Someone Help

[Linda56]

Ok I got my result on the test I sent to Entrolab. I went and read the link explaining about the range. I sent off for only the test that was 99.00 the antibody IGA I think it was. Anyway they say the test was postive. But my number was only 20. Reading it says you can be from 10 to 350. I read what they referred to as an explaination of this. That some people are producing more of the antibody from the blood. I don't really see how having a 20 is as important as having say a 100 number. I am assuming that at a 20 I am not having as much damage to the intestine as some with higher amounts. I am suppose to have a colonoscopy and was thinking of asking for a biopsy. I had the blood test for celiac a couple years ago that was negative. If I am not having a lot of damage in the intestine wouldn't a biopsy show anything really. I am kind of puzzled by this really and not sure what to do. If I don't have any damage and just a little high in the antibodies. I also have perinious anemia which I am told my body doesn't absorb b-12 in the intestine and I wonder if this could somehow be related. Anyway if I don't have a real problem to worry about this I don't want to put myself on a strict diet. Did anyone get thier test showing this low amount. Or if you have a better understanding of this. I am not going to be showing my doctor these results as I know he will not value it. Its like pulling teeth with him and an open mind. Thanks Linda

[CarlaB]

Anything over 10 is positive. My daughter eats gluten free with a 30. Mine was a 60. You need to remember, you are reacting to the gluten. Your number is double what normal is. You must have had health problems that prompted you to do the test. I tell my daughter that she should be happy she discovered she was having the reaction before she had the damage and health problems I did!! I guess theoretically the numbers could go up to 350, but I've never heard of them so high! Has anyone else?

edit, the anemia can definately be caused by malabsorption.

[2kids4me]

Daughter had the lowest # to be considered positive on blood work. Biopsies showed damage (subtotal villous atrophy). The GI said it is not common but does happen that the blood levels dont give any clue as to the intestinal damage.

Inability to absorb B 12 is common on celiac damage.

If you are positive - you are positive. Somone with a higher # doesnt necessarily mean they have more damage - it may be a reflection of their particular immune system and amount of gluten they ingest daily.

[Linda56]

Thank you both for giving me your thoughts about this. I guess I will go ahead and ask for a biopsy. The only reason I wanted to do this test is that I have loose bowel all the time and always have. I thought maybe its part of the problem. I also have inner ear disease that took away my balance function. I have never had a diagnosis on this some doctors have said Autoimmune inner ear disease which basically is where you get ear infection and your body goes in hyper mode and decides to kill good cells along with the bad. But I have also been told it was from toxic exposure from using toulene for years in a job I use to do. Some on a ear board I visit have found they have Celiacs and when they stop eating gluten their hearing gets better. I don't have the hearing loss part which also goes against the AIED diagnosis. So I have been looking for things that others have found and trying to follow up on them to see if I could find answers on my own about a couple different things. My mother also has perinious anemia which can be hereditary.

thanks again Linda