Results Are In---confused!

[*Donna*]

I posted a couple weeks back wondering how long blood tests take...well I went to see my dr. today and I was told my bloodwork was negative for Celiac. He said something about my number was 17 and anything below 20 was normal. From what I read on here anything below 10 is normal??!! I am in Canada and I am assuming it is different here than the states? Anyone from Canada have the bloodwork done and what are the ranges? I was so sure it would be positive as I have almost every symptom possible! I am thinking of trying the gluten-free diet anyways to see if it helps. Are there any other diseases that would have all the celiac symptoms the same? I had my thyroid checked and it was normal. The only other thing I can think of is lactose intollerance. My dr. is telling me it is IBS--but I'm not buying that!

~Donna

[happygirl]

Donna,

Each lab is different. Enterolab, Prometheus, LabCorp, etc etc etc. Each has different ways and different scores. You'll need to get the full copy of the tests (not just have them read them...physically go pick them up!). That will help, because you'll see the reference ranges. Plus, if you have questions, you can post your results/ranges here and we can help. Definitely get a hold of them ASAP!

You may not have Celiac and may be gluten intolerant. Or it could be a host of other things (including other food intolerances). I would suggest trying the gluten free diet and seeing what happens.

As soon as you get your tests, let us know!

Laura

[2kids4me]

Symptoms for celiac are extensive and yes they can mimic other diseases, food allergies and intolerances. You can be gluten intolerant and/or have lactose intolerance, or food allergies that would create malabsorbtion.

Each lab has its own set of normal values - it varies from lab to lab depending on the type of test and equipment used.

My daughter was borderline for her blood results - yet positive on endoscopy for damage.

Try the gluten-free diet if you would like and see how your symptoms respond. If they persist - then eliminate casein or lactose..... experiment to see which elimination results in the most improvement.

Ask your doctor about testing for food allergies as a possible cause for your symptoms

[LKelly8]

...well I went to see my dr. today and I was told my bloodwork was negative for Celiac. He said something about my number was 17 and anything below 20 was normal. From what I read on here anything below 10 is normal??!! ~Donna

Just to echo what others have said - ranges differ lab to lab, there are so many (over 200) possible symptoms with celiac that it's been called "the great chameleon", and get a copy of that bloodwork.

I had negative bloodwork twice, years apart, before being dx by biopsy.

[celiacgirls]

My daughter had negative blood tests 3 or 4 times over the years but responds positively to the diet. I did have her tested by Enterolab which was positive but dietary response is just as definitive.

[Terch]

Hi Donna,

My doctor didn't even do the bloodwork he just did an endoscopy. By the way I am Canadian as well. I know that our cholesteral numbers are very different than The United States so I think maybe that these tests might be as well.

I am going to see my GI on friday and I am terrified that it won't be celiacs, that it will be negative or worse that it will be something much more serious. Who ever thought I would want to have this illness...it seems that if it isn't celiacs they will go back to the ibs diagnosis and quite frankly I know it's not what I have.

Anyway after Friday depending on what I hear I will likely being going the enterolab route, you may want to think of that.

Good Luck

[Helena]

Hi Donna, well, I can't tell you much about the numbers . . .but I'm Canadian and I was tested in Toronto. It would matter too which test you are talking about---there is the EMA one and the tTG one and tests for antigliadin antibodies. My GI doctor ran all of them for me, but my sister was tested for EMA antibodies only. If you only had one test, you might want to ask about getting others done.

My doctor told me that my anti tTG antibody test was "slightly positive" so I guess that confirms what you've said---it isn't a black and white test. There's a range that is considered "normal" apparently.

[Terch]

Hi Donna, well, I can't tell you much about the numbers . . .but I'm Canadian and I was tested in Toronto. It would matter too which test you are talking about---there is the EMA one and the tTG one and tests for antigliadin antibodies. My GI doctor ran all of them for me, but my sister was tested for EMA antibodies only. If you only had one test, you might want to ask about getting others done.

My doctor told me that my anti tTG antibody test was "slightly positive" so I guess that confirms what you've said---it isn't a black and white test. There's a range that is considered "normal" apparently.

Hi,

I was wondering when you started to feel better on your gluten free diet. I have been 4 weeks without any real improvement.

Many thanks.

[Helena]

Well, it's hard to say because I've been on a "gluten light" diet for several years. (For the past couple of years, all the gluten I was getting was in oats which I ate on the rare occasion. I did have barley and rye a few times too.) But I did have to go back on gluten for the purposes of the biopsy (until my doctor suggested we cancel for various reasons) . . . I don't react as severely as a lot of people on these boards do. I have mild GI symptoms. Plus I feel kind of tired after eating gluten---I'm over that in about a day I'd say, so I noticed a difference right away. But I've heard that it takes some people awhile. Maybe you should start a new thread on this topic---I'm probably not the best person to ask.

[KarenLee]

Just to echo what others have said - ranges differ lab to lab, there are so many (over 200) possible symptoms with celiac that it's been called "the great chameleon", and get a copy of that bloodwork.

I had negative bloodwork twice, years apart, before being dx by biopsy.

My GI Dr. said that if my Prometheus blood test comes back normal(I hope to get results back tomorrow), then there's no need for a biopsy, that we will assume that I don't have Celiac. If it comes back normal should I insist on a biopsy, too? I have read that so many people have neg. blood tests, but had pos. biopsy results. Oh, I also sent in the test to Enterolab a few weeks ago...

Thanks

[Mayflowers]

You may not have Celiac and may be gluten intolerant. Or it could be a host of other things (including other food intolerances). I would suggest trying the gluten free diet and seeing what happens.

According to Dr Fine at Enterolab, it's all celiac disease. If you're gluten intolerant, you have celiac disease. There are just varying degrees of gluten intolerance.