Blood Results

[beterraba]

Hi!

I went to see my PCP yesterday, who at least admitted she didn't have a lot of expertise in GI issues, and recommended I see a GI doctor to get scoped and to have more extensive blood work done. Other than that, she thinks it's IBS, unless otherwise ruled out. So, she wants me to start taking gas-x and nexium. I'm going to wait on this until I see the GI doctor so it doesn't interfere with the scope.

Thankfully, I work with a GI doctor and I plan to speak to him about this. In the meantime, I did have routine bloodwork done, and everything is normal other than my WBC being low, along with my neutrophils being low and lymphocytes being high. I also had my iron rechecked, and my ferritin is still only 20 after 4 months of supplementing (up from 12), and my transferrin has dropped. TIBC is normal. I ordered B12, folate, and vitamin d, but those are still pending.

Any thoughts on the low WBC? I haven't had any colds/flus or anything. Just the constant BMs, gas, stomach cramps, etc.

Thanks! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[Mother of Jibril]

My CBC was like that too before I stopped eating gluten... my absolute lymphocytes were fine, but my % of lymphocytes was at the high end of normal (out of range at some labs). From what I've read, "relative lymphocytosis" can be caused by:

- Being under the age of 2

- Acute viral infection

- Connective tissue disorder (Sjogren's, lupus, RA)

- Thyrotoxicosis (extreme hyperthyroidism)

- Addison's disease

- Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen)

- Goiter (a sign of hypothyroidism)

Since I stopped eating gluten, my % of lympocytes is back to normal... even though the absolute # has not changed... because my other categories of WBC (especially the neutrophils) have increased. I also started taking hormones for hypothyroidism, which has probably helped too.

[mftnchn]

Based on what I have learned since being diagnosed, if I were you, I would request the biopsy. There are still a lot of false negatives in the blood tests for celiac. Be sure you have had a total IGA as well, because if your total IGA is low, the blood tests are not useful for you and it also suggests celiac.

If biopsy is negative and total IGA is normal, then before all the acid blockers and stuff, I would try the gluten-free diet strictly for a few weeks.

If you have a positive response you might want to do a fat malabsorption test and genetic testing for celiac. You may end up with a clinical diagnosis of celiac.

Some people have also found Enterolab useful. It doesn't diagnose celiac but can pick up gluten sensitivity.