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What Does My Blood Work Mean?

MyHandful

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MyHandful Newbie
MyHandful
Posted

I am currently going to a rheumatologist for some heath problems. He has been running all kinds of blood tests on me to see if he can figure out what is wrong with me. He ran a Celiac Disease Ab Eval on me. I got a call from a nurse saying I tested postive for the IGA class reticulin antibody. She said it didn't mean I had Celiac for sure, but that it was probable and told me the doctor wanted me to go on a gluten free diet immediately. I started doing research on the Internet and found that I should not be going gluten free until after we had ruled out celiac disease. I called back to get a referral to the GI specialist and the nurse said the doctor wanted to talk to me first. Now I am wanting to see if I can get into to see the doctor before my next appointment in June.

I have been trying to research what my results mean and I just don't see how the rheumatologist can say that I probably have celiac. The one test I tested postive for looks like an outdated test to me. And the most important tests were negative. And yet he wants me to go completely gluten free immediately??? What????

Here are my results:

Celiac Disease Ab Eval

GLIGA 12.2 H U/mL 0.0 - 10.0

GLIGG 1.5 U/mL 0.0 - 10.0

RETICA Neg Titer Neg: <1:20

RETICG Neg Titer Neg: <1:20

TRGLUTA 3 U/mL Neg: 0-3, Weak Positive 4-10, Positve > 10

ENDIGA Neg Negative

The only one I tested positive for was the first one - Gliadin Abs,IgA.

What does this mean? Am I even gluten sensitive? I am going to visit a GI doctor, but I am sure it will take a few months to get in.

Thanks!

Kim

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wendstress Rookie
wendstress
Posted

Can you share some of your symptoms?

MyHandful Newbie
MyHandful
Posted
  • Author

Sure. The reason I went to the doctor was because I was having pain all over my body like joint and muscle pain. I have IBS so I have diarhea sometimes, but definitely not all the time. I have abdominal cramps all the time that hardly ever go away and I feel bloated. I am completely exhausted all the time. I use to run and I can't run anymore mainly because it's too tiring for my body. The doctor originally thought maybe some type of arthritis or fibromyalgia. I think he just did the celiac tests to cover all possibilities. I am just wondering what the test I tested positive for means, if anything.

Nancym Enthusiast
Nancym
Posted

Not sure about all those tests but I believe IGG means you're having a response to gluten. It may not be Celiac disease but you're creating autobodies to it. Many of us are in that boat and just find we're a hell of a lot healthier without gluten in the diet.

MyHandful Newbie
MyHandful
Posted
  • Author
Not sure about all those tests but I believe IGG means you're having a response to gluten. It may not be Celiac disease but you're creating autobodies to it. Many of us are in that boat and just find we're a hell of a lot healthier without gluten in the diet.

It was the IGA I tested postive for. The IGG was negative. What does the IGA class mean?

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
Sure. The reason I went to the doctor was because I was having pain all over my body like joint and muscle pain. I have IBS so I have diarhea sometimes, but definitely not all the time. I have abdominal cramps all the time that hardly ever go away and I feel bloated. I am completely exhausted all the time. I use to run and I can't run anymore mainly because it's too tiring for my body. The doctor originally thought maybe some type of arthritis or fibromyalgia. I think he just did the celiac tests to cover all possibilities. I am just wondering what the test I tested positive for means, if anything.

The postive test combined with all your other issues makes it likely that you are indeed one of us. I wish my rheumy had been as inteligent as yours. My hands would sure look a lot nicer. The good news is that if you do have celiac there is a good chance that your arthritis and your other issues will resolve or go into remission. The choice of whether to stay on gluten and get into a GI doctor or to go gluten free is up to you. You do need to be aware though that even with negative biopsy you will still need to do the diet for a while strictly to be sure. Sometimes our bodies tell us what tests can not.

ang1e0251 Contributor
ang1e0251
Posted

If your dr puts you off, take your test results to your PCP and ask for his help to see a GI. The sooner you can be diagnosed, the sooner you can start the diet and feel relief. None of us can say for sure your symtoms are from celiac disease or gluten intolerance but they sure sound like they might be.

