Jump to content

  • 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):

Positive Blood Test

Farrbody

Recommended Posts

Farrbody Newbie
Farrbody
Posted

I was diagnosed with Celiac via blood test. My doctor tells me the biospy is up to me. The 3 antibodies were at high level and I have a family history. He doesn't feel the biopsy is necessary. Everything I've read this week-end pretty much advice otherwise.

Can someone help me with some advice here? I don't particularly want to have the biopsy if it really isn't necessary.

THanks.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

Welcome!

A positive biopsy can confirm the diagnosis, but a negative one cannot rule it out. It's up to you whether you are comfortable with being diagnosed with a blood test and dietary response. Personally, I think dietary response is the most important thing.

I did have the biopsy, it was negative as was the blood work, I still eat gluten-free and feel better for it. Even small amounts of gluten make me sick. The testing methods aren't perfect.

happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted

Farrbody:

The biopsy is considered the "gold standard." If really is a personal decision, and it sounds like you have it (positive blood test + family history). If you want the possibility of being 100% sure and never being questioned by a doctor as to if you "really" have it or not, or if you just want piece of mind, I think it would be fine to have the biopsy. But, it is important to mention that 1. A negative biopsy doesn't rule Celiac out and 2. Ensure that your doctor takes MULTIPLE biopsies in MULTIPLE sites, as Celiac can be patchy.

I have had a few endoscopies, and they really are easy. The thing is, this is really the "only" easy time for you to have the biopsy....if you go gluten free, having to go back on gluten for weeks/months is really hard and is sometime not a good/reasonable option.

Best of luck,

Laura

Tritty Rookie
Tritty
Posted

I recently had my endoscopy, and am glad I had it. I found out I have a small hiatal hernia and also was glad to see the extent of my damage. It's a real eye opener to see a picture of your intestine - and then see a healthy one...

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

It's not necessary to have it, IFF you're going to eat gluten free religiously as you already know you need to. Your doctor could want it for a baseline, to compare against another biopsy in the future to see how well you're healing, but that's not that common, and not that necessary, IFF you're going to eat gluten free. It's a personal call, even though it is the gold standard, some doctors are moving away from it. There just isn't a single right answer, I'm afraid. Given that we can't know the full history here, it would help also to talk to your doctor about why he wants to do the biopsy and the advantages/disadvantages. If his *ONLY* reason is for confirmation, I wouldn't bother, but he may have other reasons.

Jestgar Rising Star
Jestgar
Posted

My personal opinion is that it's barbaric to have someone slice a piece out of my body just to prove something that I can tell is a problem by my choice of food.

But as others have said, sometimes the true picture of the damage to your body helps keep your resolve strong. But that being said, if the biopsy is negative you have to read the result as "Thank heavens I haven't destroyed my intestine yet".

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      134,084
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      10,442
    Melvac
    Newest Member
    Melvac
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.7k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      Sigh. I posted this yesterday based on the Safeway website. I went back again today to their website to double check. On the page where they are selling Vanilla Bean flavor, it has a distinct Certified Gluten Free label. Other flavors on the Safeway website didn't have the gluten-free statement. Today I went into the store. None of the flavors I looked at, including Vanilla Bean, have a Gluten Free statement. Is it safe? Who knows. The ingredients are either safe or nearly safe (some have "natural flavor"). There are warnings about "contains milk and soy" but not about wheat - this implies they are safe, but again, who knows. On the other hand, every flavor I checked of their Slow Churn line of ice creams has wheat as an ingredient. 100% not safe.
    • knitty kitty
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Do keep in mind that many of the newly diagnosed have lactose intolerance.  This is because the villi lining the intestinal tract are damaged, and can no longer make the enzyme lactAse which breaks down the milk sugar lactOse.  When the villi grow back (six months to two years), they can again produce the enzyme lactAse, and lactose intolerance is resolved.  However, some people (both those with and without Celiac Disease) are genetically programmed to stop producing lactase as they age.   Do be aware that many processed foods, including ice cream, use Microbial Transglutaminase, a food additive commonly called "meat glue," used to enhance texture and flavor.  This microbial transglutaminase has the same immunogenicity as tissue transglutaminase which the body produces in response to gluten in people with Celiac Disease.  Tissue Transglutaminase (tTg IgA) is measured to diagnose Celiac Disease in blood tests.  Microbial Transglutaminase acts the same as Tissue Transglutaminase, causing increased intestinal permeability and inflammation.   New findings show that microbial transglutaminase may be able to trigger Celiac Disease and other autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.   Microbial Transglutaminase is not required to be listed on ingredients labels as it's considered a processing aid, not an ingredient in the U.S.  Microbial Transglutaminase has been GRAS for many years, but that GRAS standing is being questioned more and more as the immunogenicity of microbial transglutaminase is being discovered. Interesting Reading:  Microbial Transglutaminase Is a Very Frequently Used Food Additive and Is a Potential Inducer of Autoimmune/Neurodegenerative Diseases https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8537092/
    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      There is a 10 year old post in this forum on Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream. The information is somewhat outdated and the thread is closed to further comment, so here is a new one. Edy's And Dreyer's Grand Vanilla Bean Ice Cream - 1.5 Quart is labeled "Gluten Free". This is a different answer than years gone by. I don't know the answer for any other flavor at this moment. On 1 May, 2026, Edy's website says: "As a general rule, the gluten in Edy's and Dreyer's® frozen dessert products is present only in the added bakery products, such as cookies, cake or brownies. We always label the eight major food allergens on our package by their common name. We recommend to always check the label for the most current information before purchasing and/or consuming a product. The exception to this rule is our Slow Churned French Silk frozen dairy dessert, which contains gluten in the natural flavors." https://www.icecream.com/us/en/brands/edys-and-dreyers/faq It seems that Edy's and Dreyer's are more celiac-friendly than they were 10 years ago. Once I found enough information to make today's buying decision, I stopped researching.
    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      EDG 3 years ago fine, now it shows focal villous blunting,

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      probably not your situation @Mimiof2, but allow me to add one more to @trents list of celiac-mimics: "olmesartan-induced sprue-like enteropathy"  
    • knitty kitty
      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      My dad had an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.  Fortunately, it was discovered during an exam.  The doctor could feel my dad's heart beating in his stomach/abdomen.  The aneurysm burst when the doctor first touched it in surgery.  Since he was already hooked up to the bypass machine, my dad survived ten more years.  Close call! Triple A's can press on the nerves in the spinal cord causing leg pain.  I'm wondering if bowing the head might have increased the pressure on an aneurysm and then the nerves.   https://gulfcoastsurgeons.com/understanding-abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-symptoms-and-causes/ Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Presenting as a Claudication https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4040638/
×
×
  • Create New...