Jump to content

  • 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

Has Anyone Ever Done A Gluten Challenge...

stephk

Recommended Posts

stephk Newbie
stephk
Posted

Hi,

my name is Stephanie and I'm 27 years old. About 2 years ago I was told that I probably had Celiac Disease and started a gluten free diet (not realizing how stupid that was at the time). I am still having problems to this day and am considering doing the gluten challenge under the care of my doctor, so that I can have the biopsy and blood test done and know forsureif I have celiac disease. I was wondreing if anyone has done this and how bad it is.

I have also been reading about this enterolab test and was wondering how/where I would get it. It sounds like it would be helpful as well. I really would like to get some answers either way so that I don't have to guess anymore.

If anyone has any advice, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Megan Rookie
Megan
Posted

I only did the gluten free diet for a weekish before they decided to do testing and now I need to eat gluten. Just be prepared. Don't do it the big week of ANYTHING! pick a calm week...

other than that I think it depends on which symptoms you have when you are glutened!?! and how well you can handle them and go on with daily life!

Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted

I did a gluten challenge last summer and got violently ill. It took me almost two months until I was starting to feel somewhat normal again. Of course, they had me do the gluten challenge for over a month, so that may have played a part in it. I don't think you need to be eating gluten for quite that long. If you're still having problems and they can't figure out what else it could be, I'd say go for it. You'll probably want to make sure that you can take vacation from work on short notice if it gets too bad though. Good luck! I hope you get some answers soon.

par18 Apprentice
par18
Posted
Hi,

my name is Stephanie and I'm 27 years old. About 2 years ago I was told that I probably had Celiac Disease and started a gluten free diet (not realizing how stupid that was at the time). I am still having problems to this day and am considering doing the gluten challenge under the care of my doctor, so that I can have the biopsy and blood test done and know forsureif I have celiac disease. I was wondreing if anyone has done this and how bad it is.

I have also been reading about this enterolab test and was wondering how/where I would get it. It sounds like it would be helpful as well. I really would like to get some answers either way so that I don't have to guess anymore.

If anyone has any advice, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

Stephanie

Who told you to go on gluten-free diet?

Tom

plantime Contributor
plantime
Posted

If you decide to do the challenge, choose a time when you have a couple of weeks free to be sick. If your problem is not gluten, then you might not get sick. However, for some, being without gluten for a couple of years then eating it again leads to severe illness. I believe that if you become ill after eating gluten, since you have been off of it for so long, is a positive reaction. Are you sure that you cut out all sources of gluten, including malt flavoring and cross contamination? You could also be intolerant to something else that you are eating. Good luck with your testing!

par18 Apprentice
par18
Posted
Hi,

my name is Stephanie and I'm 27 years old. About 2 years ago I was told that I probably had Celiac Disease and started a gluten free diet (not realizing how stupid that was at the time). I am still having problems to this day and am considering doing the gluten challenge under the care of my doctor, so that I can have the biopsy and blood test done and know forsureif I have celiac disease. I was wondreing if anyone has done this and how bad it is.

I have also been reading about this enterolab test and was wondering how/where I would get it. It sounds like it would be helpful as well. I really would like to get some answers either way so that I don't have to guess anymore.

If anyone has any advice, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

Stephanie,

Did you respond to the gluten-free diet in a positive way? Are you saying you have been gluten free for the past 2 years and still have problems?

Tom

Felidae Enthusiast
Felidae
Posted

I know what you mean about wanting it on paper. I went gluten-free because I was sick of being sick. My doctor saw me about three months after being gluten-free and she said it was not worth it to do a gluten challenge because of how sick I would be again. And what if the results came back negative anyways, then what. The gluten-free diet itself has told me what I need to know in the way that my body has responded.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


flagbabyds Collaborator
flagbabyds
Posted

If you really need an official diagnosis of celiac, then I would say go for it. But if you think that maybe other foods might be bothering you, then you might want to try the elimination diet and slowly add foods back in one at a time, and then if they don't make you sick, then you know that you can have that food, but if it makes you sick, then you know to aviod it. My mom would never put me on gluten when I was a baby, and they wanted to do the challenge, now they don't do that anymore because it makes people so sick.

