Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Positive Blood Panel And Canadian Wait Times

hawaiimama

Recommended Posts

hawaiimama Apprentice
hawaiimama
Posted

I'm new here. I've had a postive blood panel for celiac and the doc says I have it. One of the antibody tests was suppose to be less than 20 (he said it shouldl be close to zero) and mine was 74. He's sending me to a GI guy for a biopsy. I am in canada and I KNOW its going to be MONTHS to get into the GI guy. I'd guess at least a year. I really think I should just go for it and go gluten free as per the doc but I've been getting conflicting info from fellow celiac friends. Thoughts? I've had very few symptoms, my primary one is the horrid iron issues and the inablity to consume salad (gives me D).

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


aikiducky Apprentice
aikiducky
Posted

If you go gluten free now, you risk a false negative on the biopsy, so if it's very important to you to get a clear diagnosis that a doctor can put his name under, don't go gluten free yet.

What you could start with is to find out exactly how long it's going to be? And if it's possible to get a cancellation time or something? And then when you know that, have a think about how you want to proceed.

Pauliina

hawaiimama Apprentice
hawaiimama
Posted
  • Author

I know it will be MONTHS. Its a given. My friend went to see a GI guy and the wait was over a year. I'll call next week and try and prod it along.

If you go gluten free now, you risk a false negative on the biopsy, so if it's very important to you to get a clear diagnosis that a doctor can put his name under, don't go gluten free yet.

What you could start with is to find out exactly how long it's going to be? And if it's possible to get a cancellation time or something? And then when you know that, have a think about how you want to proceed.

Pauliina

elye Community Regular
elye
Posted

Where in Canada are you? I got into the GI six weeks after the positive blood panel, and I'm in Ottawa. You know, a little creative lying, I am certain, can help at times. When you call the GI's office, they will be much more apt to hurry you in if you tell them that you have horrendous symptoms - - don't be specific - - and that you absolutely NEED to get the biopsy done. You aren't exactly lying......anemia is a tough thing! :)

You know that you have the disease. The endoscope could reveal no damage, even if there is damage there...you've got 22 feet of lower intestine, and bits of flattened villi could be in small spots anywhere along it. It can be easy to miss.....

If you need this "clinical" diagnosis for insurance or job-related issues, I guess you'll have to get it done. But if it's simply to convince yourself, you've already got your answer. You may not yet have the damaged villi, but if you continue eating gluten you almost certainly will, eventually.

Good luck! :)

AndrewNYC Explorer
AndrewNYC
Posted
I'm new here. I've had a postive blood panel for celiac and the doc says I have it. One of the antibody tests was suppose to be less than 20 (he said it shouldl be close to zero) and mine was 74. He's sending me to a GI guy for a biopsy. I am in canada and I KNOW its going to be MONTHS to get into the GI guy. I'd guess at least a year. I really think I should just go for it and go gluten free as per the doc but I've been getting conflicting info from fellow celiac friends. Thoughts? I've had very few symptoms, my primary one is the horrid iron issues and the inablity to consume salad (gives me D).

Make a run for the border. Dozens of GI's in Detroit, Rochester and Seattle would love to scope you for a $1000 (USD).

hawaiimama Apprentice
hawaiimama
Posted
  • Author

I'm in toronto. I don't need the biopsy for any reason other than the doc said I needed one. He went on to say even if its negative you still have to eat gluten free and don't listen to anyone who tells you elsewise. So i pretty much feel, well what is the point. I'd prefer not to have one because I've had horrid experiences with sedation/anastesia (sp?) in the past. Yes anemia is a horrid thing, especially when you've had it for 13 years and been told its because you've had three kids and your tired because you have three kids. My SIL (a doc) said go gluten free and have biopsy but everyone here seems to think that is pointless (my doc said same thing).

Where in Canada are you? I got into the GI six weeks after the positive blood panel, and I'm in Ottawa. You know, a little creative lying, I am certain, can help at times. When you call the GI's office, they will be much more apt to hurry you in if you tell them that you have horrendous symptoms - - don't be specific - - and that you absolutely NEED to get the biopsy done. You aren't exactly lying......anemia is a tough thing! :)

You know that you have the disease. The endoscope could reveal no damage, even if there is damage there...you've got 22 feet of lower intestine, and bits of flattened villi could be in small spots anywhere along it. It can be easy to miss.....

If you need this "clinical" diagnosis for insurance or job-related issues, I guess you'll have to get it done. But if it's simply to convince yourself, you've already got your answer. You may not yet have the damaged villi, but if you continue eating gluten you almost certainly will, eventually.

Good luck! :)

betty6333 Newbie
betty6333
Posted

hi, i agree with the above posters. if you understand that you must go gluten free for life (meaning never questioning the dx) the save yourself the hassle and skip the biopsy and just get healthy. if you want the biopsy for any reason (work or you are not sure or what ever) then get the biopsy. if you go gluten free you are wasting your time and energy and money (even if only gas money) to get a biopsy and you might be falsly told you don't have damage when you do from eating gluten.

