Discussing Enterolab Lab Results With Doctor

[lapentola]

I am preparing to discuss my daughter's enterolab results with her pediatrician, and I'm stressing out a little bit because of the validity issues surrounding enterolab's method of testing. We don't currently have insurance which is why I decided to have enterolab testing done in the first place. (Actually I was okay with putting her on a gluten free diet even before the testing was done, but the other side of my daughter's family refused to feed her gluten free foods until she was tested.) So now I am wondering if he will want to order more tests and if so, if you all think it would be necessary. I believe that it would be wise to tell my daughter that she should be gluten free at least until she's 18 or so (to make sure that she develops properly) and at that time it might be appropriate to do more testing. I fear that giving her gluten in childhood could cause problems to slowly build up over time, as they did in me, and I just don't think that it is that difficult, or in the least bit unhealthy, to eat gluten free. (I'm a stay at home mom, I love to cook and bake, and I cook foods for her to take to her relatives houses.) So, even with these test results I have family (and probably soon to come , a doctor) who thinks that I'm being reckless with my daughters well being. Am I jumping the gun? Would you have more testing done if the doctor recommends it? If further testing indicates that she shouldn't be gluten free would you keep your child off gluten anyway, just to be safe?

I look forward to hearing your opinions. Thanks!

Here are her test results from enterolab... (She's 11, by the way)

Fecal Anti-gliadin IgA 212 Units (Normal Range <10 Units)

Fecal Anti-tissue Transglutaminase IgA 123 Units (Normal Range <10 Units)

Quantitative Microscopic Fecal Fat Score <300 Units (Normal Range <300 Units)

Fecal Anti-casein (cow

[cyberprof]

  lapentola said:

I am preparing to discuss my daughter's enterolab results with her pediatrician, and I'm stressing out a little bit because of the validity issues surrounding enterolab's method of testing. We don't currently have insurance which is why I decided to have enterolab testing done in the first place. (Actually I was okay with putting her on a gluten free diet even before the testing was done, but the other side of my daughter's family refused to feed her gluten free foods until she was tested.) So now I am wondering if he will want to order more tests and if so, if you all think it would be necessary. I believe that it would be wise to tell my daughter that she should be gluten free at least until she's 18 or so (to make sure that she develops properly) and at that time it might be appropriate to do more testing. I fear that giving her gluten in childhood could cause problems to slowly build up over time, as they did in me, and I just don't think that it is that difficult, or in the least bit unhealthy, to eat gluten free. (I'm a stay at home mom, I love to cook and bake, and I cook foods for her to take to her relatives houses.) So, even with these test results I have family (and probably soon to come , a doctor) who thinks that I'm being reckless with my daughters well being. Am I jumping the gun? Would you have more testing done if the doctor recommends it? If further testing indicates that she shouldn't be gluten free would you keep your child off gluten anyway, just to be safe?

I look forward to hearing your opinions. Thanks!

I don't think you're jumping the gun. And yes, I would keep her off gluten until she is 18 even if the doc's tests are negative.

I guess the question is...What do you want the pediatrician to do? Is she generally healthy otherwise? Pediatricians and doctors in general will not look kindly on Enterolab, unless you get really lucky. I did not discuss Enterolab with my son's pediatrician, only told them that we had his genes tested and he has the celiac gene and that I was diagnosed with celiac. I assume that you are diagnosed or someone in the family is?

If she is having other health issues then you may have to tell the doc your worries. But going gluten-free, as you've said, is the best way to prevent problems from building up.

We've told our son that he can do a gluten challenge when he's 21 or when he's done growing and can do the EDG then if he wants.

Good luck to you!

[Jestgar]

You bring in the test results, and you tell the doc that you will be keeping her off gluten, and that these results support your discoveries that your daughter is much healthier when she doesn't eat gluten. Tell him that you'll expect his support in keeping her healthy while on this (high vegetable, low processed foods) diet.

IF he still questions your conclusions, ask HIM to explain why your daughter is making so many antibodies to gluten, as shown by the Enterolab tests.

It's your child. You call the shots.