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MyHandful Newbie
MyHandful
Posted
  • Author

The rheumatologist referred me to the GI doctor, so I have an appointment set up for April 29th. I am anxious to go and find out what is going on with me!

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    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

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      @rei.b,  I understand how frustrating starting a new way of eating can be.  I tried all sorts of gluten-free processed foods and just kept feeling worse.  My health didn't improve until I started the low histamine AIP diet.  It makes a big difference.   Gluten fits into opioid receptors in our bodies.  So, removing gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms and reveals the underlying discomfort.  SIBO can cause digestive symptoms.  SIBO can prevent vitamins from being absorbed by the intestines.  Thiamine insufficiency causes Gastrointestinal Beriberi (bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea or constipation).  Thiamine is the B vitamin that runs out first because it can only be stored for two weeks.  We need more thiamine when we're sick or under emotional stress.  Gastric Beriberi is under recognised by doctors.  An Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test is more accurate than a blood test for thiamine deficiency, but the best way to see if you're low in thiamine is to take it and look for health improvement.  Don't take Thiamine Mononitrate because the body can't utilize it well.  Try Benfotiamine.  Thiamine is water soluble, nontoxic and safe even at high doses.  I thought it was crazy, too, but simple vitamins and minerals are important.  The eight B vitamins work together, so a B Complex, Benfotiamine,  magnesium and Vitamin D really helped get my body to start healing, along with the AIP diet.  Once you heal, you add foods back in, so the AIP diet is worth doing for a few months. I do hope you'll consider the AIP diet and Benfotiamine.
    • captaincrab55
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    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      Okay well the info about TTG-A actually makes a lot of sense and I wish the PA had explained that to me. But yes, I would assume I would have intestinal damage from eating a lot of gluten for 32 years while having all these symptoms. As far as avoiding gluten foods - I was definitely not doing that. Bread, pasta, quesadillas (with flour tortillas) and crackers are my 4 favorite foods and I ate at least one of those things multiple times a day e.g. breakfast with eggs and toast, a cheese quesadilla for lunch, and pasta for dinner, and crackers and cheese as a before bed snack. I'm not even kidding.  I'm not really big on sugar, so I don't really do sweets. I don't have any of those conditions.  I am not sure if I have the genes or not. When the geneticist did my genetic testing for EDS this year, I didn't think to ask for him to request the celiac genes so they didn't test for them, unfortunately.  I guess another expectation I had is  that if gluten was the issue, the gluten-free diet would make me feel better, and I'm 3 months in and that hasn't been the case. I am being very careful and reading every label because I didn't want to screw this up and have to do gluten-free for longer than necessary if I end up not having celiac. I'm literally checking everything, even tea and anything else prepacked like caramel dip. Honestly its making me anxious 😅
    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      So you're saying that you think you should have severe intestinal damage since you've had the symptoms so long?   DGP IgG antibodies are produced in response to a partial gluten molecule.  This is different than what tissue transglutaminase antibodies are  produced in response to.   TTg IgA antibodies are produced in the intestines in response to gluten.  The tTg IgA antibodies attack our own cells because a structural component in our cell membranes resembles a part of gluten.  There's a correlation between the level of intestinal damage with the level of tTg antibodies produced.  You are not producing a high number of tTg IgA antibodies, so your level of tissue damage in your intestines is not very bad.  Be thankful.   There may be reasons why you are not producing a high quantity of tTg IgA antibodies.  Consuming ten grams or more of gluten a day for two weeks to two months before blood tests are done is required to get sufficient antibody production and damage to the intestines.  Some undiagnosed people tend to subconsciously avoid lots of gluten.  Cookies and cakes do not contain as much gluten as artisan breads and thick chewy pizza crust.  Anemia, diabetes and thiamine deficiency can affect IgA antibody production as well.   Do you carry genes for Celiac?  They frequently go along with EDS.
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
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