Jump to content

  • 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):

Interpretation Of Lab Results; Repeat Biopsy

Pat Podszus

Recommended Posts

Pat Podszus Newbie
Pat Podszus
Posted

Hi,

I am new to this forum. I diagnosed about 14 months ago with a biopsy and lab work. I did not have symptoms and still

do not have symptoms. I immediately went on a gluten free diet and have stayed the course. Here are my questions:

1. should I do a biopsy again to see if the damage to my intestine has improved?

2. exactly what do the lab results mean? I have lab work with gliadin AB IGA and IGG; reticulin IGG and IGA; TTG IGG

and IGA and endomysial AB and AB Titer?

After having done the diet for over a year I do not feel any different than I did before. I never had weight loss or

intestinal symptoms. I immediately went for a bone density test (I am 63) and it had improved since my last one. Many

of my friends have osteopena but I don't even have that. So, I just don't get it! There is a part of me that thinks that

I don't really have Celiac but because I had a biopsy I do take it seriously. Can biopsies be wrong?

Help!!

Pat

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

Pos blood and biopsy is the gold standard Dx.

You may not have nasty symptoms to deal with (be thankful), but what you are doing for yourself is preventing cancers and auto-immune diseases that are associated with Celiac.

You can expect to live well into your 80's or MORE without these extra cancers and diseases. :)

fedora Enthusiast
fedora
Posted

why did you get tested in the first place?

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted
why did you get tested in the first place?

Yes, I was curious about that too.

Pat Podszus Newbie
Pat Podszus
Posted
  • Author
why did you get tested in the first place?

I got tested because I was having trouble swallowing ... I get a pain in my back and totally lock up. At that time I cannot even swallow saliva.

However, I mentioned this to my dr. and told her that it only happens occasionally... maybe once a month, maybe every 6 weeks. She tested

me for that and nothing was found to explain that problem. The dr. doing the test said that my intestine looked very bad so she did the biopsies

of my intestine and stomach.

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted
I got tested because I was having trouble swallowing ... I get a pain in my back and totally lock up. At that time I cannot even swallow saliva.

However, I mentioned this to my dr. and told her that it only happens occasionally... maybe once a month, maybe every 6 weeks. She tested

me for that and nothing was found to explain that problem. The dr. doing the test said that my intestine looked very bad so she did the biopsies

of my intestine and stomach.

Wow--sharp doctor! I'm glad you got diagnosed before you began to get symptoms. :)

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted
I got tested because I was having trouble swallowing ... I get a pain in my back and totally lock up. At that time I cannot even swallow saliva.

However, I mentioned this to my dr. and told her that it only happens occasionally... maybe once a month, maybe every 6 weeks. She tested

me for that and nothing was found to explain that problem. The dr. doing the test said that my intestine looked very bad so she did the biopsies

of my intestine and stomach.

Have you had that problem since going gluten-free? If you haven't, then you did have symptoms. You know, only a minority of people with celiac disease have the 'classic' symptoms of diarrhea and weight loss, most of us have other symptoms. Including mental problems. I used to have a sore throat a lot and occasional problems with swallowing, too.

I agree, with the blood tests being positive (and your doctor even knew which ones to order, he knows what he is doing) and a positive biopsy, you really shouldn't question your diagnosis.

Before thinking about a repeat biopsy, why not have the blood tests again, to see if the numbers have gone down? If they have, your villi would likely have improved, too.

At your age it could take two to five years for complete healing, and your intestines may have permanent damage.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Pat Podszus Newbie
Pat Podszus
Posted
  • Author
Have you had that problem since going gluten-free? If you haven't, then you did have symptoms. You know, only a minority of people with celiac disease have the 'classic' symptoms of diarrhea and weight loss, most of us have other symptoms. Including mental problems. I used to have a sore throat a lot and occasional problems with swallowing, too.

I agree, with the blood tests being positive (and your doctor even knew which ones to order, he knows what he is doing) and a positive biopsy, you really shouldn't question your diagnosis.

Before thinking about a repeat biopsy, why not have the blood tests again, to see if the numbers have gone down? If they have, your villi would likely have improved, too.

At your age it could take two to five years for complete healing, and your intestines may have permanent damage.

Thank you for your response. No, my occasional swallowing problem still happens. In fact, my esophogus was stretched (even though the dr. said it

didn't really look like it needed it) and that didn't help. It could just be a case of acid reflux that gets extreme. I don't usually have heartburn though.

