5 Mths Pregnant...new & Need Advice

[lwr101]

Hello...I am new to all of this, in fact not even certain I have Celiac. I did have a Celiac blood test recently, & the results were this: Endomysial Antibody IgA/IgG are 31 & 21 respectively. I was told this is high, but not sure "how high is high"??

I am 5 months pregnant & have been very sick (am still taking Zofran for the nausea/vomiting)- but now am not sure if it's hormones or celiac. I have a healthy 5 year old- and although I was very sick with her- I do not know if I "had" celiac then...or even now, for that matter.

My concern is waiting for a biopsy to confirm the blood test (as I assume biopsy's are not collected from pregnant women?)- or should I start the gluten free diet regardless. Although the high- risk obgyn assured me that this baby looks fine (development, weight, etc) & all of the blood tests are normal, I am still very concerned for my baby's health. I have had a "sensitive stomach" for what seems like the past 15 years- with other celiac symptoms- but they have been vague not intense, and I have bounced from doctor to doctor for years. I do not want to wait another day to be well...or help my baby.

If anyone can provide further insight, I would be very appreciative. Thanks!

[alamaz]

Hi Congratulations!

Did you dr. tell you what a normal result range is? Most people would say a "high" result is a positive result and no, most likely they would not do an endoscopy on you until after you deliver.

It would probably be in your best interest, if your doctor confirms that the high result meant you are positive for celiac, to start eating gluten free. start out eating fresh fruits, veggies, meats. when i first when gluten free my body couldn't handle the gluten free baked and commercial products you see at the stores (except rice crackers). if you've been struggling with tummy issues for quite some time it may take time to heal but most people start to see progress within the first few weeks of following the diet. These boards are a great place to start at.

Good luck!

[lwr101]

Hi Congratulations!

Did you dr. tell you what a normal result range is? Most people would say a "high" result is a positive result and no, most likely they would not do an endoscopy on you until after you deliver.

It would probably be in your best interest, if your doctor confirms that the high result meant you are positive for celiac, to start eating gluten free. start out eating fresh fruits, veggies, meats. when i first when gluten free my body couldn't handle the gluten free baked and commercial products you see at the stores (except rice crackers). if you've been struggling with tummy issues for quite some time it may take time to heal but most people start to see progress within the first few weeks of following the diet. These boards are a great place to start at.

Good luck!

[mommyagain]

I have a similar history in that I have always had random GI issues... that got MUCH worse during my 1st pregnancy and stayed bad while I was on depo-provera. Eventually I figured out that it was a "wheat allergy" and went gluten-lite. Then I stopped taking depo-provera and I found that I could "cheat" on my diet without any major side effects so I went back to a normal diet.

Now, I'm pregnant again, and the celiac-type symptoms came back full force. I was smarter this time, and have been gluten-free for 6 weeks. I feel SOOO much better. But, I'm not diagnosed as celiac because I've never even had the blood tests done. I refuse to go back on gluten while I'm pregnant because of the risk to the baby. Celiacs who eat gluten during pregnancy are at a much higher risk for miscarriage than celiacs who eat gluten-free.

After the baby is born, I'll probably want to stay gluten-free because I'll be nursing, and don't want to risk vitamin deficiencies at that point. After that, who knows? I figure by then I'll have been gluten-free for 2 years (or more) and will probably be used to it!

I would really suggest that you go gluten-free asap, if only for your baby's sake! Some of us on this board feel that a positive dietary response is just as good as a biopsy at diagnosing... since there is always the possibility of a false negative with blood tests and biopsies. I also believe that you have to listen to your body. If your body is healthier without gluten, don't eat gluten! If you feel like you need that diagnosis, you can always try to go back on gluten after the baby's born. Chances are, if you are celiac, you'll feel so sick the first time you get gluten by accident that you won't want to be on it long enough to get a biopsy!

By the way, congrats on the pregnancy, and good luck!

[lwr101]

I have a similar history in that I have always had random GI issues... that got MUCH worse during my 1st pregnancy and stayed bad while I was on depo-provera. Eventually I figured out that it was a "wheat allergy" and went gluten-lite. Then I stopped taking depo-provera and I found that I could "cheat" on my diet without any major side effects so I went back to a normal diet.

Now, I'm pregnant again, and the celiac-type symptoms came back full force. I was smarter this time, and have been gluten-free for 6 weeks. I feel SOOO much better. But, I'm not diagnosed as celiac because I've never even had the blood tests done. I refuse to go back on gluten while I'm pregnant because of the risk to the baby. Celiacs who eat gluten during pregnancy are at a much higher risk for miscarriage than celiacs who eat gluten-free.

After the baby is born, I'll probably want to stay gluten-free because I'll be nursing, and don't want to risk vitamin deficiencies at that point. After that, who knows? I figure by then I'll have been gluten-free for 2 years (or more) and will probably be used to it!

I would really suggest that you go gluten-free asap, if only for your baby's sake! Some of us on this board feel that a positive dietary response is just as good as a biopsy at diagnosing... since there is always the possibility of a false negative with blood tests and biopsies. I also believe that you have to listen to your body. If your body is healthier without gluten, don't eat gluten! If you feel like you need that diagnosis, you can always try to go back on gluten after the baby's born. Chances are, if you are celiac, you'll feel so sick the first time you get gluten by accident that you won't want to be on it long enough to get a biopsy!

By the way, congrats on the pregnancy, and good luck!

I hope that I'm doing this right- I don't know how to reply! But thanks for your response...I felt that I would trust my instincts about this & decided to go ahead with the gluten free diet. My stomach issues & other complaints have been so long term, that is must be something besides stress, etc. And regardless, I want to have the peace of mind that I'm not putting my baby in harm's way. Congratulations, too & am glad to hear you are feeling good this time. Thanks for sharing.

[goldyjlox]

I am glad that you are going gluten-free. If only I had known this my lst pregnancy would have been smoother. My son was not thriving at all and had to come out, and I had no time to think it was straight to the hospital and induced within hours of finding out he was not thriving. It was scary. Ijust had my children tested for Celiac 2 weeks ago and I am awaiting the results.

[dilipv]

hi there,

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Dilip

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