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Second Biopsy To Show Improvement?

hjkmatthews

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hjkmatthews Apprentice
hjkmatthews
Posted

Hi everyone. Well, it has been 6 months since my daughter was dx with Celiac, and she has a check up with her GI doctor next Friday. I was just wondering if she will be having another endoscopic procedure and biopsy scheduled to determine whether or not the gluten-free diet is helping her intestines to heal. If it is normal to have a second biopsy, when and how often? Thanks for any info you have!

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lisabarella Apprentice
lisabarella
Posted

I have heard 6 months to a year for the 2nd one. I had the first July 18 03 and the second May 25th 04. It is helpful since they can see if the gluten free diet is working. I am not an expert, but that is what my dr advised.

Lisa

JsBaby-G Newbie
JsBaby-G
Posted

After my initial biopsy I had two more, one a year later and the other 2 years later. They just wanted to make sure I wasn't inadvertantly ingesting gluten.

Hope that helps!!

  • 2 weeks later...
Guest shar4
Guest shar4
Posted

Hi all, I haven't been here in a while, but I had a 2nd biopsy yesterday, and I was told this morning that there are still findings of inflammation consistent with sprue. I was very disappointed, since I am as gluten free as I know how to be, but I am thinking that this still may be an improvement, since the first EGD showed a tremendous amount of damage. I was told at that time, that everything she touched with the instrument caused me to bleed.

I know, I know, all this damage didn't occur in a day, so I guess I should have expected this, but I am feeling so much better, that I had assumed that I was all healed inside.

Anyway, more details as they become available.

And thanks for listening to me whine.

Sharon ;)

lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

More and more the standard is to avoid the second endoscopy. Negative or improved follow-up blood tests and improvement on the diet are now considered proof you're getting better and the villi have healed. If you DO have the second one, it should be more like a year after starting, but I personally wouldn't do it.

richard

celiac3270 Collaborator
celiac3270
Posted

Two celiac friends (not on board) have not had second biopsies......I've heard no mention of one for me.

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