Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    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):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Confused

ycavaz

Recommended Posts

ycavaz Rookie
ycavaz
Posted

Hi, I'm new and this is my first post. I've had hashimoto's for 11 yrs and I get more sick every year. So I decided to order the gluten sensitivity test from enterolab because of unresolved diarrhea for many years. Yesterday the results came back as positive for antigliadin antibodies with a level of 49.

I was told I have to maintain a permanent gluten free diet. Does that make me a celiac now? Should I see a gastroenterologist and have them confirm it or just accept it and do gluten-free forever? I'm really confused.

Yvette

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Tim-n-VA Contributor
Tim-n-VA
Posted

Do you want a diagnosis that the general mainstream medical community will recognize? If so, continue to consume gluten, see a GI and get the blood work and biopsy. If you don't care about that acceptance/recognition, try a gluten-free diet and see if you feel better.

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Hi Yvette,

You said you are getting sicker every year right? One of the "nice" things about celiac is that you can make a big improvement in your health by going on the gluten-free diet. You can go to a gastroenterologist and have a biopsy done, or you can get blood testing for gluten antibodies. Or you can try the diet and see if it makes your symptoms improve. If you have digestive symptoms like D or c, or gas, bloating, pain and they get better on the diet, that is a pretty good sign you should avoid gluten. The gastro biopsy may not show any intestinal damage, but you could still be celiac and have damage to other parts of the body. So if you have other non-digestive symptoms that improve on the diet, that is a good thing too right?

There is some debate over the Enterolab testing. Dr. Fine says the antibodies to gluten show up in the stool before they show up in the blood. So it would basically be an earlier detection method than blood antibodie tests. If that is true then you might test negative on the blood and biopsy but still have the disease. It seems like the blood tests miss some cases of celiac from what I read on the site here. They aren't 100% reliable.

So, long story short, you need to decide if you want to try the diet or go for further testing. If you do go for the blood tests, you need to keep eating gluten in the meantime so the tests will have a chance to work.

ycavaz Rookie
ycavaz
Posted
  • Author

It would be for my husband and family, so they will take me seriously. I went gluten free yesterday, as soon as I found out but my husband is already telling me to see a doc.

He is one of those people who are disgustly healthy and doesn't understand chronic diseases nor my distrust of docs who bungled my hashi dx for 2 yrs. He trusts everything a doc says while I don't because of the things I've been told about my thyroid.

maile Newbie
maile
Posted
It would be for my husband and family, so they will take me seriously. I went gluten free yesterday, as soon as I found out but my husband is already telling me to see a doc.

He is one of those people who are disgustly healthy and doesn't understand chronic diseases nor my distrust of docs who bungled my hashi dx for 2 yrs. He trusts everything a doc says while I don't because of the things I've been told about my thyroid.

my husband is the same way, for that reason I did do the enterolab testing and for him it settled the matter, that and seeing my reaction to going gluten-free and then getting glutened during the holidays.

I did have a blood test (not sure which one, wasn't told at the time) and it was negative but that didn't surprise me as I have been gluten lite for years and had been gluten-free for 2 weeks prior.

There are some good articles on the main site about gluten sensitivity (the authors are various doctors) that you could print out and show those to your hubby, good luck, I understand how frustrating it can be with husbands (mine anyway) :rolleyes:

ycavaz Rookie
ycavaz
Posted
  • Author

I'll discuss it with him and print those articles and hopefully he will understand that I am not up to getting a celiac dxg and doc shopping. As it is I am seeing a rheumy on tues. due to other symptoms. I'm hopeful that going gluten free will help.

Mother of Jibril Enthusiast
Mother of Jibril
Posted
It would be for my husband and family, so they will take me seriously. I went gluten free yesterday, as soon as I found out but my husband is already telling me to see a doc.

He is one of those people who are disgustly healthy and doesn't understand chronic diseases nor my distrust of docs who bungled my hashi dx for 2 yrs. He trusts everything a doc says while I don't because of the things I've been told about my thyroid.

My husband is like that too... he is NEVER sick. We've been married for 12 years and I've only seen him sick maybe three or four times. He's on board with the GFCFMF diet... he always wanted me to eat more fruits and vegetables ;) ... but he doesn't understand anything about autoimmune disorders and he's not really willing to learn (which is a bit frustrating since he's not a stupid man).

Anyway... I also went gluten-free after I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's. For the first time since I hit puberty my health is improving and I feel like I have some control over my body!! :) I'm still taking thyroid hormones, but I no longer have any of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. I've lost about 30 pounds and my skin looks great :lol: Most importantly, I'm no longer in pain and my bloodwork (CBC, CMP) is totally back to normal.

