Just Got Back Celiac Panel Results Back

[Cheli]

I sent my 6 year old to the doc because he was having tummy problems. I asked him to do a Celiac Panel and it came back at 193. the range is 33-200. So my question is this borderline? Should I just drop the issue? What should I do? The doc now thinks he might have consipation because we had an x-ray done that showed that he was backed up. That is what the doc thinks is the problem is. I don't buy it.

Thanks, Cheli

[CarlaB]

Did he only give you one number? There should have been several.

Did he tell you what that number was testing?

It doesn't hurt anyone to go gluten-free, but it's a lot of work if you don't need it! If he's backed up, you can see what happens once the constipation issue is resolved.

[chrissy]

i didn't know any of the tests had a range like that----i guess it must depend on the way the lab does their testing?? i agree with carla---work on the constipation issue---the x-ray shows that it is definitely an issue---but not what is causing it. also, ask for copies of his test reslults.

[Cheli]

All the test reads is

Discription Value Ref. Range Units

IMMUNOGLOBULIN A 193 33-200 mg/dL

Oh I just read that fine print :-)

Tissue Transglutaminase Antibody, IgA to follow.

What does that mean? How long will this take? What should I look out for when we do get it?

Sorry, don't know much about the tests. I do know about Celiac because my bestfriend's mom has it. She is in the last stage of it.

Thanks again,

Cheli

[Rachel--24]

All the test reads is

Discription Value Ref. Range Units

IMMUNOGLOBULIN A 193 33-200 mg/dL

Oh I just read that fine print :-)

Tissue Transglutaminase Antibody, IgA to follow.

What does that mean? How long will this take? What should I look out for when we do get it?

This isnt enough to rule out Celiac. The TtG is more specific....I have no idea why it says TtG to follow?? Usually all the results come back together. The Celiac panel consists of 5 different tests. You only have the results for one test.

[Cheli]

I guess I will have to just wait and see if the doc calls me and lets me know when he gets the others.

Cheli

[Ursa Major]

Cheli, I agree with the others. Your doctor should have done five tests, not just two, and it's weird that you don't have at least those two back together. And constipation can be caused by celiac disease, not just diarrhea. So, your son's bowels being backed up could be a symptom of celiac disease. But it should be looked after for sure.

What do you mean by your best friend's mom is in the last stage of celiac disease? There is no last stage, unless you're not eating gluten-free! If you consume no gluten, you will be healthy with celiac disease (unless you were diagnosed very late in life, and developed a bunch of autoimmune diseases on top of celiac disease).

[Cheli]

She was told late in life. She does eat gluten free food but has gotten bad stuff before. She can not have any of her food touch anything that has been touched by things with Gluten in it. She can get an attack but just by touching a counter top that might have had non gluten free food on it. She has to use gluten free stuff on her skin because she can get sick. She really has it bad. She can loose so much weight when this happens. She has lost up to 40lbs in one attack. The doc told her that she has it very bad.

Cheli

[CarlaB]

There are many of us who are pretty sensitive. Anyone eating gluten-free has to keep their food away from crumbs. Think of the flu -- it doesn't matter how much of the bug you are exposed to, you get sick -- it's similar with celiac. After you get off gluten, you get pretty ill when you eat it, even a small amount.

Some people are bothered by products for the skin, some are not. All of us avoid things that can get in our mouths like shampoo, lipstick, etc. I get a rash on my scalp if I use shampoo with wheat in it. But, it wouldn't bother me to touch something like bread, etc., only something that stays on my skin for a time. I prefer not to touch bread and do not prepare food with gluten for my family because of the danger of getting it into my food.

It sounds like hers was very progressed, meaning she probably had a lot of damage. I was fortunate to catch mine before a lot of damage was done.

[Ursa Major]

She was told late in life. She does eat gluten free food but has gotten bad stuff before. She can not have any of her food touch anything that has been touched by things with Gluten in it. She can get an attack but just by touching a counter top that might have had non gluten free food on it. She has to use gluten free stuff on her skin because she can get sick. She really has it bad. She can loose so much weight when this happens. She has lost up to 40lbs in one attack. The doc told her that she has it very bad.

Cheli

Actually Cheli, that is the way all of us are! You either have it, or you don't. She doesn't have it bad, this is NORMAL for all of us! We ALL have to use gluten free shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, toothpaste, lipstick etc.

None of us can have any food that has been touched by something containing gluten, it would make us sick. If your son really has celiac disease, this is the way it will be for him, too. You will have to buy a new toaster for his gluten free bread, you will NEVER be able to just take a hamburger patty out of a bun for him to eat, or take croutons off a salad, as the patty or the salad would make him sick. You would have to buy a new cutting board, just to make his food, new cooking spoons (if you have wooden ones), you'll need to replace (or have his own) scratched non-stick cookware, as well as your plastic strainer, as you cannot clean it completely of the gluten from regular noodles.

You would need to read every label of any food you buy to avoid hidden gluten. You would not be able to use peanut butter, mayonaise, butter or jam for him, if somebody has put a knife back into one of those, after spreading those things on regular bread. You can't use the same knife to make his sandwich after making yours. You can't stir his food with the same cooking spoon you just used to stir something containing gluten.

That is NORMAL life, every day, for EVERYBODY with celiac disease. I guess, in this lady's doctors mind, we all 'have it bad' then.

Her doctor sounds very ignorant. Unfortunately, many doctors are very ignorant of celiac disease.

[Daxin]

I can only speak for me, but my blood work had 4 antibodies on it.

One of the results was triple the normal range, and one other was almost double. The other 2 were what the doctor said were considered "equivical", meaning that based on the symptoms I had given him and his own observations (everything BUT a biopsy) could be taken to be celiac. There were other blood tests leading up to this last one a few weeks ago.

AS far as how long does it take? I was told it should only take about 4 days.

[Ursa Major]

AS far as how long does it take? I was told it should only take about 4 days.

Wow, only four days? Here in Canada it takes four to six weeks! It seems when it comes to anything medical, they won't do anything fast and in a timely manner.