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

Igg Positive

dmbaird1230

Recommended Posts

dmbaird1230 Apprentice
dmbaird1230
Posted

Back in 1998 I had bloodwork taken and my IGg antibodies were 17.1 (they should be <7) so I've been gluten free since then. I wanted to be 100% sure I have celiac so recently I went for bloodwork and it came back negative. I'm thinking of going for an endoscopy, but I wasn't sure if the positive IGg antibodies and the fact that the gluten free diet helps me is enough to diagnose me. The doctor doesn't seem to think that that's enough to diagnose, what does anyone else think?

Thank you.

~Denise

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


GEF Explorer
GEF
Posted

Denise,

Probably not... but, you never know. The fact that you're on a gluten-free diet can alter your biospy and blood tests. Many here will tell you that your improvement on the gluten-free diet is enough proof that your body is intolerant and some doctors will accept that as diagnosis in itself.

But, if you feel you need that diagnosis you might need to go back on gluten for a while (the gluten challenge) for more accurate results.

Good luck!

Gretchen

dmbaird1230 Apprentice
dmbaird1230
Posted
  • Author

Another factor is that back in 1998 when I got that bloodwork done I also went to an allergist and they did a skin test and found out that I'm allergic to wheat.

GEF Explorer
GEF
Posted

An allergic reaction typically shows an IGE reaction, wheras intolerance.. the IGG & IGA. There are other's too, but I can't remember.

dmbaird1230 Apprentice
dmbaird1230
Posted
  • Author

what does that all mean then?

dmbaird1230 Apprentice
dmbaird1230
Posted
  • Author

what does that all mean then?

Guest gillian502
Guest gillian502
Posted

Elevated Igg levels can mean a variety of illnesses, not just Celiac Disease. celiac disease usually shows itself in elevated IgA and Ttg antibodies, as well as a few lesser known tests. If you are allergic to wheat, and feel better on this diet anyway, then stick with it. Couldn't hurt. If you were gluten-free for a long time before your test, though, your results are not going to be accurate, you 'd have to ingest gluten before the test to be sure of a reliable result.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


gf4life Enthusiast
gf4life
Posted

You can be allergic to wheat AND be gluten intolerant. They are different reactions in your body, one in the immune system and one in the digestive system. But regardless, if you tested positive in the past, and improved on the diet, then you are most likely gluten intolerant. Whether it is severe enough to be called Celiac disease doesn't really matter, unless you have to have an actual doctors diagnosis. For that you would have to go back on gluten for at least 3-6 months and hope there has been enough damage done to your intestines to give accurate results. If you are gluten intolerant then going back on gluten will be torture for most people. Trust me, I had to do it and after two months I was so sick and the biopsy was still negative. I won't be doing that again! :blink: It was awful. Trust your instincts, and if you need to know if you have a genetic predisposition to gluten sensitivity you can get tested relatively inexpensively through Enterolab or ask a doctor for a gene test. Enterolab also tests for the lesser genes that are not considered Celiac genes, but cause gluten intolerance also. In my family we have both Celiac and non-celiac gluten intolerance. You can learn more about the gene test (that does not require you to go back on gluten) at Open Original Shared Link

God bless,

Mariann

Guest ~wAvE WeT sAnD~
Guest ~wAvE WeT sAnD~
Posted

It's up to you...I tested positive for IgG antibodies and my scope was negative...my GI said that I still have the disease, but I realize not all doctors are that open-minded.

Good Luck,

dmbaird1230 Apprentice
dmbaird1230
Posted
  • Author

well, I've tried to do my own "gluten challenge" and yesterday and today I've eaten some wheat and yesterday I had lots of gas and today I have integestion pretty bad. My husband just thinks it's b/c I'm introducing something new to my diet, but I'm pretty sure it's from the wheat.

It's just hard b/c I'd like to get some answers but I don't have an appt. w/ a GI until Oct. 4th.

dmbaird1230 Apprentice
dmbaird1230
Posted
  • Author

Marianne,

What's the difference btwn. being gluten intolerant and celiac?

~Denise

Alexolua Explorer
Alexolua
Posted
What's the difference btwn. being gluten intolerant and celiac?

