What Is The Biopsy Like?

[Woolygimp]

I just drove several hours to Houston to see a GI, and he did a liver panel and gave me a packet and said, "well maybe you should try a lactose free diet."

I even asked him to consider the possibility to Celiac, but he gave me the whole 'since your antibodies are negative, there's no possible way for you to have it' routine.

I am thinking about getting a biopsy when i go back, to know for sure. So I'm wondering what is the biopsy like? What is the name of it so I know exactly what to ask for? Is it painful? Are there any risks? Is it expensive?

I'm assuming that i need a GI to do it, but do I need a knowledgeable one to make sure he won't mis-interpret test results?

[cyberprof]

Hi Wooly,

My story is unusual, but here is my take on the biopsy for celiac. It's called an endoscopy and you can google it to get a definition. Basically, they give you a small sedative dose, then they spray the back of your throat with numbing spray and put a small tube down your throat. Takes all of 20 minutes. The tube has a camera in it and they can look for things like ulcers, cancer etc. They can also take 10-20 biopsies, which is what they can diagnose celiac with, among other things.

I thought I had an ulcer, had pain etc. Doc wanted me to have the endoscopy for that. They found no ulcer but took the biopsies anyway. Lucky for me, as it diagnosed celiac. My blood tests (subsequent after the endoscopy) were negative, so I would have gotten the same wrong-headed answer that you got.

I was lucky to be diagnosed so easily. I do have a lot of the symptoms, but I chalked them up to aging, not enough sleep, menopause, arthritis, depression etc., etc.

Maybe if you say "ulcer" you can get the endoscopy? A GI doc is the one you want to do it, because docs who do a procedure often are the best at it. Small (1 in a million) risk of perforation of stomach wall, reaction to anesthesia etc.... piece of cake. Cost is a lot, $1500 if not covered by insurance I think.

Going lactose free is an idea, you can always try it. And it won't mess up any celiac tests later.

Good luck to you. Being undiagnosed is hard, but going gluten free without a diagnosis has been done by many on this board with good results. It's free and requires no prescription.

I just drove several hours to Houston to see a GI, and he did a liver panel and gave me a packet and said, "well maybe you should try a lactose free diet."

I even asked him to consider the possibility to Celiac, but he gave me the whole 'since your antibodies are negative, there's no possible way for you to have it' routine.

I am thinking about getting a biopsy when i go back, to know for sure. So I'm wondering what is the biopsy like? What is the name of it so I know exactly what to ask for? Is it painful? Are there any risks? Is it expensive?

I'm assuming that i need a GI to do it, but do I need a knowledgeable one to make sure he won't mis-interpret test results?