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

Stephanie, if you have been gluten free for two years, it could possibly be at least a year of eating gluten for enough damage to show up again for a positive test result. It is very likely you would get a false negative unless you eat gluten for a long time. Is it really worth it?

Did you initially feel better when you went gluten free? If yes, once your intestines healed and absorbed nutrients again, they would also have absorbed other things again that you are intolerant to. That is what happened to me. When I started feeling worse again after three months, I had to figure out my other food intolerances. So now, being gluten-free and having eliminated the million other things I am intolerant to, I feel much better again.

I agree with the elimination diet idea. That would be much better than going back on gluten. Or try having some and see if it makes you sick. If it does, you know that gluten is a problem, no testing needed there, just a need to hunt down the other problems.

Try cutting out all dairy for starters. And as somebody else said, have you eliminated ALL gluten? Did you buy a new toaster, new cutting board, replaced wooden cooking utensils, non-stick cookware, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, lipstick, lip balm? Did you avoid everything that says 'malt flavouring', natural flavours, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, soy sauce?

Its a jungle out there for us, you have to be vigilant and on your guard at all times! :ph34r:

I hope you figure it out, all the best.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

yes, but it was after about three weeks gluten free, was for a dietary result, and not of the magnitude that you would need to do. you can try it if you want to, but I would encourage you to play close attention to your body, and consider stopping the experiment short if it becomes apparent that your body is telling you the answer sooner than the tests need you to consume gluten for.

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

https://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodid=1281

Read the article above--helpful info on the pros and cons of doing a gluten challenge...isn't always accurate or effective unfortunately.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to rei.b's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      @rei.b, I understand how frustrating starting a new way of eating can be. I tried all sorts of gluten-free processed foods and just kept feeling worse. My health didn't improve until I started the low histamine AIP diet. It makes a big difference. Gluten fits into opioid receptors in our bodies. So, removing gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms...
    2. captaincrab55
      - captaincrab55 replied to lmemsm's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      11

      Finding gluten free ingredients

      Imemsm, Most of us have experienced discontinued, not currently available or products that suddenly become seasonal. My biggest fear about relocating from Maryland to Florida 5 years ago, was being able to find gluten-free foods that fit my restricted diet. I soon found out that the Win Dixie and Publix supper markets actually has 99% of their gluten-free...
    3. rei.b
      - rei.b replied to rei.b's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      Okay well the info about TTG-A actually makes a lot of sense and I wish the PA had explained that to me. But yes, I would assume I would have intestinal damage from eating a lot of gluten for 32 years while having all these symptoms. As far as avoiding gluten foods - I was definitely not doing that. Bread, pasta, quesadillas (with flour tortillas) and...
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to rei.b's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      So you're saying that you think you should have severe intestinal damage since you've had the symptoms so long? DGP IgG antibodies are produced in response to a partial gluten molecule. This is different than what tissue transglutaminase antibodies are produced in response to. TTg IgA antibodies are produced in the intestines in response to...
    5. rei.b
      - rei.b replied to rei.b's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,130
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Tony White
    Newest Member
    Tony White
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @rei.b,  I understand how frustrating starting a new way of eating can be.  I tried all sorts of gluten-free processed foods and just kept feeling worse.  My health didn't improve until I started the low histamine AIP diet.  It makes a big difference.   Gluten fits into opioid receptors in our bodies.  So, removing gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms and reveals the underlying discomfort.  SIBO can cause digestive symptoms.  SIBO can prevent vitamins from being absorbed by the intestines.  Thiamine insufficiency causes Gastrointestinal Beriberi (bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea or constipation).  Thiamine is the B vitamin that runs out first because it can only be stored for two weeks.  We need more thiamine when we're sick or under emotional stress.  Gastric Beriberi is under recognised by doctors.  An Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test is more accurate than a blood test for thiamine deficiency, but the best way to see if you're low in thiamine is to take it and look for health improvement.  Don't take Thiamine Mononitrate because the body can't utilize it well.  Try Benfotiamine.  Thiamine is water soluble, nontoxic and safe even at high doses.  I thought it was crazy, too, but simple vitamins and minerals are important.  The eight B vitamins work together, so a B Complex, Benfotiamine,  magnesium and Vitamin D really helped get my body to start healing, along with the AIP diet.  Once you heal, you add foods back in, so the AIP diet is worth doing for a few months. I do hope you'll consider the AIP diet and Benfotiamine.
    • captaincrab55
      Finding gluten free ingredients

