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

Blood Tests Vs Biopsy

heartofgold

By heartofgold
in Doctors

Recommended Posts

heartofgold Rookie
heartofgold
Posted
:D Hi I am new to the forum. I live on Ontario, Canada. This November I had pains and spasm in my abdomen and eventually a month ago I had a gastroscopy. Before the gastroscopy, I had blood tests which showed high levels in the blood that indicated celiac disease. I had the biopsy of course when i had the gastroscopy and it was negative yet the blood worki was positive. I was also told i had chronic gastritis. My question is .. has anyone else had the positive blood tests and negative biopsy? I had 3 different blood tests the usual i am sure. I am on a gluten-free diet .. learning all about it but I noticed my abdomen is pretty hard to the touch and bloated. I am watching everything for the hidden gluten. I would appreciate some advice on the blood tests and if anyone else has the hard abdomen and bloating and if you think that is more related to the gastritis or the celiac. Thanks for reading this .
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted
:D Hi I am new to the forum. I live on Ontario, Canada. This November I had pains and spasm in my abdomen and eventually a month ago I had a gastroscopy. Before the gastroscopy, I had blood tests which showed high levels in the blood that indicated celiac disease. I had the biopsy of course when i had the gastroscopy and it was negative yet the blood worki was positive. I was also told i had chronic gastritis. My question is .. has anyone else had the positive blood tests and negative biopsy? I had 3 different blood tests the usual i am sure. I am on a gluten-free diet .. learning all about it but I noticed my abdomen is pretty hard to the touch and bloated. I am watching everything for the hidden gluten. I would appreciate some advice on the blood tests and if anyone else has the hard abdomen and bloating and if you think that is more related to the gastritis or the celiac. Thanks for reading this .

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

I have never had the testing myself, but I understand there are at least four tests that are usually performed. Perhaps you could post your test results and the ranges the lab gave so that the "experts" here could look at them. It is not unusual to have positive blood and negative biopsy; the biopsy is done as confirmation of the blood work. But the damage can be patchy in the gut and if they don't take enough samples, or even if they do, they can miss the damaged areas. Gastritis is inflammation and may or may not go away. At any rate, the symptoms from celiac do not resolve immediately. Depending on the degree of damage it may take months or years. Usually you will notice some improvement within a few months. But it is possible that you have some other food intolerances that were being disguised by the gluten. I would suggest going back to a very simple diet of chicken, fish, vegetables, fruit and rice, and if you stabilize on that then you can add other things back in, one at a time. For the moment I would suggest avoiding all milk products, corn, soy and the gluten-free grains (which can be hard to digest initially), and see how you manage with that. I would suggest you also take a probiotic capsule and some digestive enzymes which can be helpful to overcome the disorder in the gut and help things along.

Report back to us and let us know how you are doing.

mimommy Contributor
mimommy
Posted

I just wanted to say that many of the members here, including my daughter, have had pos. blood tests and neg. biopsies. As Mushroom said, it can be 'patchy' damage to the villi and a gamble as to whether or not your doctor took the biopsy in just the right spot, which is one of the reasons why this topic has been so deeply debated. You may need to take the test results to another doctor for a second opinion--I did and they were actually positive. It can greatly depend on who is looking at it, who's opinion you get. Don't be afraid to advocate on your own behalf, by taking the intiative to go completely gluten free and/or seeing another doctor if you feel it is needed. It's your body!

Also, when she first became symptomatic, my daughter's stomach was hard. But only for a short period of time.

Good luck!

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

Excellent advise from mushroom! Here is some information on blood testing:

Open Original Shared Link

heartofgold Rookie
heartofgold
Posted
  • Author

Thanks so far for the great info it is so discouraging at first when you don't know much about celiac plus the fact the stomach biopsy said chronic gastritis and I have never had a problem over the years with any stomach/bowel issues.

I am in ontario canada so i am not sure how to read these tests meaning i have seen some blood tests posted but I could not compare anything cause the labs may post differently here. LIke you said maybe someone can help me on it here .

