Testing After Going Gluten Free?

[lainey461]

Hello all!

First I'd like to say what a comfort this board has been to me, since being sick! Thanks to you all for sharing your knowledge, and helping newbies!

I've been sick for several months, trying to self-diagnose, no insurance!

Symptoms led me to IBS, Crohns, Colitis, and finally Celiac.

I had always eaten a lot of wheat, breads, cereals, muffins, crackers and snacks. When first getting sick, before even knowing about Celiac, I just felt a natural instinct to stay away from wheat, felt like it irritated my stomach even more! Started buying white bread instead of wheat.

I have been gluten free for about a month now, with a few CC incidents. I am feeling much better, but still have some symptoms. I now have insurance, and my family wants me to get tested. After reading the boards, I see that once going gluten free, the tests will not work. Is there any test that I can take that will show Celiac without going back to gluten? I just can't put myself through that again!

Thank you for any help!

[happygirl]

In order to have a diagnosis of Celiac, you must be eating gluten and have the bloodwork and/or biopsy done in order for it to be as accurate as possible.

You could have the gene testing done to show if you have one of the two genes associated with Celiac, HLADQ2 or HLA DQ8. About 1/3 of the American population has the gene, but only about 1% (or less) of the population has Celiac, so just having the gene itself does not equal Celiac. But, combined with the clinical picture, it can be a useful aid for some people.

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