I got a biopsy for my 6 year old because i can't have him questioning his dx in 6 years and wanted the picture of the damaged villi so when he says "are you sure? " I can say here's your results and your picture. it won't stop him from rebelling if he wants, but he won't be able to say he wants a gluten challenge b/c he already had the stuff done, no ambiguity or questioning or trying to say he was mis -dx'ed..... gluten free is an enormous challenge and lifetime is a long time to do it, so you do what is best for you.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


hawaiimama Apprentice
hawaiimama
Posted
  • Author

I was just expalining that to DH that having the kids biopsied would be a good thing for later on with them if they test postive on blood work. My doc said, you have antibodies on the bloodwork, you have it regardless of what GI doc/biopsy says. My head is still reeling from my bloodwork being positive but it def ties all the wierdo things I have together in a nice little package.

  • 3 weeks later...
hawaiimama Apprentice
hawaiimama
Posted
  • Author

much to my shock and amazement, I have an appt for the biopsy next thurdsay. I somehow got bumped to the top of the list without even asking. Yee Haw

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. trents
      - trents replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      So, essentially all of the nutrition in the food we eat is absorbed through the villous lining of the small bowel. This is the section of the intestinal track that is damaged by celiac disease. This villous lining is composed of billions of finger-like projections that create a huge amount of surface area for absorbing nutrients. For the celiac person, when...
    2. catnapt
      - catnapt replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      thank you so much for your detailed and extremely helpful reply!! I can say with absolute certainty that the less gluten containing products I've eaten over the past several years, the better I've felt. I wasn't avoiding gluten, I was avoiding refined grains (and most processed foods) as well as anything that made me feel bad when I ate it. It's the...
    3. trents
      - trents replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for...
    4. catnapt
      - catnapt posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I...
    5. trents
      - trents replied to McKinleyWY's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      4

      Accuracy of testing concerns

      The biopsy looks for damage to the mucosal lining of the small bowel from the inflammation caused by celiac disease when gluten is ingested. Once you remove gluten from the diet, inflammation subsides and the mucosal lining begins to heal.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,256
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Christie Fassel
    Newest Member
    Christie Fassel
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

      So, essentially all of the nutrition in the food we eat is absorbed through the villous lining of the small bowel. This is the section of the intestinal track that is damaged by celiac disease. This villous lining is composed of billions of finger-like projections that create a huge amount of surface area for absorbing nutrients. For the celiac person, when gluten is consumed, it triggers an autoimmune reaction in this area which, of course, generates inflammation. The antibodies connected with this inflammation is what the celiac blood tests are designed to detect but this inflammation, over time, wears down the finger-like projections of the villous lining. Of course, when this proceeds for an extended period of time, greatly reduces the absorption efficiency of the villous lining and often results in many and various nutrient deficiency-related health issues. Classic examples would be osteoporosis and iron deficiency. But there are many more. Low D3 levels is a well-known celiac-caused nutritional deficiency. So is low B12. All the B vitamins in fact. Magnesium, zinc, etc.  Celiac disease can also cause liver inflammation. You mention elevated ALP levels. Elevated liver enzymes over a period of 13 years was what led to my celiac diagnosis. Within three months of going gluten free my liver enzymes normalized. I had elevated AST and ALT. The development of sensitivities to other food proteins is very common in the celiac population. Most common cross reactive foods are dairy and oats but eggs, soy and corn are also relatively common offenders. Lactose intolerance is also common in the celiac population because of damage to the SB lining.  Eggs when they are scrambled or fried give me a gut ache. But when I poach them, they do not. The steam and heat of poaching causes a hydrolysis process that alters the protein in the egg. They don't bother me in baked goods either so I assume the same process is at work. I bought a plastic poacher on Amazon to make poaching very easy. All this to say that many of the issues you describe could be caused by celiac disease. 
    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