Gliadin AB IgG 36 H (which is high i am sure ) then it says 20 KEU/L CMH

Gliadin Ab IgA 21 H 20 KEU/L CMH

tTransglut IgA 45 H 20 KEU?L CMH

Interpretation Positive findings of IgA Endomystal antibodies (IgA Transglutaminese) are essentially diagnostic of Celiac Disease or Dermatitis Herpatiformis. The IgA Endomystal antibodies should disappear with a strict adherence to a gluten free diet and can be used to monitor adherence to diet.

*** i know i dont have the D.H. skin disease.

Again i hope someone can interrupt this as it is a canadian hospital that did them.

Also what about corn chips gluten free do you think they are too hard on the system at first for snacks .. like is it better to just eat the fish chicken, rice, veggies, fruits .. salads type of thing at first. thanks again

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted
Also what about corn chips gluten free do you think they are too hard on the system at first for snacks .. like is it better to just eat the fish chicken, rice, veggies, fruits .. salads type of thing at first. thanks again

I would do without the corn chips for a while since corn is also one of the top allergens. For snacks you could try a handful of almonds, perhaps some rice crackers with hummus dip, but I personally wouldn't go much further than that to start. You want things with low allergic potential and easy to digest.

heartofgold Rookie
heartofgold
Posted
  • Author

thanks mushroom. i was told to go easy on the dairy by a lady in the local health food store who has celiac. Shesaid it is hard on the immune system. what about fruits any i should stay away from since i have the gastritis too. i was thinking something like an orange would be very acidic. I have being eating lots of applesauce and thought maybe some peaches it their own juices? hope someone can help me with the blood tests. i just asked for a copy from the doctor's secretary so they are more in doctor's terminology . it was not like they sent me them which some doctors do in the emails. :)

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Peaches sound good, also pears, apricots, plums. For vegetables you can do purees of things like parsnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, potatoes, and in combinations that tickle your fancy; get your greens in from things like spinach and swiss chard; I would avoid cabbage for now. I know, it sounds a bit like baby food :P , but you will need to baby your tummy for a while to let it recover. Good luck with your healing.

heartofgold Rookie
heartofgold
Posted
  • Author
Peaches sound good, also pears, apricots, plums. For vegetables you can do purees of things like parsnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, potatoes, and in combinations that tickle your fancy; get your greens in from things like spinach and swiss chard; I would avoid cabbage for now. I know, it sounds a bit like baby food :P , but you will need to baby your tummy for a while to let it recover. Good luck with your healing.

mushroom do you know where else i can post the blood tests. I see no one has entered anything on here.thanks

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted
mushroom do you know where else i can post the blood tests. I see no one has entered anything on here.thanks

Try posting them in " Celiac Disease - Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms "

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
mushroom do you know where else i can post the blood tests. I see no one has entered anything on here.thanks

Hello and welcome. People may not be responding because Mushroom is putting it so well. :) I would add in some peas and green beans to the veggie suggestions. Your gastritis is likely a result of the celiac. After you have had a bit of time to heal then go ahead and add in some other fruits and veggies and see how they do. If you do not normally eat a lot of fruits and veggies go slow with adding them into your diet and make sure that they are cooked. If your not digesting well then try the puree but I never found it needed. Buckwheat is also a really good easy to digest protein and carb source. If you were a fan of cream of wheat then cream of buckwheat will be a good sub.

Welcome to the board and ask any questions you need to.

heartofgold Rookie
heartofgold
Posted
  • Author
Hello and welcome. People may not be responding because Mushroom is putting it so well. :) I would add in some peas and green beans to the veggie suggestions. Your gastritis is likely a result of the celiac. After you have had a bit of time to heal then go ahead and add in some other fruits and veggies and see how they do. If you do not normally eat a lot of fruits and veggies go slow with adding them into your diet and make sure that they are cooked. If your not digesting well then try the puree but I never found it needed. Buckwheat is also a really good easy to digest protein and carb source. If you were a fan of cream of wheat then cream of buckwheat will be a good sub.

Welcome to the board and ask any questions you need to.