      By captaincrab55 · Posted

      Imemsm, Most of us have experienced discontinued, not currently available or products that suddenly become seasonal.   My biggest fear about relocating from Maryland to Florida 5 years ago, was being able to find gluten-free foods that fit my restricted diet.  I soon found out that the Win Dixie and Publix supper markets actually has 99% of their gluten-free foods tagged, next to the price.  The gluten-free tags opened up a  lot of foods that aren't actually marked gluten-free by the manufacture.  Now I only need to check for my other dietary restrictions.  Where my son lives in New Hartford, New York there's a Hannaford Supermarket that also has a gluten-free tag next to the price tag.  Hopefully you can locate a Supermarket within a reasonable travel distance that you can learn what foods to check out at a Supermarket close to you.  I have dermatitis herpetiformis too and I'm very sensitive to gluten and the three stores I named were very gluten-free friendly.  Good Luck 
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      Okay well the info about TTG-A actually makes a lot of sense and I wish the PA had explained that to me. But yes, I would assume I would have intestinal damage from eating a lot of gluten for 32 years while having all these symptoms. As far as avoiding gluten foods - I was definitely not doing that. Bread, pasta, quesadillas (with flour tortillas) and crackers are my 4 favorite foods and I ate at least one of those things multiple times a day e.g. breakfast with eggs and toast, a cheese quesadilla for lunch, and pasta for dinner, and crackers and cheese as a before bed snack. I'm not even kidding.  I'm not really big on sugar, so I don't really do sweets. I don't have any of those conditions.  I am not sure if I have the genes or not. When the geneticist did my genetic testing for EDS this year, I didn't think to ask for him to request the celiac genes so they didn't test for them, unfortunately.  I guess another expectation I had is  that if gluten was the issue, the gluten-free diet would make me feel better, and I'm 3 months in and that hasn't been the case. I am being very careful and reading every label because I didn't want to screw this up and have to do gluten-free for longer than necessary if I end up not having celiac. I'm literally checking everything, even tea and anything else prepacked like caramel dip. Honestly its making me anxious 😅
    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      So you're saying that you think you should have severe intestinal damage since you've had the symptoms so long?   DGP IgG antibodies are produced in response to a partial gluten molecule.  This is different than what tissue transglutaminase antibodies are  produced in response to.   TTg IgA antibodies are produced in the intestines in response to gluten.  The tTg IgA antibodies attack our own cells because a structural component in our cell membranes resembles a part of gluten.  There's a correlation between the level of intestinal damage with the level of tTg antibodies produced.  You are not producing a high number of tTg IgA antibodies, so your level of tissue damage in your intestines is not very bad.  Be thankful.   There may be reasons why you are not producing a high quantity of tTg IgA antibodies.  Consuming ten grams or more of gluten a day for two weeks to two months before blood tests are done is required to get sufficient antibody production and damage to the intestines.  Some undiagnosed people tend to subconsciously avoid lots of gluten.  Cookies and cakes do not contain as much gluten as artisan breads and thick chewy pizza crust.  Anemia, diabetes and thiamine deficiency can affect IgA antibody production as well.   Do you carry genes for Celiac?  They frequently go along with EDS.
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.