      thank you so much for your detailed and extremely helpful reply!! I can say with absolute certainty that the less gluten containing products I've eaten over the past several years, the better I've felt.   I wasn't avoiding gluten, I was avoiding refined grains (and most processed foods) as well as anything that made me feel bad when I ate it. It's the same reason I gave up dairy and eggs- they make me feel ill.  I do have a bit of a sugar addiction lol so a lot of times I wasn't sure if it was the refined grains that I was eating - or the sugar. So from time to time I might have a cookie or something but I've learned how to make wonderful cookies and golden brownies with BEANS!! and no refined sugar - I use date paste instead. Pizza made me so ill- but I thought it was probably the cheese. I gave up pizza and haven't missed it. the one time I tried a slice I felt so bad I knew I'd never touch it again. I stopped eating wheat pasta at least 3 yrs ago- just didn't feel well after eating it. I tried chick pea pasta and a few others and discovered I like the brown rice pasta. I still don't eat a lot of pasta but it's nice for a change when I want something easy. TBH over the years I've wondered sometimes if I might be gluten intolerant but really believed it was not possible for me to have celiac disease. NOW I need to know for sure- because I'm in the middle of a long process of trying to find out why I have a high parathyroid level (NOT the thyroid- but rather the 4 glands that control the calcium balance in your body) I have had a hard time getting my vit D level up, my serum calcium has run on the low side of normal for many years... and now I am losing calcium from my bones and excreting it in my urine (some sort of renal calcium leak) Also have a high ALP since 2014. And now rapidly worsening bone density.  I still do not have a firm diagnosis. Could be secondary HPT (but secondary to what? we need to know) It could be early primary HPT. I am spilling calcium in my urine but is that caused by the high parathyroid hormone or is it the reason my PTH is high>? there are multiple feedback loops for this condition.    so I will keep eating the bread and some wheat germ that does not seem to bother me too much (it hasn't got enough gluten to use just wheat germ)    but I'm curious- if you don't have a strong reaction to a product- like me and wheat germ- does that mean it's ok to eat or is it still causing harm even if you don't have any obvious symptoms? I guess what you are saying about silent celiac makes it likely that you can have no symptoms and still have the harm... but geez! you'd think they'd come up with a way to test for this that didn't require you to consume something that makes you sick! I worry about the complications I've been reading about- different kinds of cancers etc. also wondering- are there degrees of celiac disease?  is there any correlation between symptoms and the amnt of damage to your intestines? I also need a firm diagnosis because I have an identical twin sister ... so if I have celiac, she has it too- or at least the genetic make up for having it. I did have a VERY major stress to my body in 2014-2016 time frame .. lost 50lbs in a short period of time and had severe symptoms from acute protracted withdrawal off an SSRI drug (that I'd been given an unethically high dose of, by a dr who has since lost his license)  Going off the drug was a good thing and in many ways my health improved dramatically- just losing 50lbs was helpful but I also went  off almost a dozen different medications, totally changed my diet and have been doing pretty well except for the past 3-4 yrs when the symptoms related to the parathyroid issue cropped up. It is likely that I had low vit D for some time and that caused me a lot of symptoms. The endo now tells me that low vit D can be caused by celiac disease so I need to know for sure! thank you for all that great and useful information!!! 
    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for a significant amount of time. It's called the "gluten challenge".  Yes, you can develop celiac disease at any stage of life. There is a genetic component but also a stress trigger that is needed to activate the celiac genes. About 30-40% of the general population possesses the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% of the general population actually develop celiac disease. For most with the potential, the triggering stress event doesn't happen. It can be many things but often it is a viral infection. Having said that, it is also the case that many, many people who eventually are diagnosed with celiac disease probably experienced the actual onset years before. Many celiacs are of the "silent" type, meaning that symptoms are largely missing or very minor and get overlooked until damage to the small bowel lining becomes advanced or they develop iron deficiency anemia or some other medical problem associated with celiac disease. Many, many are never diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life because they did not experience classic symptoms. And many physicians are only looking for classic symptoms. We now know that there are over 200 symptoms/medical problems associated with celiac disease but many docs are only looking for things like boating, gas, diarrhea. I certainly understand your concerns about not wanting to damage your body by taking on a gluten challenge. Your other option is to totally commit to gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. It can take two years or more for complete healing of the small bowel lining once going gluten free but usually people experience significant improvement well before then. If their is significant improvement in your symptoms when going seriously gluten free, then you likely have your answer. You would either have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity).
    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I attributed it to other things like bread spiking blood sugar- or to the things I ate *with* the bread or crackers etc   I went to a party in Nov and ate a LOT of a vegan roast made with vital wheat gluten- as well as stuffing, rolls and pie crust... and OMG I was so sick! the pain, the bloating, the gas, the nausea... I didn't think it would ever end (but it did) and I was ready to go the ER but it finally subsided.   I mentioned this to my endo and now she wants me to be tested for celiac after 2 weeks of being on gluten foods. She has kind of flip flopped on how much gluten I should eat, telling me that if the symptoms are severe I can stop. I am eating 2-3 thin slices of bread per day (or english muffins) and wow- it does make me feel awful. But not as bad as when I ate that massive amnt of vital wheat gluten. so I will continue on if I have to... but what bothers me is - if it IS celiac, it seems stupid for lack of a better word, to intentionally cause more damage to my body... but I am also worried, on the other hand, that this is not a long enough challenge to make the blood work results valid.   can you give me any insight into this please?   thank you
    • trents
      Accuracy of testing concerns

      By trents · Posted

      The biopsy looks for damage to the mucosal lining of the small bowel from the inflammation caused by celiac disease when gluten is ingested. Once you remove gluten from the diet, inflammation subsides and the mucosal lining begins to heal. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.