletta

Recommended Posts

Arletta Newbie

Hi there. I am a 59 yo colon cancer survivor - had chemo in 2020 and was just released from my oncologist's care a few weeks ago. The day of my release my annual blood tests showed that I was iron deficient anemic. (I get blood sugar and cholesterol checked by pcp every 6 months, but blood counts/platelets/hemoglobin is done annually by oncologist.) My pcp sent in a request for a stat colonoscopy to look for a leak in my GI system. Colonoscopy and endoscopy were both fine. Next week I'm doing a capsule endoscope. Gastro said he sent tissue for biopsy - I had just presumed that there were polyps again until I read the report he sent my pcp that said they were looking for celiacs. Looking at the list of symptoms, I have a lot of them. The neuropathy in my fingers and toes which I experienced during chemo had disappeared, but now its back. The arthritis in my fingers is flaring worse than ever (and its rare for it to flare when its 80 some degrees outside). My friend who had celiacs asked if I had a particular blood test yet - and I'm guessing they'll wait until the capsule results to do that. In the meantime I'm reading and getting ready. From what I've read so far, even if I don't have celiacs I think a reduction in gluten intake would do me some good.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



trents Grand Master

Welcome to the forum community @Arletta!

The blood tests for celiac disease check for certain antibodies produced by the inflammation that gluten ingestion causes in the lining of the small bowel of those who have the disease. Normally, the blood antibody testing comes before the endoscopy/biopsy but in your case the order was understandably reversed since they were doing the endoscopy for other reasons as well. What you need to know is that you should not cut back on gluten consumption before the blood draw to check for celiac antibodies. Doing so will likely reduce inflammation and thus reduce antibody levels and could result in false negatives. If anything, you should increase your consumption of wheat products in the meantime.

There are several antibody tests that can be performed when checking for celiac disease. The most popular one ordered by physicians is the tTG-IGA. Try talking your physician into ordering a more complete celiac panel, however, which would include total IGA, tTG-IGA, DGP-IGA and DGP-IGG. It's very important that the physician order the "total IGA" test as if total IGA is low it can result in falsely negative results in the tTG-IGA. Anemia can also give false negatives for the tTG-IGA. The tTG-IGA is the considered the chief antibody test for celiac disease. 

Here is a primer outlining the blood tests that can be run for celiac disease: 

 

Arletta Newbie

Thanks @trents. My friend mentioned the tTG-IGA test. As far as cutting back - my opinion during this is that I'm going to enjoy the gluten while I still can! Thanks for the feedback.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,963
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Cheryl minshew
    Newest Member
    Cheryl minshew
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      70.5k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Jy11
      Well the conflicting results continue as the biopsy has come back negative. 😵‍💫 Waiting to discuss further but I really don’t know what to think now? Eight biopsy’s were taken from duodenum which surely should be sufficient if it was coeliac? 
    • Pasballard
      I have Celiacs and want you to be aware of the amount of weight you can potentially put on if you rely on gluten free snacks, bread etc.,they  are high in carbs.  I put on 25 lbs in a short amount of time.  Whole Foods are the best way to go but I struggle with this.  The cost of gluten free is also a problem.  I love black licorice but most have gluten.  My favorite chili seasoning as well.  The list is endless.  I take  Advil liquid gels and had no idea until I read this.  I hope you do better than I have done.  I feel I am destined to suffer daily no matter what.  My aunt didn’t take care of herself and died from complications.  I hope you can get on a good routine.
    • growlinhard1
      Thank you, I appreciate the response. I'm going to begin the gluten free diet and wait for the biopsy results. I feel fairly certain that it's the right thing for my well being. I will keep you posted.
    • Scott Adams
      The flu vaccine is indeed not 100% effective every year, as its effectiveness varies depending on how well the vaccine strains match the circulating flu viruses. However, even in years when the match is less than perfect, the flu vaccine still provides significant benefits. Studies consistently show that vaccinated individuals who contract the flu often experience milder symptoms, a lower risk of complications, and a reduced likelihood of hospitalization or death compared to those who are unvaccinated. For high-risk groups, such as the elderly, young children, and individuals with chronic health conditions, the flu vaccine remains a critical tool for reducing severe outcomes. Regarding the mention of risks associated with vaccines, it’s important to note that the flu vaccine is generally very safe for most people. Serious side effects are extremely rare, and the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks for the vast majority of individuals. If someone has specific concerns about vaccine safety due to medical conditions or allergies, they should consult their healthcare provider to discuss their options. As for alternative measures like a D Lamp (ultraviolet light disinfection), while these can be useful for reducing pathogens in the environment, they are not a substitute for vaccination. The flu virus spreads primarily through respiratory droplets, and personal protection measures like hand hygiene, masking, and improving indoor ventilation can complement vaccination but cannot replace its targeted immune protection.
    • trents
      Because you have already had the "gold standard" test done, and because you have some experiential evidence that removing gluten from your diet causes you to feel better, it would make sense to begin the gluten-free diet as you wait for biopsy results.
×
×
  • Create New...