Which Tests Should Be Done?

[peaches102984]

Hello,

I have posted a few times but not many. I have known about celiac disease since Jan 07. Its been a whirly ride the last 2 years or so....my 3 year old daughter has a doc. appt. on 10/24 my husband has one on 10/31. I am posting on here because I want to go to these appts well prepared. I am tired of going to the doc. and them being pushy because they are the doc. and they know alls well sorta speak. The last GI appt that my husband had the doc wanted to do both an endo. and colonoscopy. He had a colonoscopy 2 years ago and he doesn't want to go through another. He told the doc. this and he pretty much said you can take it or leave it. So my husband needless to say never returned to his office. My daughter on the other hand has never been seen for any problems other than normal check ups. Her appt. is a normal check up but I want her tested as well. I don't know much about the childs side of this disease. I march she started showing strange symptoms. Throwing up and irritability (alot of irritability from both!) 3 times she has thrown up this year. I know some of the tests but I don't know all of them... I have INS. from my job so I may as well use it! I know about the endo....and just thinking of my husband getting that test makes butterflies in my tummy because I feel thats the answer! But my daughter.....what tests are good enough for a 3 year old and my husband is 24. He don't work because of this and we are on and off this diet because of money issues right now....I always say if we can get you gluten free for real that you can go work and we can afford this diet without any stuggles! But it seems so far away! Anyone here can tell me what I need? Also I live in Austin, TX anything that is helpful to my area also....then next year we are moving to Atlanta, GA. Hope someone has some friendly advice.

Casey

[aeshlea]

Hi Casey,

I can't believe I am posting a reply to some else's question as I am VERY new to this..haha....but I wanted to see if you had heard of enterolab? Its all over this forum, and I dont want to assume you have heard of it, but if you haven't you should check them out. My doctors didnt know what was going on with me, and so I followed my intution and took my health into my own hands. I discoverd www.enterolab.com and they do all these great tests...and they can do the right tests for your child too. The tests are relativley affordable, depending on which one you choose. And they offer insurance codes in case your insurance covers for it. I dont know how much it costs to go to the doctor for these kind of tests, but I imagine the ones on the website are comparable...and possibly much less invasive. No blood work, just stool samples and mouth swabs. They worked for me when others didnt. Good luck to you.

[happygirl]

Enterolab can't diagnose Celiac, though.

The traditional bloodwork, which since you have insurance through your job, will likely be covered:

(taken from Columbia University's Celiac Disease Center: Open Original Shared Link

Anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) both IgA and IgG

Anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA) - IgA

Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTG) - IgA

Total IgA level.

[aeshlea]

Enterolab can't diagnose Celiac, though.

The traditional bloodwork, which since you have insurance through your job, will likely be covered:

(taken from Columbia University's Celiac Disease Center: Open Original Shared Link

Anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) both IgA and IgG

Anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA) - IgA

Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTG) - IgA

Total IgA level.

Really? I guess I thought they could diagnose it, but I am new to all of this so its good to get the clarity. They do all the tests you listed above (although I am not so sure about the anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA) IgA) but it is not through blood work, its is through the stool work that I thought was actually more accurate..so I guess I am confused now. Can you only be 'diagnosed' through blood work then? What am I missing here?

[happygirl]

The "official" way to diagnose is through bloodtest and biopsy, and then the response to the diet.

Enterolab themselves say that they don't diagnose Celiac, but non-Celiac gluten intolerance.

The problem with enterolab, at this point, is that his results haven't been duplicated by others, and his methods are not published.

(All this being said, I certainly think that if anyone does better on the gluten-free diet, regardless of type of testing, results, etc., then I highly encourage it)