Considering having a blood test

[Kristina12]

Hi,

My doctor has just ordered a blood test to see if I'm celiac. I have always had digestive problems and since I switched to a gluten free diet I am much better. I recently cheated and had a couple of days where I ate gluten and I came out in a red butterfly rash and puffy face. This reaction made me talk to my doctor and she ordered the test. I asked her if I needed to eat gluten as this scares me now because I don't want the symptoms to return. She said I didn't need to and I questioned this, as it is an antibody test, but she insisted I didn't have to. Does anybody know the proper way to approach the test and how much and how long to eat gluten before it. Is it really necessary to get a diagnosis or should I just continue eating gluten free. Many thanks for any advice. 

[Kristina12]

I also forgot to mention that I have Turner syndrome and it is quite common for women with Turner Syndrome to have celiac disease. 

[Scott Adams]

To be tested for celiac disease using blood screening you need to be eating lots of gluten daily for 6-8 weeks beforehand. 

This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.

 

 

[trents]

Your doctor gave you a bum steer. 

[Kristina12]

The doctor is indeed wrong. Thank you for the interesting article and advice. I just really wonder if I can go through 6-8 weeks of pain in terms of digestive problems and possible rash. How valuable is it to have a diagnosis? 

[trents]

If you have an official celiac diagnosis, some governments offer stipends for gluten free food purchases and extended follow-up care. Such is available in certain areas of the UK for instance. However, an official diagnosis can also be a handicap if you are paying for private healthcare insurance. For the most part, however, the benefit seems to be psychological. Many people have a hard time sticking to the gluten free diet without an official diagnosis, especially in the face of social pressures from family and friends. They find ways to dismiss the condition and blame it on something else, i.e., they rationalize it away.

Edited November 20, 2024 by trents

[Kristina12]

Thank you for your input. That really helped me make a decision. 

[Wheatwacked]

If your blood test is soon and you have not been gluten free for long, your doctor may be trying to save you the challenge.  Seems like she may be pretty sure you have Celiac Disease already.

After you stop eating foods with gluten, your symptoms will likely get better in a few days to weeks. Your small intestine should heal completely in 3 to 6 months possibly years without correcting the vitamin and mineral deficiencies. 

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Your body having an overreaction to gluten – such as gluten intolerance – can last for a while, even if the protein is completely out of your system. This varies by person, but can last for weeks or even months.

This all depends on the degree to which your gut has been affected by the gluten, how thoroughly you’re able to remove all gluten from your diet as well as how well you’re nourishing your body with the right nutrients to be able to optimize recovery.  How Long Does Gluten Stay in Your System After You Stop Eating It?