Abnormal Results

[Live2BWell]

So I've been playing the yo-yo game with doctors. It's quite frustrating, to say the least. Not only that, but many of my results always come back abnormal [but when I address it, it gets shrugged off as not a big deal OR, in the current case, I have gotten no explination whatsoever.] I have tried to get additonal tests ordered, but I am assured the tests they are ordering are the ones necessary and capable of diagnosing what's wrong with me, but I wonder if they really are! Over the span on 2 years, I have finally been diagnosed with Hashimotos and Insulin Resistance - yet I am not getting better, infact I have been getting sicker [despite treatment.] Most recently I have parasites, I have a history of H-Pylori, and I have blood in my stool [i see a new doctor one Wednesday, so I want to have a feel for what I should ask, what is and is not relevant in being properly treated, and what could possibly be just a waste of my breath.]

So the tests I have had [in regards to bloodwork/antibodies and GI tests] ~ which really I have no idea if they have any relevance to possibly having Celiac, or gluten sensitivity, or food allergies, but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway

I had an esophogram and an esophogeal motility test which were both abnormal, showing reflux, below normal LES pressure (lower esophogeal sphincter). My esophogeal motility was "ineffective" and my "bolus transit" was moderately impaired. As for my bloodwork, my thyroid antibodies were high (however they apparently tested for everything, and no other antibodies came back abnormal). My WBC's and Hematocrit were elevated, my carbon dioxide was low and my eosinophils were low.

Doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot to me, but maybe it means something I just dont have knowlege about?

[Rebecca's mom]

Dear Live2BWell,

If you have been diagnosed w/Hashimoto's, there is an EXTREMELY high chance that you have Celiac Disease, as well - the numbers definitely show a correlation between the two conditions. In all of the tests that you mentioned, I don't recall seeing any results for IgA, IgG, tTG, or EMA. If you want to be tested for Celiac, your doctor will have to SPECIFICALLY state that he/she wants a Celiac Panel/Screen done - it isn't a standard component of a CBC.

There is a lot of information on the web about Hashimoto's and Celiac; if your doctor doesn't seem like he/she wants to do a Celiac test, just take some of the info that you find to their office. If you do have Celiac, NOTHING is going to get better unless you first get gluten out of your system. Once the gluten is gone, your body will be able to get its nutrients from the food that you are eating, rather than from the other parts of your body. Once your body stops pulling stuff from your other systems, you may find that other health problems start clearing up.

Where in Texas do you live? We are in Fort Worth. Our youngest daughter (age 7) is the one that was diagnosed with celiac disease 2 months ago. She has Down syndrome, so she was at a significantly higher risk of developing celiac disease. We went ahead and got the rest of the family tested (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) - the other 2 daughters still at home tested negative, as did I, but my husband has some "inconclusive" test results; his numbers fall in a grey area. It is possible that his numbers have been compromised because he has been eating some gluten-free food here at the house - he goes out for lunch at work, so he is still getting SOME gluten. Maybe if he was eating gluten at every meal, he would have had higher numbers on his bloodwork (he just got tested 2 weeks ago). Our oldest daughter is away at college, so she hasn't gotten tested yet. It was much easier for us to go gluten-free at home, and after reading some of the things on celiac disease, I was convinced that I had it. Once I started eating gluten-free, the difference was nothing short of amazing! I don't care if my results said that I don't have celiac disease, I am convinced that I am gluten-sensitive, at the very least.

Be sure and have your blood drawn before you go gluten-free; otherwise, you could get inaccurate results. Good luck with everything, and feel free to contact me if you want to talk.

Teresa Koch

Fort Worth, Texas

[Live2BWell]

Thanks, Teresa!

I was originally Dx with "Pre-Diabetes" (shortly after I had my wisdom teeth out) and told that my thyroid levels were "a bit off but nothing to be concerned about." I began feeling a little better after I was put on medication for the insulin resistance, however after I had my tonsilectomy, my life (and my health) completely fell apart. After being Dx with hashimotos several months back, I have started seeing a new doctor at Baylor (I had been completely appaled at the other doctors and their haste to write me off rather than stick with me to help me.) The appointment went well, and I am feeling a bit better about the way in which the course of my treatment is going for the thyroiditis.

As for Gluten and/or food allergies, I have not had any tests specifically for Celiac (although I have had other tests for autoimmune disorders, and am told that they are all normal, and I had general skin-prick tests for allergies which were also normal) I can post the bloodwork tests I have had and my results (the tests I posted originally were just the ones that read not in the normal range.)

I have an appointment on Monday afternoon with the GI specialist at Baylor, and I see my new doctor again in 5 weeks (for the Hashimotos.)

Thanks again

[Rachel--24]

If you have been diagnosed w/Hashimoto's, there is an EXTREMELY high chance that you have Celiac Disease,

This is true if you are genetically susceptible to Celiac Disease. If not....then the chances of you having Celiac are on the other end....extremely low (or impossible). The only way to know is to be tested.

You *can* be gluten intolerant without having Celiac Disease. A large percentage of those who are intolerant to gluten actually do not have Celiac....but some other underlying condition which has led to gluten intolerance (as well as additional food intolerances).

Have your Dr. order the Celiac panel....its important that all of the tests are run.

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgA

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgG

Anti-Endomysial (EMA) IgA

Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) IgA

Total Serum IgA