Blood Tests

[cookiequeen 0]

Is it possible to have a negative blood test but still have celiac?

[elye 96]

Oh, yeah. Many of us on here have had "negative" blood panels, and even "negative" biopsies, only to try the gluten-free diet and become well............

[cookiequeen 0]

That's what I figured. The Dr (his nurse practitioner, actually ), insisted that my symptoms was just due to poor diet and constipation management. She told me to eat activia daily (which I'm getting sick of), take a stool softener daily, miralax or maalox daily, fiber, and plenty of water. That's been making me feel almost just as bad because now I feel like I'm going to poop my pants all the time . I was already following a vegetarian diet, exercising, and trying to keep up with my fluids.

I started eating gluten free the day after they drew blood and the bloating started to improve by that weekend. I don't think the nurse thinks that I could have celiac's at all. She said that she would be willing to run more tests if I had steatorrhea. I did have greasy diarrhea for about a week 3 yrs ago. And since then my stomach hasn't been the same. I cut out dairy and increased my fiber intake for months, with no relief. At this point I am so sick of feeling bad all the time.

All I know is that 3 yrs of constipation, bloating, gas, cramping, off-and-on depression, fluid retention, and recurrent stomach distention is not normal at all. I'm 24 for goodness sakes!

[Amyleigh0007 7]

Yes! I believe I am a perfect example of that. My blood test was negative but I have had the classic symptoms of Celiac most of my life. Plus, my son has Celiac. My allergist said that people get false negatives all the time. I feel 100% better since going gluten free.

[lizard00 33]

That's what I figured. The Dr (his nurse practitioner, actually ), insisted that my symptoms was just due to poor diet and constipation management. She told me to eat activia daily (which I'm getting sick of), take a stool softener daily, miralax or maalox daily, fiber, and plenty of water. That's been making me feel almost just as bad because now I feel like I'm going to poop my pants all the time . I was already following a vegetarian diet, exercising, and trying to keep up with my fluids.

First of all, welcome to the board!!!

Second, you need another Dr or nurse practitioner. They're treating the symptoms only, which is sadly very common. Daily stool softeners and laxatives will make your body dependent on them... you think you can't go now, keep that up for a while and you'll never be able to go on your own.

Take some probiotics. They're about 10x better than any yogurt you'll find, without all the added sugar and whoever knows what else. You can find them at any health food store, whole foods, or even in most pharmacies. I use Align, but there are many, many different brands.

I started eating gluten free the day after they drew blood and the bloating started to improve by that weekend. I don't think the nurse thinks that I could have celiac's at all. She said that she would be willing to run more tests if I had steatorrhea. I did have greasy diarrhea for about a week 3 yrs ago. And since then my stomach hasn't been the same. I cut out dairy and increased my fiber intake for months, with no relief. At this point I am so sick of feeling bad all the time.

If you feel better, and continue to improve, you have found your answer. Do you have a family history of Celiac?

Do you have your test results? Post them on here, lots of us have found out things because we insisted on physically seeing our results. If I had never have looked, who knows where I would be. My blood work was negative, too.

All I know is that 3 yrs of constipation, bloating, gas, cramping, off-and-on depression, fluid retention, and recurrent stomach distention is not normal at all. I'm 24 for goodness sakes!

No, it's not. And I hope that you continue to search for the answer. You will find the answer, sometimes it just takes a little longer than we want.

Feel free to ask any questions, we are all here to help and most of us have been where you are right now.

Take care!

[cookiequeen 0]

Yeah, I think I'll give up the Maalox. Who wants to keep that up ?! Yuck! I'll have to get a copy of the test result. It's supposed to be a "comprehensive" test. Should I expect all of the results to be negative or should at least one be positive? I think I'll hunt down another doctor too.

No family history here, that I know of. I'm the only one with GI problems. I'm also the only one with eczema, and my nails have turned weird, and I've had pitting edema in my foot that my normal dr couldn't explain.