Not much. Celiac Disease is just a gluten intolerance that has lead to damage of the lining of your small intestines. Both reguire you to do the same thing, aviod gluten. And some people, me included, can refer to a gluten intolerance, as Celiac Disease.

It's just hard b/c I'd like to get some answers but I don't have an appt. w/ a GI until Oct. 4th.

You can always call him to ask questions. Or more likely, leave a message with questions for him. And on another note, Oct 4th is my Birthday! =D

gf4life Enthusiast
gf4life
Posted

Alexolua is correct. There is not much difference at all between the two. They both require lifelong adherence to the gluten free diet, and really the only medically recognised difference is that Celiac damages the intestines rather severely and is caused by different genes than those that have non-celiac gluten intolerance. Most doctors don't diagnose gluten intolerance, they wait until it is severe Celiac and then barely notice unless you are half dead! My doctor even admited that the only people she diagnoses with Celiac are the ones who have total villous atrophy (that is visable with the naked eye during the endoscopy) and are so thin from chronic diarrhea that they can barely function. I prefered to get on the diet in the earlier stages and never get to the point of being that severely ill. And if you don't have either of the main genes for Celiac then you might be told that you will never be Celiac, but that doesn't rule out gluten intolerance and the treatment is the same.

It is a bit confusing and most American doctors are decades behind the times.

God bless,

Mariann

dmbaird1230 Apprentice
dmbaird1230
Posted
  • Author

Well, this past weekend I did my own "gluten challenge", I ate some stuff like pizza and wheat bread and I got my answer b/c both Sat. and Sunday I had gas and integestion/acid reflux, basically I felt the way I did before I went on the gluten free diet. So my husband and I just decided that I'll stay on the gluten free diet and forget about doing the endoscopy again. If I felt this bad eating gluten for 2 days I don't want to have to eat it for 3 months before the endoscopy!

So...on with the gluten-free diet!

GEF Explorer
GEF
Posted
So...on with the gluten-free diet!

Good for you, Denise! Hey, my Igg was the only thing elevated for a while (it was only 33 and normal was under 20) and I felt miserable and knew my body was telling me something was definitely wrong. I didn't do anything about it then, because well... because of lack of suport from my doctor(s) and because I was told not to worry. Let's see... a year later and the Igg is up and now I have a positive Iga. I think sometimes we've just got to do what we feel is best for our own body.

With no offense to the (3) doctors I've seen that think it's IBS.... I guess I can't expect them to do as much research as I do about it! :o

Good luck with everything and keep in touch!

Gretchen

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to mamaof7's topic in Parents, Friends and Loved Ones of Celiacs
      6

      Help understand results

      That test is saying that your daughter is not making normal amounts of any IGA antibodies. She's not making normal amounts of antibodies against gliadin, not against bacteria, not against viruses. She is deficient in total IGA, so the test for antigliadin antibodies is not valid. The test was a failure. The test only works if all different kinds of antibodies...
    2. knitty kitty
      0

      Vitamins I Take

    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      10

      Insomnia help

      @hjayne19, So glad you found the information helpful. I know how difficult my struggle with anxiety has been. I've been finding things that helped me and sharing that with others makes my journey worthwhile. I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex. It contains the easily activated forms of B vitamins needed by people with the MTHFR...
    4. trents
      - trents replied to pothosqueen's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Positive biopsy

      Welcome to the celiac.com community @pothosqueen! Can you be more specific about which IGA test was run that resulted in 114 score and said to be "normal" and could you please include the reference range for what would be normal? By the size of that number it looks like it may have been what we call "total IGA" but that test is not usually run...
    5. pothosqueen
      - pothosqueen posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Positive biopsy

      Upper endoscopy last week resulted in positive biopsy for celiac disease. The IgA they ran was normal (114). Does positive biopsy automatically mean definitive diagnosis?
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,990
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    pothosqueen
    Newest Member
    pothosqueen
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Help understand results