Gluten can definitely affect more than just your intestines, which is the definition of celiac disease. But... testing for antibodies is still pretty unreliable (lots of false negatives). A positive response to the gluten-free diet is a much better diagnostic tool. Whether gluten is destroying your intestines, thyroid, liver, brain, joints, etc... the cure is the same. Stay off gluten 100%. Since I figured out that I'm also intolerant to corn I've cut 99% of processed foods out of my diet. I've been really, REALLY strict for the last couple of months and it's definitely paying off.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ycavaz Rookie
ycavaz
Posted
  • Author
My husband is like that too... he is NEVER sick. We've been married for 12 years and I've only seen him sick maybe three or four times. He's on board with the GFCFMF diet... he always wanted me to eat more fruits and vegetables ... but he doesn't understand anything about autoimmune disorders and he's not really willing to learn (which is a bit frustrating since he's not a stupid man).

My husband is exactly the same way. We fight about my illness but he refuses to read anything about it. This May makes 12 yrs for us and I can remember only 3 times he has been sick. Sometimes I envy him.

sbj Rookie
sbj
Posted
I'll discuss it with him and print those articles and hopefully he will understand that I am not up to getting a celiac dxg and doc shopping. As it is I am seeing a rheumy on tues. due to other symptoms. I'm hopeful that going gluten free will help.

Hi ycavaz:

You don't need a diagnosis of celiac to go on a gluten free diet. However, do you think you have celiac disease? If you have cleiac disease then you should do more than just go on a gluten free diet. I read that advice here a lot - "try the gluten free diet, it can't hurt" - but when you are initially diagnosed with celiac disease you do more than just change your diet. Typically you get a complete blood count. Your doctor checks for mineral, vitamin, and other nutritional deficiencies. You consult with your doctor about any other symptoms you might have that could potentially indicate other auto-immune conditions. If you have suffered with celiac disease for a long time, as it seems you have, you may have intestinal damage - that damage could lead to cancer. A GI might want to take a look for signs of such damage. You should also get a bone density scan to look for osteopenia or osteoporosis.

A gluten free diet won't hurt you, and no one here will say that you must get a celiac diagnosis. But when you are initially diagnosed with celiac disease you should do more than just change your diet. You might have intestinal damage or nutritional deficiencies or low bone density right now and those conditions might need to be treated right now.

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. SilkieFairy
      - SilkieFairy replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      4

      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      I am doing a gluten challenge right now and I bought vital wheat gluten so I can know exactly how much gluten I am getting. One tablespoon is 7g so 1½ tablespoons of Vital Wheat Gluten per day will get you to 10g You could add it to bean burgers as a binder or add to hot chocolate or apple sauce and stir.
    2. Scott Adams
      0

      Celiac Disease Beyond the Western World: Hidden Populations, Changing Diets, and Growing Awareness

    3. Wheatwacked
      - Wheatwacked replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      50

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      Raising you vitamin D will increase absorption of calcium automatically without supplementation of calcium. A high PTH can be caused by low D causing poor calcium absorption; not insuffient calcium intake. With low D your body is not absorbing calcium from your food so it steals it from your bones. Heart has priority over bone. I've been taking 1...
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      4

      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      @catnapt, Wheat germ has very little gluten in it. Gluten is the carbohydrate storage protein, what the flour is made from, the fluffy part. Just like with beans, there's the baby plant that will germinate ("germ"-inate) if sprouted, and the bean part is the carbohydrate storage protein. Wheat germ is the baby plant inside a kernel of wheat...
    5. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      50

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      Hello, @asaT, I'm curious to know whether you are taking other B vitamins like Thiamine B1 and Niacin B3. Malabsorption in Celiac disease affects all the water soluble B vitamins and Vitamin C. Thiamine and Niacin are required to produce energy for all the homocysteine lowering reactions provided by Folate, Cobalamine and Pyridoxine. Weight...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,360
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Known1
    Newest Member
    Known1
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • SilkieFairy
      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      By SilkieFairy · Posted

