Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Results Are In---confused!


*Donna*

Recommended Posts

*Donna* Newbie

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


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



happygirl Collaborator

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 Contributor

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 Rookie
...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 Apprentice

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 Apprentice

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 Contributor

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.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Terch Apprentice
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 Contributor

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 Rookie
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 Contributor
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.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - knitty kitty replied to Sarah Grace's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      21

      Headaches / Migraines and Hypoglycaemia

    2. - Jmartes71 posted a topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      0

      Related issues

    3. - trents replied to Sarah Grace's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      21

      Headaches / Migraines and Hypoglycaemia

    4. - Scott Adams replied to jessicafreya's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      1

      Tamale ingredients

    5. - Wheatwacked replied to Roses8721's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      6

      GI DX celiac despite neg serology and no biopsy


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,144
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Jenny0384
    Newest Member
    Jenny0384
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      @Sarah Grace,  Thank you for the update!  It's so good to hear from you!  I'm glad Thiamine, B Complex and magnesium have helped you.  Yes, it's important to take all three together.    I had to quit eating cheese and nuts a long time ago because they triggered migraines in me, too.  They are high in tyrosine, an amino acid, found also in fermented foods like sauerkraut and red wine.   I found taking Tryptophan very helpful with migraines.  Tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin and people with migraines are often low in serotonin.  (Don't take tryptophan if you're taking an SSRI.)     This recent study shows tryptophan really helps. The association between dietary tryptophan intake and migraine https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31254181/   For immediate respite from a migraine, try smiling REALLY BIG, mouth closed, tongue pressed against roof of mouth, and crinkle up your eyes like you just heard or saw the funniest thing...  This causes an endorphin release in the brain.  Usually it's the funny event, then the endorphin release and then the smile.  Smiling first makes the endorphin center think it missed something and it catches up quickly by releasing endorphins after the big crinkle eyed smile.  Must make crinkly eyes with smile or it won't work.  If you do this too frequently within a short time frame (several hours), you can deplete your endorphins, but you'll make more in a couple of hours, so no worries. Get your thyroid checked, too.  Migraines are also seen in low thyroid function (Hashimoto's or hypothyroidism).  Celiac and thyroid problems go hand in hand.   Vitamin D helps, too.  Low Vitamin D is found in migraine.   I'm so glad you're doing better.  
    • Jmartes71
      Its been a complete nightmare dealing with all these health issues one thing after another and being told many different things.I am looking for a new primary care physician considering when I told my past doctor of 25 years I was diagnosed before any foods eliminated from my diet and now this year at age 54 no longer able to push considering Im always exhausted, leg pain , stomach,skin and eye issues,high blood pressure to name a few all worsen because I was a  school bus driver and few years until my immune system went to hell and was fired because of it.Im still struggling now, Im sibo positive and been told im not celiac and that I am.I have a hernia and dealing with menopause. Its exhausting and is causing depression because of non medical help. Today I saw another gastrointestinalist and he said everything im feeling doesn't add up to celiac disease since my ITg levels are normal so celiac disease is under control and it's something else. I for got I had Barrett's esophagus diagnosed in 2007 because recent doctors down played it just like my celiac disease. Im currently looking for a pcp in my area because it is affecting me personally and professionally. Im told since celiac looks under control it's IBS and I need to see a therapist to control it. Gastrointestinalist around here think only food consumption and if ITG looks normal its bit celiac disease it's something else. Is this right? This is what im being told. I want medical help but told its IBS.Im feel lost by " medical team "
    • trents
      My migraines generally have their onset during the early morning hours as well. Presently, I am under siege with them, having headaches all but two days so far this month. I have looked at all the things reported to be common triggers (foods, sleep patterns, weather patterns, stress, etc.). Every time I think I start to see a pattern it proves not to pan out in the long run. I'm not sure it's any one thing but may, instead, be a combination of things that coalesce at certain times. It's very frustrating. The medication (sumatriptan or "Imatrix") is effective and is the only thing that will quell the pain. NSAIDs, Tylenol, even hydrocodone doesn't touch it. But they only give you 9 does of sumatriptan a month. And it doesn't help that medical science doesn't really know what causes migraines. They know some things about it but the root cause is still a mystery.
    • Scott Adams
      These are labeled gluten-free: https://www.amazon.com/Corn-Husks-Tamales-Authentic-Flavorful/dp/B01MDSHUTM/
    • Wheatwacked
      Just a gluten free diet is not enough.  Now you have to identify and replenish your malnutrition.  Celiac disease is co-morbid with malabsorption syndrome.  Low vitamin D, Low Thiamine caused Gastointeston Beriberi, low choline, low iodine are common the general population, and in newly diagnosed Celiacs in the western culture its is more likely.  It takes time to heal and you need to focus on vitamins and minerals.  Gluten free foods are not fortified like regular processed foods.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.