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Blood Tests

kalo

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gf4life Enthusiast
gf4life
Posted

Have you taken him off dairy too? Sometimes dairy can delay the healing process. If this is the case and he is still getting contaminated somehow, then it could explain the increase. What did the doctors say about it? I also wanted to say that not everyone is able to fully heal in six months time. Some people take much longer. How are his symptoms? Are they improving?

God bless,

Mariann

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ROYAL BLUE Apprentice
ROYAL BLUE
Posted

It actually was the GI nurse that gave me the blood test results when I phoned. She said she would check with the Dr. and get him to call me. She also said I should also look at his symptom not just the numbers.

I have not taken him off dairy, I thought he was taking it fine ( how would I know otherwise)?

His bowel movements are normal almost always, his bloated abdomen I think has gotten smaller and he has been growing about 1/8-1/4 inch a month (but maybe this is normal for a 7 yr. old).

I am very careful about cross contamination. If their is a possibility of contamination, I do not buy him that brand of food. It is possible to get contamination from school or ( maybe his dad). But the occasional contamination or accident would that cause his numbers to be twice as high as before he was gluten free?

Tracy

gf4life Enthusiast
gf4life
Posted

Another one of the members here posted earlier this year about her bloodtest numbers being higher, but when they did the biopsy her intestine showed that she was healing. So you never know. Did they do a biopsy on you son? They could tell by repeating the biopsy and comparing the results. Otherwise the only way to tell is to watch the symptoms.

God bless,

Mariann

Guest NitaB
Guest NitaB
Posted

On this subject of testing, I have another question. If I do the gluten-free diet for 3 to 6 months, and decide to be tested again to see about the lesions, can anything other than an endoscopy tell? I have friends asking if I couldn't have a catscan or MRI. I've never had either, and not sure what they can tell. I'm assuming the test needs to be more internal. Can anyone clarify this for me?

I won't do any more blood tests, as they came back negative in the first place! I should be glad to have had the biopsy first! I have to say, my gluten-free days, of which I'm trying to do, are the days I'm feeling good! I'm paying for my mistakes, however!

Thanks again everyone! This board has been so helpful. :)

Nita

gf4life Enthusiast
gf4life
Posted

Baruim x-rays can be done to show intestinal abnormalities, but they do NOT give a good enough view of the intestines to tell if the lesions have gone. Only the endoscopy can show that. There is the new camera pill that is supposed to be good, but without the tissue samples I'm not sure if they could tell if the damage is getting better.

An MRI or a CT scan would not work for this disease.

God bless,

Mariann

kalo Rookie
kalo
Posted
  • Author

I don't know what their test shows but Enterolabs says to test with them once a year to see how you are doing. Maybe somone could go into there test and how it would help. Hugs, Carol B

Guest NitaB
Guest NitaB
Posted

Mariann,

I thought correctly on those tests. Others, well meaning, always suggest something else. I will also discuss it with the Dr. on Tues. Thanks for your reply!

Carol,

I'm not going to do Enterolab at this time, beings I've done the biopsy and blood tests. I feel better with a gluten-free diet, so feel I'm on the right track.

How long do you have to wait for your results?

Nita

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kalo Rookie
kalo
Posted
  • Author

Hi Nita. I just thought if you wanted to know how your intestines were healing I think they can tell you. As to my results one gal said it took a month. they have been so backlogged it may take longer. I HOPE NOT. I WANT IT NOW! :-( Hugs, Carol B

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    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for a significant amount of time. It's called the "gluten challenge".  Yes, you can develop celiac disease at any stage of life. There is a genetic component but also a stress trigger that is needed to activate the celiac genes. About 30-40% of the general population possesses the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% of the general population actually develop celiac disease. For most with the potential, the triggering stress event doesn't happen. It can be many things but often it is a viral infection. Having said that, it is also the case that many, many people who eventually are diagnosed with celiac disease probably experienced the actual onset years before. Many celiacs are of the "silent" type, meaning that symptoms are largely missing or very minor and get overlooked until damage to the small bowel lining becomes advanced or they develop iron deficiency anemia or some other medical problem associated with celiac disease. Many, many are never diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life because they did not experience classic symptoms. And many physicians are only looking for classic symptoms. We now know that there are over 200 symptoms/medical problems associated with celiac disease but many docs are only looking for things like boating, gas, diarrhea. I certainly understand your concerns about not wanting to damage your body by taking on a gluten challenge. Your other option is to totally commit to gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. It can take two years or more for complete healing of the small bowel lining once going gluten free but usually people experience significant improvement well before then. If their is significant improvement in your symptoms when going seriously gluten free, then you likely have your answer. You would either have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity).
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