Not High Results?

[Peta]

Hi, I am so sorry to pester people with silly questions (my last post was not answered so I feel like I am being a nuisance)

My 10 year old son is booked in to a consult in a large hospital before his biopsy. The appointment is in Feb 2007, and then they will make another appointment for the procedure (could be another month or so after that).

I have been told by them that if he has high results for celiac then he could get in before Christmas.

His antibodies came back neg, but his gene test was

HLA DQ2 Alleles

DQA1 *05 positive

DQB1 *02 positive

HLA DQ8 Alleles

DQA1 *0301 positive

DQB1 *0302 positive

plus his White Cell Count and Lymphocytes were both under normal range

Is it worth trying to get the biopsy earlier or will they consider this non urgent (not high results)??

He is not well and went off to school, yet again, with awful stomach pains.

I know that I do not need the biopsy to go 'gluten-free' but his condition will not be taken seriously by anyone in the family without proven results (as my sister and nephew are 'diagnosed' celiacs) and I will not gain the support.

Thanks for any opinions on these test results.

Peta

[Nic]

Hi, I am so sorry to pester people with silly questions (my last post was not answered so I feel like I am being a nuisance)

My 10 year old son is booked in to a consult in a large hospital before his biopsy. The appointment is in Feb 2007, and then they will make another appointment for the procedure (could be another month or so after that).

I have been told by them that if he has high results for celiac then he could get in before Christmas.

His antibodies came back neg, but his gene test was

HLA DQ2 Alleles

DQA1 *05 positive

DQB1 *02 positive

HLA DQ8 Alleles

DQA1 *0301 positive

DQB1 *0302 positive

plus his White Cell Count and Lymphocytes were both under normal range

Is it worth trying to get the biopsy earlier or will they consider this non urgent (not high results)??

He is not well and went off to school, yet again, with awful stomach pains.

I know that I do not need the biopsy to go 'gluten-free' but his condition will not be taken seriously by anyone in the family without proven results (as my sister and nephew are 'diagnosed' celiacs) and I will not gain the support.

Thanks for any opinions on these test results.

Peta

I might be very wrong but I believe when they are saying "high" for celiac they are referring to the antibodies. It is the antibodies that show he is actively sick, the genes show he has the potential to be sick. I may be wrong though. Sorry if I'm no help.

Nicole

[jauquilt]

Hello, I am also new to this site. I am trying to wait until I see a holistic specialist in March. As you may be able to tell, I am having difficulty waiting..

Has anyone ever noticed with celiac's that you eat when not hungry and then have a bout with diarrhea? It's like my body craves food to empty my bowels.

I have read most of the posts for the last month, today, and noticed that some of you have a weight loss problem. I am the opposite and seem to feel that I am probably malnourished and that could be the reason why I am not losing weight, and actually gaining. I went to a health food store and picked up some multi vitamins that wouldn't give me headaches, but now I seem to be having "back spasms" again like I did when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

anyone think these are all connected?

I have migraines... barometric pressure, smells from perfumes, not eating, lights, any way you can get them, I seem to have them

Diarrhea at least once or twice a day

Can't go to sleep at night and hit the wall at 3 or 4 in the afternoon dead tired

Thanks for any insight you can give me. I have had a ton of tests with negative answers. Basically looking for the answer I know...call the dr again and see if you can get in earlier

[super-sally888]

Hi and Welcome. Please don't feel your questions are silly. They're not and you need to know.. but sometimes people may miss your post or not know an answer and don't answer. Keep posting.

Yes, I have found that eating (or particularly for me) drinking coffee stimulates a D episode about 30 minutes later. I think it is cause eating / drinkingr stimulates peristalsis. For me, if I am constipated (happens from time to time) drinking a lot of water will actually help cause peeing and BM happen together.. hope this doesn't gross anyone out.

Regarding weight loss. If your body is starving or nutrient deficient, it may hang onto your weight harder than ever and even gain instead of lose. That is what I have found anyway. I am only one week in and I tripped up yesterday.. but last week I dropped 4 lbs... and I was eating. Just not eating gluten... But the last 2 days (still having side effects) no change in weight....

The human body sure is interesting. Just wish mine wasn't quite so interesting!

Sally

[Raenan]

I have migraines... barometric pressure, smells from perfumes, not eating, lights, any way you can get them, I seem to have them

You know.. those are all things I have noticed over the years and associate with my Fibro.

As to the hitting the wall at the time of day you said .. that is when I finally feel like I have woken up.. it only lasts for a little while but at least I seem to have some energy for an hour or so.

I have no clue if I have Celiacs or not.. according to the bloodtests the second doc said I don't but as I told him.. the first doc who ordered them said he still thought I have celiac disease and that is why I am being sent for the biopsy.

I would just like an answer is all. It would be ever so nice to know for sure why I have felt like crap for the past 20 or so years... and be able to tell people there actually are tests that show that I am not a faker.

[par18]

Hi, I am so sorry to pester people with silly questions (my last post was not answered so I feel like I am being a nuisance)

My 10 year old son is booked in to a consult in a large hospital before his biopsy. The appointment is in Feb 2007, and then they will make another appointment for the procedure (could be another month or so after that).

I have been told by them that if he has high results for celiac then he could get in before Christmas.

His antibodies came back neg, but his gene test was

HLA DQ2 Alleles

DQA1 *05 positive

DQB1 *02 positive

HLA DQ8 Alleles

DQA1 *0301 positive

DQB1 *0302 positive

plus his White Cell Count and Lymphocytes were both under normal range

Is it worth trying to get the biopsy earlier or will they consider this non urgent (not high results)??