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. nancydrewandtheceliacclue
      - nancydrewandtheceliacclue replied to nancydrewandtheceliacclue's topic in Super Sensitive People
      9

      Celiac flare years after diagnosis

      @Aretaeus Cappadocia thank you for your reply and the link, that is very helpful to get a visual of just how small of an amount can cause a reaction. I know I am not consuming gluten or coming into contact with gluten from any other source. I will stop touching/tossing bread outside! My diet has not changed, and I do not have reactions to the things I am...
    2. Jmartes71
      - Jmartes71 replied to Jmartes71's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      4

      Skin issues

      Thankyou I did find out the Infectious disease is the route to go rather than dermatologist. I did reach out to two major hospitals and currently waiting on approval for one of them in Infectious Diseases to call me. I also did have implants ( I didn't know and sense not properly in my medical. Neither did surgeon)in 2006 and there was a leak 2023 during...
    3. Aretaeus Cappadocia
      - Aretaeus Cappadocia commented on Scott Adams's article in Additional Concerns
      1

      This Common Blood Pressure Drug Can Mimic Celiac Disease Symptoms

      Dang. I had a moment of hope that I could change my BP med and get off the gluten-free diet. Nope. More seriously, I hadn't seen this articles about this phenomenon before. This is one of the possible answers for people who post here about having celiac symptoms (including biopsy) but normal IgA levels, especially if they are saying that diet isn't helping...
    4. Aretaeus Cappadocia
      - Aretaeus Cappadocia replied to Aretaeus Cappadocia's topic in Gluten-Free Recipes & Cooking Tips
      2

      Zaalouk moroccan eggplant salad

      oops. I didn't see that before posting or I would have at least referenced it. The two recipes are pretty similar, but I think the newer one is a little simpler/faster. Next time though I will search more before posting.
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Aretaeus Cappadocia's topic in Gluten-Free Recipes & Cooking Tips
      2

      Zaalouk moroccan eggplant salad

      I love Middle Eastern food and eggplant, and here is another version we shared some time back:
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      134,061
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      10,442
    Francisco1007
    Newest Member
    Francisco1007
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.7k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • nancydrewandtheceliacclue
      Celiac flare years after diagnosis

      By nancydrewandtheceliacclue · Posted

      @Aretaeus Cappadocia thank you for your reply and the link, that is very helpful to get a visual of just how small of an amount can cause a reaction. I know I am not consuming gluten or coming into contact with gluten from any other source. I will stop touching/tossing bread outside! My diet has not changed, and I do not have reactions to the things I am currently eating, which are few in number. My auto immune reaction just seems so severe. The abdominal pain is extreme. It takes a lot out of me. I guess I will be this way for the rest of my life if I ever happen to come into contact with gluten? I appreciate the help. 
    • Jmartes71
      Skin issues

      By Jmartes71 · Posted

      Thankyou I did find out the Infectious disease is the route to go rather than dermatologist. I did reach out to two major hospitals and currently waiting on approval for one of them in Infectious Diseases to call me. I also did have implants ( I didn't know and sense not properly in my medical. Neither did surgeon)in 2006 and there was a leak 2023 during the same time I was dealing with covid, digestive issues, eyes and skin.Considering I " should  be fine" not consuming gluten/wheat, taking vitamins for sibo and STILL feeling terrible.It has to be parasites. I also take individual eye drops prescribed, could there be an issue there? Anyways my pcp thinks I need therapy because again they don't acknowledge my digestive issues because in my records it shows im fine, hintz the reason I had to go back to bay area hospital:(  I thought skin issues maybe sibo related but I feel and have seen and seriously trying not to think about it because it's disgusting. 
    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Zaalouk moroccan eggplant salad

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      oops. I didn't see that before posting or I would have at least referenced it. The two recipes are pretty similar, but I think the newer one is a little simpler/faster. Next time though I will search more before posting.
    • Scott Adams
      Zaalouk moroccan eggplant salad

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I love Middle Eastern food and eggplant, and here is another version we shared some time back:  
    • Scott Adams
      I was diagnosed with celiac 15 years ago.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      The following two lists are very helpful for anyone who is gluten sensitive and needs to avoid gluten when shopping. It's very important to learn to read labels and understand sources of hidden gluten, and to know some general information about product labelling--for example in the USA if wheat is a possible allergen it must be declared on a product's ingredient label like this: Allergens: Wheat.      
×
×
  • Create New...