Low Positive?

[bbopper]

Hi, My 21 one year old son just had a blood test for celiac and it came back as "low positive". Does this mean he has celiac or possibly not? For a couple years now he's had problems with diahrea and stomach cramping but suffers from anxiety so the drs and us always attributed it to that. Recently his bouts with diahrea/cramping have gotten worse and more frequent thus having the dr. test for celiac.

Thanks for any help/advice you can offer!

[confused]

A low postive is still postive, its like being pg, either you are or you not lol. Do you know the test that they ran and which one was the low postive, that would help to know.

paula

[TrillumHunter]

Second that. It's a yes or no test. Folks who have low positive numbers are no less celiac than folks with high numbers.

I actually took my high negative daughter off gluten and she's doing FANTASTIC!

[Lisa]

Welcome to this wonderful site for information.

I just wanted to add the his anxiety may be caused by celiac. Anxiety is is one of the common symptoms as well as depression and fatigue.

[bbopper]

Oh my gosh. He has suffered from depression also for several years and is ALWAYS so tired, more so lately. He also has developed cold sweats at night. Is that another symptom?

We couldn't get him an appointment with a GI dr. until the 22nd. I wonder if we should stop all wheat or wait until then so the dr. can see or do further tests while he's eating it.

Can anyone recommend somewhere that has a list or a book of specific foods that can be purchased in regular food stores? We did a quick trip to the food store last night for New Years Eve and I was directed to the natural foods aisle.

This is a wonderful site!

Thank you!

[Lisa]

Beth,

If you are going to pursue testing, do not have him begin the gluten free diet. Your GI should suggest and endoscopy exam, that will look into the small intestines (area effected by Celiac Disease) to see if there is any damage and take multiple biopsies. A biopsy can confirm Celiac, but it is not 100% reliable as the biopsy can be hit or miss.

After testing, a simple diet is best in the beginning. Meats, Seafood, Rice, Potatoes, Fresh Veggie and Fruit. Once familiar with what to look for (wheat, malt, rye, barley) you can add additional foods. Don't rush out and buy expensive processed gluten free foods. He won't like them in the beginning, although GREAT inroads have been made in taste and texture in the recent years.

There are listings of gluten free products, but ingredients change frequently and their gluten free status may be in jeopardy. Those lists are great in the beginning, but should not be relied upon for any extent of time.

Here is a list of Companies who are wonderful about listing gluten by name and easily read on their ingredient listing, as in (wheat, malt, barley, rye):

Open Original Shared Link

[georgie]

OMG - I was tested 18 months ago and came back as a high negative result. Dr said I was only Gluten Intolerant and I did the gluten-free diet and know I can never eat Gluten again. Small trace amounts gluten me terribly. But I have never had a 'scope or biopsy. So now .... I will never know - will I ? Does this mean I was probably Celiac all along and my GP should have known that and referred me to a Gastro Dr ?

[ravenwoodglass]

OMG - I was tested 18 months ago and came back as a high negative result. Dr said I was only Gluten Intolerant and I did the gluten-free diet and know I can never eat Gluten again. Small trace amounts gluten me terribly. But I have never had a 'scope or biopsy. So now .... I will never know - will I ? Does this mean I was probably Celiac all along and my GP should have known that and referred me to a Gastro Dr ?

You actually have a real smart doctor. There are many who think that GI is simply celiac that has not totally destroyed your digestive system yet. If you have had a positive response to the diet that is diagnostic in itself. Your doctor went with the most valuable test there is, your response to the diet. You have your answer and don't need to look furthur. A GI doctor would want you back on a full gluten diet for at least a couple of months to check for villi damage. If that thought sends shudders through you listen to your gut and just stay gluten-free and keep healing.