Test Confusion

[kim26]

i have posted here a few times, and im still trying to figure all this out..so please bare with me. my 7 year old daughter was tested and we did the biopsy..which was negative. i have a copy of her test results, here is what they ran-

Antigliadin Abs, IgG 10 high

Transglutaminase tTG IgG 6 high(weak positive)

Immunoglobulin A, Qn, Serum 178 (normal)

the ped gi said these weren't the most specific tests but they were still suggestive of celiac, even with the negative biopsy she says the tests are enough to try the diet. we've been doing the diet for a month now, not perfectly im sure, some days things seem better some days they don't.

i guess my real question is are these tests reliable? or could they be indicative of something else? assuming she does have it that would mean either me or my husband have it right? i have been diagnosed with IBS, duodenitis and hypothyroidism. my doc ran the EMA IgA and the antigliadin IgG and antigliadin IgA test for me, ALL were negative. should i feel certain i don't have it and move on to having my husband tested??? i am also curious as to whether or not we should have a gene test done on my 3 year old son, i know the blood tests and biopsy are both un reliable in children this young. its all really hard to sort through. any knowledge you can share with me would be really appreciated. Thanks!~K

[Ursa Major]

Well, you know, being 'diagnosed' with IBS really means that your doctor doesn't have a clue what your problem is, and is too lazy and/or ignorant to find out. Your bowels are irritated by SOMETHING, and that is a symptom, and not an illness in itself!

A great many of the people here were so-called diagnosed with IBS for years before finally either being properly diagnosed with celiac disease or trying the gluten-free diet and getting better. Many of us also have thyroid problems.

So, it wouldn't surprise me at all if it wasn't in fact you who passed celiac disease onto your little girl!

Negative blood work and biopsies are common with celiac disease. The blood work isn't really that reliable even in adults, and biopsies are hit and miss, unless you are in such bad shape that all your villi are gone.

Since you had the testing done already, why don't you give the gluten-free diet a try yourself to see if your IBS won't 'mysteriously' disappear? Or have the biopsy done as well, there have been plenty of people here who had negative blood work and a positive biopsy.

But the best test is still the gluten-free diet. If you feel better on it, you know that you shouldn't eat gluten. It would be easier anyway to have a gluten-free house, because there would be less chance of cross contamination for your daughter. Who knows, maybe you'd all feel much better!