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Anyone Biopsied W/in 6 Mo. Off Gluten? Plus Fertility ?s


mhb

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mhb Apprentice

I am reading Peter Green's 2006 book "Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic." I was surprised to read he feels you can biopsy w/in first 6 months off gluten, that it takes 6 mo. to 1 yr. for the tissue to heal. Well I'm about 4 mo. to the day and had written off a chance at a biopsy 'til now. I just wonder if others hear conflicting info about this time frame, or actually got a positive dx during this window. I need to decide what to do fast. I'll be unavailable for it from Oct. 15 through at least early Nov., and then will be 5 mo. into gluten-free. I *really* don't want to biopsy and have them pull up nothing if something's there 'cause I'll wonder and wonder, did they just miss the right spot? How many sites do they grab from? Can they see that they're getting the areas most likely to be damaged first, etc.? If I could have celiac without villi atrophy yet, should I bother? Shouln't the gene test come 1st? If no genes, no biopsy.

My main concern is much resolution of bloating/distention on gluten-free (though not completely, it's clearly a lot better and I'm working on other food problems like dairy, potatoes ...), and regular periods almost 5 mo. straight for the first time at age 46 (never wanted to get pregnant). I was always treated for PCOS though I always seemed somewhat on the periphery of that symptom cluster, even told my ovaries were not enlarged or polycystic. Green's book is quite objective and he readily says when a condition doesn't have good research support for a relationship with celiac, but the fertility issue gets treated like osteoporosis, DH, malignancies, etc., i.e., as something that is likely more than just an intolerance. I can't find anywhere an indication that non-celiac gluten intolerance can mess with fertility. Anyone else?

So how many of you would go with the biopsy asap? How many wouldn't? I know I really have to decide for myself.

What does it cost if my ins. won't pay?


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