Help! Can't Find An Answer!

[AshleyE]

I posted this in the testing feed and nobody had an answer, so I thought I would try asking here. I would reall ylike to know the answer.

I have been gluten free for about a year and a half, I never got tested and now I would like to. I know that I need to be eating gluten for at least six weeks befroe getting tested, but my question is how much gluten do I need to eat? I am not super sensitive and don't have any reaction to a little bit of gluten, so if I was to eat say, one crouton a day, would the damage still be enough to show up on the test, or do I have to ingest a lot of it every day?

Just wondering because I would like to be in as little pain as possible!

Thanks to anybody who has any ideas!

[Guest j_mommy]

Okay here is what Dr. Peter Green says in his book "Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic"....

1) Gluten Challange shoudl be done for 1-3 months(closer to three months for those who don't have alot of outward Symptoms..He say 3 months for those who tolerate gluten well)

2) Says to eat 4 slices a bread a day(I have read else where that 2 slices is enough)

3) Says in the book that after a gluten challange it is recommended to do a biopsy b/c blood tests still may not be correct.

Hope that helps!!!

[gfpaperdoll]

you might not have gotten an answer because some people do not believe that a gluten challenge is a good idea. It is really your choice.

But, during a gluten challenge you run the risk of picking up some damage or another auto immune illness that might not go away as easily when you just stop eating gluten. Also, you could eat gluten for 3 months & still get a negative biobsy & negative blood tests. What are you going to do then? If the answer is to continue eating gluten then a gluten challenge would be okay for you. But if the answer is, not eat gluten any more then why do the test in the first place?

I think the best thing to do is to just get the gene test thru Enterolab.com, well unless you just want to go back to eating gluten.

Why were you gluten free in the first place? & why do you want a diagnosis?

[AshleyE]

you might not have gotten an answer because some people do not believe that a gluten challenge is a good idea. It is really your choice.

But, during a gluten challenge you run the risk of picking up some damage or another auto immune illness that might not go away as easily when you just stop eating gluten. Also, you could eat gluten for 3 months & still get a negative biobsy & negative blood tests. What are you going to do then? If the answer is to continue eating gluten then a gluten challenge would be okay for you. But if the answer is, not eat gluten any more then why do the test in the first place?

I think the best thing to do is to just get the gene test thru Enterolab.com, well unless you just want to go back to eating gluten.

Why were you gluten free in the first place? & why do you want a diagnosis?

Thanks for your responses. I went gluten free originally because I had been catching every virus I came in contact with, had suddenly lost 7 pounds in two weeks (which I couldn't afford to lose, I'm 5'6" and 110lbs), was anemic, and had had poor general health and horrible headaches for ten years with no answers from any doctors... then my boss suggested celiac, and I started the diet prior to doing enough research about getting tested. I felt better immediately and had no desire to get tested.

I suppose my reason for wanting to get tested now is because I don't have a huge reaction and would like to know if it is simply an allergy/intolerance, or if it is actually celiac disease. My husband and I are starting to think about having kids, and I would like to know for their sake as well.

Either way I will stay gluten free for the rest of my life, simply because I feel so much better. After reading the first response though, I don't need to get tested that bad! If it was as easly as eating a tiny bit each day for a few weeks and I wasn't spending every night on the toilet I would do it, but I'm not ready to sacrifice a few months of my life just to have a surefire answer.

I will probably just get the gene test and if I have the gene, I will make my kids gluten-free too.

[gfpaperdoll]

I think that you are making a wise decision. It does not matter if you have an allergy, celiac, gluten ataxia or gluten intolerance, the treatment is the same - do not eat gluten.

Also, it does not matter which it is for the future kids, the up side is that if you feed them gluten-free they will eat a healthier diet. & it is a plus not having that dxd on your records, because once the insurance companies catch on to this you are going to exclusions & pre-existing for everything....