      I am doing a gluten challenge right now and I bought vital wheat gluten so I can know exactly how much gluten I am getting. One tablespoon is 7g so 1½ tablespoons of Vital Wheat Gluten per day will get you to 10g You could add it to bean burgers as a binder or add to hot chocolate or apple sauce and stir. 
    • Wheatwacked
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      Raising you vitamin D will increase absorption of calcium automatically without supplementation of calcium.  A high PTH can be caused by low D causing poor calcium absorption; not insuffient calcium intake.  With low D your body is not absorbing calcium from your food so it steals it from your bones.  Heart has priority over bone. I've been taking 10,000 IU D3 a day since 2015.  My doctor says to continue. To fix my lactose intolerance, lots of lactobacillus from yogurts, and brine fermented pickles and saurkraut and olives.  We lose much of our ability to make lactase endogenosly with maturity but a healthy colony of lactobacillus in our gut excretes lactase in exchange for room and board. The milk protein in grass fed milk does not bother me. It tastes like the milk I grew up on.  If I drink commercial milk I get heartburn at night. Some experts estimate that 90% of us do not eat Adequite Intake of choline.  Beef and eggs are the principle source. Iodine deficiency is a growing concern.  I take 600 mcg a day of Liquid Iodine.  It and NAC have accelerated my healing all over.  Virtually blind in my right eye after starting antihypertensive medication and vision is slowly coming back.  I had to cut out starches because they drove my glucose up into the 200+ range.  I replaced them with Red Bull for the glucose intake with the vitamins, minerals and Taurine needed to process through the mitochodria Krebs Cycle to create ATP.  Went from A1c 13 down to 7.9.  Work in progress. Also take B1,B2,B3,B5,B6. Liquid Iodine, Phosphatidyl Choline, Q10, Selenium, D and DHEA.     Choline supplemented as phosphatidylcholine decreases fasting and postmethionine-loading plasma homocysteine concentrations in healthy men +    
    • knitty kitty
      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @catnapt, Wheat germ has very little gluten in it.  Gluten is  the carbohydrate storage protein, what the flour is made from, the fluffy part.  Just like with beans, there's the baby plant that will germinate  ("germ"-inate) if sprouted, and the bean part is the carbohydrate storage protein.   Wheat germ is the baby plant inside a kernel of wheat, and bran is the protective covering of the kernel.   Little to no gluten there.   Large amounts of lectins are in wheat germ and can cause digestive upsets, but not enough Gluten to provoke antibody production in the small intestines. Luckily you still have time to do a proper gluten challenge (10 grams of gluten per day for a minimum of two weeks) before your next appointment when you can be retested.    
    • knitty kitty
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @asaT, I'm curious to know whether you are taking other B vitamins like Thiamine B1 and Niacin B3.  Malabsorption in Celiac disease affects all the water soluble B vitamins and Vitamin C.  Thiamine and Niacin are required to produce energy for all the homocysteine lowering reactions provided by Folate, Cobalamine and Pyridoxine.   Weight gain with a voracious appetite is something I experienced while malnourished.  It's symptomatic of Thiamine B1 deficiency.   Conversely, some people with thiamine deficiency lose their appetite altogether, and suffer from anorexia.  At different periods on my lifelong journey, I suffered this, too.   When the body doesn't have sufficient thiamine to turn food, especially carbohydrates, into energy (for growth and repair), the body rations what little thiamine it has available, and turns the carbs into fat, and stores it mostly in the abdomen.  Consuming a high carbohydrate diet requires additional thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  Simple carbohydrates (sugar, white rice, etc.) don't contain thiamine, so the body easily depletes its stores of Thiamine processing the carbs into fat.  The digestive system communicates with the brain to keep eating in order to consume more thiamine and other nutrients it's not absorbing.   One can have a subclinical thiamine insufficiency for years.  A twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent increase in brain function, so the symptoms can wax and wane mysteriously.  Symptoms of Thiamine insufficiency include stunted growth, chronic fatigue, and Gastrointestinal Beriberi (diarrhea, abdominal pain), heart attack, Alzheimer's, stroke, and cancer.   Thiamine improves bone turnover.  Thiamine insufficiency can also affect the thyroid.  The thyroid is important in bone metabolism.  The thyroid also influences hormones, like estrogen and progesterone, and menopause.  Vitamin D, at optimal levels, can act as a hormone and can influence the thyroid, as well as being important to bone health, and regulating the immune system.  Vitamin A is important to bone health, too, and is necessary for intestinal health, as well.   I don't do dairy because I react to Casein, the protein in dairy that resembles gluten and causes a reaction the same as if I'd been exposed to gluten, including high tTg IgA.  I found adding mineral water containing calcium and other minerals helpful in increasing my calcium intake.   Malabsorption of Celiac affects all the vitamins and minerals.  I do hope you'll talk to your doctor and dietician about supplementing all eight B vitamins and the four fat soluble vitamins because they all work together interconnectedly.  
    • Florence Lillian
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Florence Lillian · Posted

      Hi Jane: You may want to try the D3 I now take. I have reactions to fillers and many additives. Sports Research, it is based in the USA and I have had no bad reactions with this brand. The D3 does have coconut oil but it is non GMO, it is Gluten free, Soy free, Soybean free and Safflower oil free.  I have a cupboard full of supplements that did not agree with me -  I just keep trying and have finally settled on Sports Research. I take NAKA Women's Multi full spectrum, and have not felt sick after taking 2 capsules per day -  it is a Canadian company. I buy both from Amazon. I wish you well in your searching, I know how discouraging it all is. Florence.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.