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1 More Week Until My Son's Hydrogen Breath Testing

janelyb

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janelyb Enthusiast
janelyb
Posted

My son is scheduled to do a Hydrogen Breath test in 1 week. In which he will drink some liquid containing gluten and then his hydrogen level he breaths out will be measured. It's a 3 hour test, inwhich he can not have any food/drink prior to. And the sad part has been we've still had to keep him on gluten so we don't hinder the possible test results.

I would love to hear from others who have done this.

Janel

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whitney728 Newbie
whitney728
Posted

I've never heard of this being done for gluten, but I had a hydrogren breath test for lactose intolerance. Basically, what happens is you drink the solution (it tastes like undisolved Tang - just make him drink it as fast as he can) and then you blow into a bag so they can get a base reading, and you do that every half hour for three hours so they can see how you react. The best part? As I'm leaving (I didn't live that far from the lab, so I just went home and did the test every half hour there, and then just brought them back) they tell me "oh, by the way, that solution has as much lactose as a quart of milk...if you're really lactose intolerant, you WILL get sick." Needless to say it was a very unpleasant few hours. After, they test the hydrogen levels and tell you if you're lactose intolerant or not.

I was under the impression that celiac was only diagnosed through a blood test and biopsy. Is a hydrogen test common?

Judyin Philly Enthusiast
Judyin Philly
Posted

HI

i'LL BE SO ANXIOUS TO HEAR HOW THIS TEST GOES FOR YOUR SON.

THIS LIQUID ..TO MY UNDERSTANDING HAS LACTOSE NOT GLUTEN AND THEY ARE TESTING FOR LACTOSE INTOLLERANCE.

MY TEST IS ON MARCH 26. SHE TOLD ME ...I DO THE BREATHING EVERY 15 MIN FOR 3 1/2 HRS.

SHE SAID THE BATHROOM IS FAR FROM THE TESTING AREA SO BE PREPARED...

GUESS WE'LL BE SICK FROM THIS AS I CAN'T EVEN EAT ANY ANY ANY ANY ANY ICE CREAM ANY MORE.

gluten-free 21 MONTHS.

SOYFREE 9 MONTHS

DAIRY AND CASEIN FOR 6 WEEKS BUT FOR 2 SLIPS.

THINK THEY ARE NOW TESTING FOR IBS..WHICH I WAS DX'D WITH IN MY 30TH'S

SEEMS I'M GOING BACKWARDS.

JUDY

happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted

I have not had this one done---has anyone heard of this method with gluten?

What is the purpose of this testing?

I had a hydrogen breath test, but my liquid did not contain gluten. It was a very small amount of liquid/gel. It tested for bacterial overgrowth in the small intestines. I have also heard of it testing for lactose intolerance, but I believe these are all "separate" tests that we are just all calling "hydrogen breath test."

I'm sorry I can't help you out, but I hope someone else knows more about it.

Judy: There are no tests for IBS. It is a diagnosis of exclusion.

Nantzie Collaborator
Nantzie
Posted

We were talking about this on a thread not too long ago. It turns out that the doctor who's doing the test is the same ped GI M.D. that my kids go to. She's the ped celiac specialist in Sacramento. There must be something significant to it.

I can't wait to hear more about it.

Nancy

Moondanse Explorer
Moondanse
Posted

I have a question regarding the breath test for lactose --- who actually gives the test, which doctor? I asked my GI guy about testing for other intolerances (ie, lactose) and he said he wasn't aware of any other testing and referred me to my allergist.

From what I'm reading it sounds like the folks that have had this testing have had it done by their gastroenterologist -- is my guy just feeding me a line??

e&j0304 Enthusiast
e&j0304
Posted

My friend's child had this done and I believe his gastro ordered it and he went to the hospital to actually have the test run.

HTH

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Judyin Philly Enthusiast
Judyin Philly
Posted

LAURA..SINCE WE PM'D ABOUT THIS....

WAS MY TEST FOR ONLY BACTERIAL OVERGROWTH.?

I THOUGHT SHE WAS TESTING FOR THE LACTOSE TOO.?

I KNOW THERE IS NO TEST '''FOR IBS''' BUT I'M THINKING SHE'S HEADING THERE

YOUR THOUGHTS?

THANKS LAURA

I'M REALLY FUZZY TONIGHT.

DON'T WANT TO GIVE WRONG INFO HERE.

