Multiple symptoms and mixed provider responses

[DJBC]

So I’ve had horrible stomach problems for as long as I can remember. Diarrhea is usually every other day at least, sometimes worse, sometimes a little better. It can happen within 5 minutes of finishing eating most things. I’m also constantly tired, I haven’t gained a pound since I was 18 (I’m 26), my memory is trash, and the thing that really made me wonder was an absolutely massive rash I got around an hour after eating biscuits and gravy. The only thing is it wasn’t on both sides of my body, it was only on the left side of my torso, but it took up about half of my whole side and had an insane amount of inflammation the second day, and the third day all the fluid fell with gravity to my lower stomach and back. The rash was not patchy but one massive dark red spot, itchy, and painful. I got the IgA test and the normal range was 61-356, and my result was 336. This was a while ago and all the notes said was “good news, no celiac”. I have the HLA-DQ tests coming up, so we’ll see. Does this sound like possible celiac or am I blowing this out of proportion?

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, @DJBC!

Which IGA test did you get done? From the magnitude of your score (336) that sounds like a total IGA score, not a tTG-IGA score. Total IGA is a test for IGA deficiency, not for celiac disease per se. The centerpiece test for celiac disease is the tTG-IGA. If there is IGA deficiency, it will result in an artificially low tTG-IGA score and potential false negatives. There is another IGA test for celiac disease as well, namely, the DGP-IGA and there are also non-IGA tests (IGG tests). 

Did you have more than one test ordered for celiac disease? Can you post back and list them all with scores along with reference ranges? From what you have posted so far, all I can say is it looks like you are not IGA deficient but that doesn't say anything one way or the other about whether or not you have celiac disease.

Here is an article outlining the various tests that can be run to detect celiac disease: 

 

Edited June 19, 2025 by trents

[Scott Adams]

This article might also be helpful, as you could have DH:

https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/understanding-dermatitis-herpetiformis-the-skin-manifestation-of-celiac-disease-r6361/

[Wheatwacked]

Once you've completed testing and still don't have improvement, start a trial gluten free diet.  Looking for imprvement that may indicate Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, which is 10 times more prevalent than Celiac Disease.

Deficiencies in vitamins B6, B12, D, and C can manifest as skin rashes.  Virtual guaranty you are deficient in vitamin D.