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      That test is saying that your daughter is not making normal amounts of any IGA antibodies.  She's not making normal amounts of antibodies against gliadin, not against bacteria, not against viruses.  She is deficient in total IGA, so the test for antigliadin antibodies is not valid.  The test was a failure.  The test only works if all different kinds of antibodies were being made.  Your daughter is not making all different kinds of antibodies, so the test results are moot.  Your daughter should have the DGP IgG and TTG IgG tests done.   The tests should be performed while she is still consuming gluten.  Stopping and restarting a gluten containing diet can make her more sick, just like you refuse to eat gluten for testing.  Call the doctor's office, request both the IGG tests. Request to be put on the cancellation list for an appointment sooner.  Ask for genetic testing.   Celiac disease is passed on from parents to children.  You and all seven children should be tested for genes for Celiac disease.  Your parents, your siblings and their children should be tested as well.  Eating gluten is not required for genetic testing because your genes don't change.  Genetic testing is not a diagnosis of Celiac disease.  Just having the genes means there is the potential of developing Celiac disease if the Celiac genes are activated.  Genetic testing helps us decide if the Celiac genes are activated when coupled with physical symptoms, antibody testing, and biopsy examination. It's frustrating when doctors get it wrong and we suffer for it.  Hang in there.  You're a good mom for pursuing this!  
    • knitty kitty
      Insomnia help

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @hjayne19, So glad you found the information helpful.  I know how difficult my struggle with anxiety has been.  I've been finding things that helped me and sharing that with others makes my journey worthwhile. I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  It contains the easily activated forms of B vitamins needed by people with the MTHFR genetic variation often found with Celiac disease.   Avoid B Complex vitamins if they contain Thiamine Mononitrate if possible.  (Read the ingredients listing.)  Thiamine Mononitrate is the "shelf-stable" form of B 1 that the body can't utilize.  B vitamins breakdown when exposed to heat and light, and over time.  So "shelf-stable" forms won't breakdown sitting on a shelf in a bright store waiting to be bought.  (It's also very cheap.)  Thiamine Mononitrate is so shelf-stable that the body only absorbs about thirty percent of it, and less than that is utilized.  It takes thiamine already in the body to turn Thiamine Mononitrate into an active form.   I take MegaBenfotiamine by Life Extension.  Benfotiamine has been shown to promote intestinal healing, neuropathy, brain function, glycemic control, and athletic performance.   I take TTFD-B1 Max by Maxlife Naturals, Ecological Formulas Allthiamine (TTFD), or Thiamax by EO Nutrition.  Thiamine Tetrahydrofurfuryl Disulfide (TTFD for short) gets into the brain and makes a huge difference with the anxiety and getting the brain off the hamster wheel.  Especially when taken with Magnesium Threonate.   Any form of Thiamine needs Magnesium to make life sustaining enzymes and energy.  I like NeuroMag by Life Extension.  It contains Magnesium Threonate, a form of magnesium that easily crosses the blood brain barrier.  My brain felt like it gave a huge sigh of relief and relaxed when I started taking this and still makes a difference daily.   Other brands of supplements i like are Now Foods, Amazing Formulas, Doctor's Best, Nature's Way, Best Naturals, Thorne, EO Nutrition. Naturewise.  But I do read the ingredients labels all the time just to be sure they are gluten and dairy free. Glad to help with further questions.  
    • trents
      Positive biopsy

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the celiac.com community @pothosqueen!   Can you be more specific about which IGA test was run that resulted in 114 score and said to be "normal" and could you please include the reference range for what would be normal? By the size of that number it looks like it may have been what we call "total IGA" but that test is not usually run without also running a TTG-IGA. Total IGA tests for IGA deficiency. If someone is IGA deficient, then the celiac-specific IGA tests like the TTG-IGA will be inaccurate. Was this the only IGA test that was run? To answer, your question, yes, a positive biopsy is normally definitive for celiac disease but there are some other medical conditions, some medications and even some food proteins in rare cases that can cause positive biopsies. But it is pretty unlikely that it is due to anything other than celiac disease.
    • pothosqueen
      Positive biopsy

      By pothosqueen · Posted

      Upper endoscopy last week resulted in positive biopsy for celiac disease. The IgA they ran was normal (114). Does positive biopsy automatically mean definitive diagnosis?
    • hjayne19
      Mallorca Guide

      By hjayne19 · Posted

      This is great thank you very much @Scott Adams
×
×
  • 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.