Thanks Ravenwoodglass. My comment was regarding if anyone could understand my blood tests. You are right though Mushroom is helpful and you are too . i see you have been through a lot yourself and your family. i am trying to eat as plain as possible meaning natural foods like the veggies bananas pears in water applesauce i find is ok and chicken and fish. i introduced some rice bread both plain and raisin for breakfast. i am keeping the dairy intake lower too but did buy some soy milk. thanks again R.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,540
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Nina J
    Newest Member
    Nina J
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Scatterbrain, Thiamine Vitamin B1 and amino acid Taurine work together.  Our bodies can make Taurine from meats consumed.  Our bodies cannot make Thiamine and must consume thiamine from food.  Meat is the best source of B vitamins like Thiamine.   Vegetarians may not make sufficient taurine since they don't eat meat sources of taurine.  Seaweed is the best vegetarian source of taurine. Vegetarians may not consume sufficient Thiamine since few veggies are good sources.  Whole grains, legumes, and nuts and seeds contain thiamine.  Many of these sources can be hard to digest and absorb for people with Celiac disease.   You may find taking the forms of thiamine called Benfotiamine or TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) and a B Complex will give the benefits you're looking for better than taurine alone.  
    • knitty kitty
      My only proof

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jmartes71, I went to Doterra's site and had a look around.  The Doterra TerraZyme supplement really jumped out at me.  Since we, as Celiacs, often have digestive problems, I looked at the ingredients.  The majority of the enzymes in this supplement are made using black mold, Aspergillus!  Other enzymes are made by yeast Saccharomyces!  Considering the fact that Celiac often have permeable intestines (leaky gut syndrome), I would be very hesitant to take a product like this.  Although there may not be live black mold or yeast in the product, the enzymes may still cause an immune system response which would definitely cause inflammation throughout the body.   Skin, eyes, and intestines are all made from the same basic type of cells.  Your skin on the outside and eyes can reflect how irritated the intestines are on the inside.  Our skin, eyes, and intestines all need the same vitamins and nutrients to be healthy:  Vitamin A, Niacin B3 and Tryptophan, Riboflavin B2, Biotin B7, Vitamin C, and Omega Threes.  Remember that the eight B vitamins work together.  Just taking high doses of just one, vitamin like B12, can cause a deficiency in the others.  Taking high doses of B12 can mask a Folate B9 deficiency.  If you take B12, please take a B Complex, too.  Thiamine B1 can be taken in high doses safely without toxicity.  Thiamine is needed by itself to produce energy so every cell in the body can function, but Thiamine also works with the other B vitamins to make life sustaining enzymes and digestive enzymes.  Deficiencies in either Niacin, Vitamin C, or Thiamine can cause digestive problems resulting in Pellagra, Scurvy, and Gastrointestinal Beriberi.   If you change your diet, you will change your intestinal microbiome.  Following the Autoimmune Protocol Diet, a Paleo diet, will starve out SIBO bacteria.  Thiamine keeps bacteria in check so they don't get out of control as in SIBO.  Thiamine also keeps MOLDS and Yeasts from overgrowth.   Menopause symptoms and menstrual irregularities are symptomatic of low Vitamin D.   Doctors are not as knowledgeable about malnutrition as we need them to be.  A nutritionist or dietician would be more helpful.   Take control of your diet and nutrition.  Quit looking for a pill that's going to make you feel better overnight.  The Celiac journey is a marathon, not a sprint.   "Let food be your medicine, and let medicine be your food."
    • RUKen
      Are Lindt chocolate balls gluten free?

      By RUKen · Posted

      The Lindt (Lindor) dairy-free oat milk truffles are definitely gluten-free, and (last time I checked) so are the white chocolate truffles and the mint chocolate truffles. 
    • lmemsm
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By lmemsm · Posted

      I've used magnesium taurinate and magnesium taurate vitamins.  Didn't notice much of a difference when I used them.
    • Scatterbrain
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By Scatterbrain · Posted

      Anyone experimented with Taurine supplementation either via electrolyte powders or otherwise? Thanks
×
×
  • 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.