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

How Many People Here Had Negative Bloodwork, Negative Biopsy But Still Respond To Gluten-free Diet?


glutenmommy

Recommended Posts

glutenmommy Rookie

All of my bloodwork came back normal on the complete celiac panel. I'm still waiting on the results of my endoscopy done last Friday, but my doctor said he didn't see any evidence of villi damage during the procedure. I haven't had ANY gluten since last Wednesday; ALL of my diarrhea is gone (usually 7-10 times per day! yuck), ALL of the gas and bloating is gone; ALL of the heartburn is gone!!! I have lost nearly 5 lbs of bloating and intracellular fluid. I already knew I would respond to the diet because I did an elimination diet earlier this summer.

It doesn't really matter to me whether I have a diagnosis of "celiac" or not. I'm just wondering how many of you are like me: negative all the way around but still respond beautifully to the diet. (Of course, I suppose my endo could still come back positive -- I'll post as soon as I get the results)

Thanks!


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



tarnalberry Community Regular

my blood tests were 'inconclusive' (most doctors would have read them as negative), but I had been gluten free for two weeks.

I never did an endoscopy.

I did a 'gluten challenge' - I ate a large amount of gluten after having been gluten free. felt awful.

the bloating, bourbourygmi (gurgling noises going through the intestines - turns out it's not normal to have a lot of that), and inconsistent stool cleared up, but I was never *hugely* symptomatic.

my doc and I both decided, it feels better to not eat gluten than to eat it, so I don't eat it. asfaik, I do not have a 'formal' celiac diagnosis.

CHARBEEGOOD Newbie
All of my bloodwork came back normal on the complete celiac panel. I'm still waiting on the results of my endoscopy done last Friday, but my doctor said he didn't see any evidence of villi damage during the procedure. I haven't had ANY gluten since last Wednesday; ALL of my diarrhea is gone (usually 7-10 times per day! yuck), ALL of the gas and bloating is gone; ALL of the heartburn is gone!!! I have lost nearly 5 lbs of bloating and intracellular fluid. I already knew I would respond to the diet because I did an elimination diet earlier this summer.

It doesn't really matter to me whether I have a diagnosis of "celiac" or not. I'm just wondering how many of you are like me: negative all the way around but still respond beautifully to the diet. (Of course, I suppose my endo could still come back positive -- I'll post as soon as I get the results)

Thanks!

CHARBEEGOOD Newbie
All of my bloodwork came back normal on the complete celiac panel. I'm still waiting on the results of my endoscopy done last Friday, but my doctor said he didn't see any evidence of villi damage during the procedure. I haven't had ANY gluten since last Wednesday; ALL of my diarrhea is gone (usually 7-10 times per day! yuck), ALL of the gas and bloating is gone; ALL of the heartburn is gone!!! I have lost nearly 5 lbs of bloating and intracellular fluid. I already knew I would respond to the diet because I did an elimination diet earlier this summer.

It doesn't really matter to me whether I have a diagnosis of "celiac" or not. I'm just wondering how many of you are like me: negative all the way around but still respond beautifully to the diet. (Of course, I suppose my endo could still come back positive -- I'll post as soon as I get the results)

Thanks!

I understand how you feel. I was diagnosed with multiple food allergies but never told I had celiacs. I have had an endoscopic done as well as an up GI endoscopic done as well. My results came back negative but with my allergies (Soy, Oat and most recently lactose intolerant) it was decided that a gluten free diet would be the wisest move. I also have several family members that are gluten intolerant. It took several tests and in some cases years for the results to be conclusive.

Good Luck hope you continue to feel better.

buffandpuff Newbie

O.k. have been gluten free on an elimination diet for almost 8 weeks. The dr. decided to do an anitbody test anyway, even though I told him I wasn't going to eat gluten again just for the test. Obviously, the blood work came back negative. He has "clinically" diagnosed me because he said I had many of the symptoms, but medically it's not in my record. I guess that's not such a bad thing because I won't be given a hard time about pre-existing conditions. I recently had an endoscopy but they never checked the small intestine because that's not what we were looking for at that point. Anyway, I'm in the same boat as you -- but honestly I feel so good w/o it, it doesn't matter to me whether I have a piece of paper with a diagnosis.

nora-n Rookie

I had negative tests too.

nasalady Contributor

I had negative results for both biopsy and blood work but my gastro said he had expected that because I was on high doses of prednisone and Imuran for my autoimmune hepatitis, and these drugs will also suppress the celiac autoantibodies and allow the villi to re-generate. He diagnosed me based on my response to the gluten-free diet, my family history of celiac disease, genetic marker HLA DQ8, and my talent for developing AI diseases.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



homemaker Enthusiast

Count me in this group too! I had negative bloodwork...and went gluten-free before the endoscope...

Didn't bother...I did order enterolab gene and stool complete...should come in a few days..

I have had positive results going gluten-free, I have been gluten-free for two weeks now! :)

elye Community Regular

My husband had "negative" results on the blood panel and the endoscope, but a very high count of the antibodies in his stool through Enterolab. There was also a large percentage of fat in his stool, which is suggestive of gluten/malapsorption issues.

He started eating gluten-free right after we got the stool results, and all of his gastrointestinal symptoms were gone within a couple of weeks.

So count him in!

pufffee Apprentice

Hi

Wow, It is so nice to hear so many people with my situation. I to was negative in blood and biopsy. I was told by another specialist that a biopsy is useless unless you take a minimum of 6 biopsys to test for Celiac. I have been gluten free now for several weeks, although I am feeling much better, I am still bloated everyday. I figured I might have Lactose intolerence since Milk, cheese, and other milk products have been in my life before and after going gluten free. I have only been lactose free for a couple of days and feel better EXCEPT when I was eating pepperonis with my rice crackers. Pepperonis have Lactic Acid Starter Culture(the only unique ingredient I can find). My stomach immediatley blows up and gurgles. I only put one in one together today after reading the internet for what seemed like hours to learn what LASC is. Wonder if anyone else is Dairy free and had similar problems. This could be a major break through for me. My Dr only gave me a genetic blood test for Lactose intolerence so that was pointless. Rather then right test with solution or breath test. It is amazing how quick Dr's are to eliminate or choose a diagnosis to shut you up. THANKS in Advance

nora-n Rookie

Hi, the genetic test for lactose intolerance works the other way around, meaning if you are negative on that test, your lactose intolerance comes from something else, like celiac or gluten intolerance.

Skye-N Newbie

I had stopped eating gluten for a couple of months and felt amazingly better when I took the blood test, which of course came out negative. The doctor just told me that I didn't have it. I later went to a Celiac specialist who told me that the test is only acurate while still eating gluten. I get extremely ill even with small amounts so I have not been willing to make myself sick just for the sake of a test result. I have another friend who tested negative even though she and her family all have it.

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • 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.