How Long Till A Normal Ttg.

[Kat'sMommy]

Hello everyone, I don't write often, but you have been a wonderful source of information over the last 6 months. Thanks

My dd had her 6 month follow up with the ped. GI and our blood test results weren't back on time. She had been having occasional stomach aches, but we are all convinced that it is lactose issues.

So, two weeks later I get a call from a very polite nurse who tells me that the ttg is at 22. He says, check the diet because she is getting gluten somewhere. That was the end of the discussion. I did not think to ask anything else, and nothing else was offered.

I have checked everything. Even the toothpaste and shampoo. I can't find anything.

So, I guess my question is could this be just a cc issue? one accidental glutening? Could it be my pots and pans (they are not coated in teflon) Is she just not healed yet?

I guess I should mention that in 6 months her number did drop 80% from 108.

Any help would be wonderful! Thanks! Christine

[happygirl]

Is she eating out at all?

Are her medications/vitamins gluten free?

Are you careful of cross contamination in your home (separate butters, peanut butters, etc for her)?

Dr. Green, one of the leading experts on Celiac, says that: www.celiacdiseasecenter.columbia.edu

7. Monitor serum antibody levels

Patients are advised to have follow-up antibody levels measured at 6 and 12 months. Most patients have normal levels by that time though it may take up to 3 years to normalize in some individuals. It is reasonable to assess antibody levels annually. This will serve to monitor adherence to the diet though is not sensitive for minor dietary indiscretions

I am not a medical professional, but it sounds like she is on the right track, and is just taking a bit longer to heal than "normal."

After 12 months pass, if she still has elevated levels, it may be worth it to look into a repeat biopsy.

[JennyC]

You definitely seem to be doing a good job with the diet. That much of a decrease is great for 6 months on the diet. I might be a little more careful about cross contamination just to be safe, but wait to be concerned until you get her blood work done after 1 year. As previously mentioned it can take quite a while for the tTG levels to go down.

[wolfie]

It would seem to me that after 6 months she is doing well. 22 down from 108 is great in 6 months. I agree with the above poster that it can take a while to completely normalize.

[Kat'sMommy]

Thanks everyone for the answers. We are pretty gluten free as a house hold, but I will redouble efforts on cc. I think we are doing pretty good. I am known for being a little OCD on cleanliness in the kitchen even before the Celiac.

For now we will keep plugging away and see what happens come June 2008.

Thank you so much! Christine