He is not well and went off to school, yet again, with awful stomach pains.

I know that I do not need the biopsy to go 'gluten-free' but his condition will not be taken seriously by anyone in the family without proven results (as my sister and nephew are 'diagnosed' celiacs) and I will not gain the support.

Thanks for any opinions on these test results.

Peta

Peta,

Are your sister and nephew on the gluten free diet? When you say no one in your family will take it seriously who are you talking about (husband, parents?) Why in the world with a sister and nephew both diagnosed would you not put your son on the diet right now to see if you can give him some relief? You have already admitted that you do not need a biopsy to go "gluten free". If the diet does not work you can always go back to gluten and test. Sometimes when I see a post like this I am left to wonder if there is not a power struggle between the adults in which to sole purpose is to say "I told you so". Meanwhile the person in the middle ( the child ) is left to suffer until all parties have ceased their bickering as to what is wrong. If you could get a test next week it might be one thing but if you have to wait almost 3 more months then all of you need to put your differences aside and try to help your son now.

Tom

[GFBetsy]

Peta -

Sorry you didn't get an answer to your first post . . . sometimes things slip through the cracks. Good luck with everything.

[Peta]

Peta,

Are your sister and nephew on the gluten free diet? When you say no one in your family will take it seriously who are you talking about (husband, parents?) Why in the world with a sister and nephew both diagnosed would you not put your son on the diet right now to see if you can give him some relief? You have already admitted that you do not need a biopsy to go "gluten free". If the diet does not work you can always go back to gluten and test. Sometimes when I see a post like this I am left to wonder if there is not a power struggle between the adults in which to sole purpose is to say "I told you so". Meanwhile the person in the middle ( the child ) is left to suffer until all parties have ceased their bickering as to what is wrong. If you could get a test next week it might be one thing but if you have to wait almost 3 more months then all of you need to put your differences aside and try to help your son now.

Tom

Tom,

I am sorry if it seems as though I am putting my son through pain to win a 'power struggle' but I can assure you this is not the case.

I am not a doctor and therefore do not wish to presume that I know it is celiac. The fact that his antibodies came back negative puts this in doubt. I don't wish to change his dietary habits because I wish to get the most accurate results possible on his biopsy. If I drastically change his eating habits then it may make it difficult for them to diagnose his problem.

I know, in my sister and nephew's case, that there are certain medical cards, vouchers and support through the Celiac (Coeliac, as it is spelt here) Society but you must be 'officially' diagnosed to receive these.

If I recieve no answers after his biopsy then I will trial the gluten-free anyway.

Thankyou for your reply. I do understand the point you were making.

Peta

[par18]

Tom,

I am sorry if it seems as though I am putting my son through pain to win a 'power struggle' but I can assure you this is not the case.

I am not a doctor and therefore do not wish to presume that I know it is celiac. The fact that his antibodies came back negative puts this in doubt. I don't wish to change his dietary habits because I wish to get the most accurate results possible on his biopsy. If I drastically change his eating habits then it may make it difficult for them to diagnose his problem.

I know, in my sister and nephew's case, that there are certain medical cards, vouchers and support through the Celiac (Coeliac, as it is spelt here) Society but you must be 'officially' diagnosed to receive these.

If I recieve no answers after his biopsy then I will trial the gluten-free anyway.

Thankyou for your reply. I do understand the point you were making.

Peta

Peta,

I understand and good luck on your diagnosis.

Tom

[mamabear]

Peta,

It is entirely possible to have negative blood tests for antibodies, and still have celiac disease. There are several triggers including viral illness and stress which spur the autoimmune reaction to gluten. Timing of the blood tests is very important. You can have a less active flare of the reaction, whether it is GI, or rash, or mouth ulcers,etc... and not catch the antibody rise. You might also retest after a flare has occurred, but wait about 3-4 weeks to do so. You have to watch the insurance companies , as they may deny much retesting. It is also possible to have positive antibody tests and a negative biopsy and still have sprue. Celiac sprue has got to be one of the hardest conditions to diagnose! Good luck to you and yours.

[Peta]

Thankyou for your reply.

I have so many questions and obviously want to do what's best for my son.

I appreciate people taking the time to reply and educate me some more.

I live in Australia. I don't even know about the 'insurance' thing...perhaps our health system is different?

Everyone qualifies for medicare and it covers all costs for hospital stays etc. There is no need to 'qualify'?

However if it is 'selective surgery' you need to have private health insurance in order to speed up the process, or in some cases, to have it done at all. Thankfully all celiac testing and biopsies aren't in this category.

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE FOR YOUR REPLIES

Peta

[Ursa Major]

Peta, since your son obviously has the celiac disease genes, and he has the symptoms, plus relatives with celiac disease, in my mind there is not doubt he has it. The blood tests are very unreliable, and catch only about 50% of celiac disease cases. And you can have celiac disease, even if the biopsy is negative. A positive biopsy will definitely diagnose celiac disease, but a negative one can never rule it out.

The diet is really the best and most reliable test for celiac disease. If your son's symptoms would dramatically improve on the diet, and with his genes, that would really be all the evidence needed.

Knowing that your son's biopsy is not for another four months, and knowing that he is suffering in the meantime really upsets me. I hate seeing children suffer needlessly.

All the best, you have to make the choices for your son.