Should I Bother Ordering Enterolab Test?

[bjshad]

Hi - I'm needing some 2nd opinions from someone outside the medical community who is knowledgable about celiac/gluten sensitivity.

My 3 year old DD has taken the Enterolab stool test and tested positive for gluten sensitivity. She has had a great reaction to the gluten free diet, inlcuding a rash that she's had for over 2 years on her arms and legs finally going away after going gluten free.

So the other day I get an IgE allergy blood test. The test comes back positive for allergy to wheat and rye. So in light of DD's positive Enterolab test, should I order one too? Here's my dilema - do I really need one? I have a confirmed allergy to wheat and rye, a DD with gluten sensitivity, and my reaction to eating gluten-containing foods is diarrhea, severe arthritis like symptoms, achy and stiff muscles, brain fog, cramps, and one time after being gluten free for several weeks I ate quite a bit of gluten-containing foods and by the next day I was so sick that I couldn't even hold down water and everything from the other end was completely liquid, if you catch my drift.

I called a GI at the doctor's practice I go to - they won't even see you without a referral. My insurance doesn't require a referral to see a specialist - I get so sick of telling doctor's offices this - I'm just sick of dealing with doctors right now. I'd rather just go with Enterolabs, if it's even necessary at this point.

So, given this, does anyone think I should order the Enterolabs test? My symptoms are pretty consistent with gluten sensitivity at the very least - would you take the test or just go with what you know, given I have an IgE allergy to wheat and rye and need to avoid it anyway?

Thanks-

Beth

[AndreaB]

Beth,

I don't see the need to spend the money on the test unless you want to see what your numbers are. If anything you could get the gene test done just to see what your genes are.

The dietary response on top of your allergies are reason enough to go gluten free. I know that some people get over allergy responses, but gluten causes enough problems on it's own.

If you are satisfied with dietary response then just go gluten free and don't look back.

[jerseyangel]

I agree with what Andrea said. Enterolab can tell you that you're gluten sensitive, but it can't diagnose Celiac. You already know you feel better off gluten, so other than the gene test, there's not much else they can tell you.