J

LAURA SAID--

had a hydrogen breath test, but my liquid did not contain gluten. It was a very small amount of liquid/gel. It tested for bacterial overgrowth in the small intestines. I have also heard of it testing for lactose intolerance, but I believe these are all "separate" tests that we are just all calling "hydrogen breath test."

I'm sorry I can't help you out, but I hope someone else knows more about it.

Judy: There are no tests for IBS. It is a diagnosis of exclusion.

janelyb Enthusiast
janelyb
Posted
  • Author

the one we are doing is a gluten solution, not lactose. We won't be able to go home we have to stay there in the hospital for the entire time....it's done in the Pulmonary unit of hospital. So far there isn't much out there about this test, I guess it is some new technology. Yes the only way to know for sure if you are celiac is through biopsy. Our pedi GI is who ordered this test and yes thanks Nanzie...Dr Davies is the best in our large city!!!! My husband will not agree on biopsy so the doctor said this is another alternative. My son is testing negative to blood tests but has pretty much all GI symtoms of celiac. This will be it for us, no matter what the results are after next Monday he is going on the gluten-free diet.

Here is the thread Open Original Shared Link

when we first started to talk about this test last month. There is some info on the test in there

D-xylose hydrogen breath test H(2)BT

I've never heard of this being done for gluten, but I had a hydrogren breath test for lactose intolerance. Basically, what happens is you drink the solution (it tastes like undisolved Tang - just make him drink it as fast as he can) and then you blow into a bag so they can get a base reading, and you do that every half hour for three hours so they can see how you react. The best part? As I'm leaving (I didn't live that far from the lab, so I just went home and did the test every half hour there, and then just brought them back) they tell me "oh, by the way, that solution has as much lactose as a quart of milk...if you're really lactose intolerant, you WILL get sick." Needless to say it was a very unpleasant few hours. After, they test the hydrogen levels and tell you if you're lactose intolerant or not.

I was under the impression that celiac was only diagnosed through a blood test and biopsy. Is a hydrogen test common?

janelyb Enthusiast
janelyb
Posted
  • Author

I will be sure to let you know. Thanks it is reassuring to know we finally have a good doctor!

We were talking about this on a thread not too long ago. It turns out that the doctor who's doing the test is the same ped GI M.D. that my kids go to. She's the ped celiac specialist in Sacramento. There must be something significant to it.

I can't wait to hear more about it.

Nancy

janelyb Enthusiast
janelyb
Posted
  • Author

Any chance your friend could email me before Monday??? Does your friend live in Northern California by any chance?

My friend's child had this done and I believe his gastro ordered it and he went to the hospital to actually have the test run.

HTH

janelyb Enthusiast
janelyb
Posted
  • Author

The pulmonary unit at our local hospital is who does the tests for us. Maybe the technology hasn't reached your area and maybe that's why your doc doesn't know???

I have a question regarding the breath test for lactose --- who actually gives the test, which doctor? I asked my GI guy about testing for other intolerances (ie, lactose) and he said he wasn't aware of any other testing and referred me to my allergist.

From what I'm reading it sounds like the folks that have had this testing have had it done by their gastroenterologist -- is my guy just feeding me a line??

e&j0304 Enthusiast
e&j0304
Posted
Any chance your friend could email me before Monday??? Does your friend live in Northern California by any chance?

I was talking about the lactose test, not the gluten one. The poster before me was questioning why her GI didn't know about it and asked who ran it.

Sorry for the confusion!

KJ11DU Newbie
KJ11DU
Posted

just came across this site and really happy about it. i too have been struggling with intestinal problems for over 3 years now. i have recently found a GI doctor that i am really encouraged by and get the impression that he wants to find out what is going. he is the first one who has but all of my symptoms together to come up with me possibly having celiac disease. after reseaching the disease it looks more and more like what i am dealing with. in many regards i hope it is the diagnosis so i can move on and move forward with treatment and my life.

in regards to the mother who posted about her son and the hydrogen breath test, i too just had one done last week. i haven't heard anything yet but i do know it was to look at gluten levels. if it is some new test that isn't done often i sure am happy i have found a doctor who is pulling out all the stops. i also had blood test that came back with no significantly low level. i am also having the endoscopy biopsy in a few weeks.

anyway, i'm glad i found this site and hopefully all of us can find the answers we are looking for.

Judyin Philly Enthusiast
Judyin Philly
Posted

Janel

when is you sons' breath test again?

I haven't been getting alerts so not sure where this thread went.

judy

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