Getting Diagnosed

[ErraticBinxie]

This is the first celiac forum I have been a part of and I am so excited that I have found it. My name is Lexi, I'm 17 and I have been gluten-free for 9 years.

I have a question that is diagnosis related...

My mom was diagnosed with celiac when I was five and I started showing symptoms years later when I was eight and I started on the diet. I never was diagnosed by a doctor so when I need medical proof that I have celiac I can never get it. I asked for a blood test this year so I could finally be diagnosed. The lab said they could not detect gluten sensitivity unless I had been on a gluten diet for a period of time. Of course I can't just go off my diet. So I want to know if there are any ways to diagnose that would accomadate my situation now.

And one more thing...I have never met anyone my age that has celiac. So someone please contact me....

aim: ErraticBinxie

E-mail: Lexietualatin@juno.com

[tarnalberry]

Having been off gluten for a number of years, there is no test that will be able to tell you if you're celiac. The tests all check for gluten antibodies, and if you're not ingesting gluten, you won't produce antibodies to it. You could get the gene test. It won't tell you if you have celiac disease, but it will tell you if you have one of the two genes that leads to about 95% of all cases.

[ErraticBinxie]

Thanks for the info. That helps a lot!

-Lexi

[stargirl]

I'm a clinical celiac. I went on the diet without a positive blood test or biopsy but my gastroenterologist supports me. He says that a clinical diagnosis is fine in this case, since celiac has such unusual symptoms. Why do you have to have a medical test to prove you're a celiac? I'm also 17 and have never met a celiac my age, so I would love to talk to you online sometime. My AIM is funnylaces. Hope to talk to you soon.

[MySuicidalTurtle]

Just a question. . .why would you need medical proof that you're a celiac?

[celiac3270]

Seems like a lot of 17-year-olds on the board

[stargirl]

Are you trying to say something celiac3270?

[celiac3270]

Say what? I'm not, but a LOT of people, particularly under the "17 with celiac" thread, are seventeen.

[stargirl]

Surprisingly enough that is true, now everyone just needs to move to California so we can hang out together. Have a junk food night

[ErraticBinxie]

The reason that I want to have medical proof that I have celiac disease is because of college. There are scholarships available for people that have celiac disease. Don't ask me why but they just do. And couldn't we all use a little money for college?

[stargirl]

The only thing I would say to that is to look around and see if you can find a gastrointerologist who will give you a positive diagnosis without making you go on gluten and be biopsied. I found one who will legally state that I am a celiac even without what would be considered "conclusive results." Just an idea. Where have you found a scholarship for celiac disease? I'm in the market for scholarships but I haven't run across any for people with celiac disease. Thanks

[Guest ~wAvE WeT sAnD~]

Lexi-

They have scholarships? I should have gotten celiac disease three years ago!!!

Good Luck in school!

[byuiemily]

I didn't know they had scholarships for people with Celiac...boy could i use something like that! How did you find out about them?

[ErraticBinxie]

I don't know specifically where you can find scholarships but I think you will be able to find them online.