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

Being Boarderline And Confused!

beksmom

Recommended Posts

beksmom Apprentice
beksmom
Posted

My 13 yr old sons doctor told me today that his lab work came back showing celiac "mild" and that he feels he is boarderline ? Should he have the biopsies done? and should I put him the gluten-free diet no matter how those results come out? I am a newly diagnosed celiac with severe damage to my vili. I have had to get six infusions of ferritin to bring level back into a low normal range. My vitamin D is depleated, and am also malnurished. Also dealing with osteopenia. Any direction help for my son would be appreciated.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

My 13 yr old sons doctor told me today that his lab work came back showing celiac "mild" and that he feels he is boarderline ? Should he have the biopsies done? and should I put him the gluten-free diet no matter how those results come out? I am a newly diagnosed celiac with severe damage to my vili. I have had to get six infusions of ferritin to bring level back into a low normal range. My vitamin D is depleated, and am also malnurished. Also dealing with osteopenia. Any direction help for my son would be appreciated.

My husband decided to go gluten free with me because he had a "borderline" response to the celiac test, and some bathroom issues. However, he certainly did not consider himself celiac and was doing it to accommodate me :wub:

When we were back at Tahoe he indulged in some sourdough french bread, and then some beer, and continued to have a beer or two when we got back here. One day he broke out on his forehead with dermatitis herpetiformis (I recognized it immediately from all the pictures I had seen on the forum). I told him to get the area adjacent biopsied immediately but they scheduled an appointment for two weeks later, by which time the lesion was starting to fade because he quit gluten again. So he cancelled the appointment and became a believer. He still has a very wide white scar on his forehead and, vain creature that he is, is convinced that he should not eat gluten.

I do not think there is any such thing as "borderline" or "mild". The analogy we use here is that you cannot be "mildly" pregnant: you either are or you aren't. A little bit pregnant is the same as being a lot pregnant--you are still pregnant!

Consider your son to be celiac. If you want further confirmation you and your son could both do genetic testing through Enterolab or Prometheus (I believe the latter requires your doctor to order it; Enterolab you can do yourself). Either way, I am not sure that most insurances will cover Prometheus; Enterolab you have to pay for yourself, about $450 per person. :o Of course, as you say, he could also have the biopsy, but that is just as likely to be inconclusive as the blood test, unfortunately, especially if they don't take the samples from the right areas.

bluebonnet Explorer
bluebonnet
Posted

My 13 yr old sons doctor told me today that his lab work came back showing celiac "mild" and that he feels he is boarderline ? Should he have the biopsies done? and should I put him the gluten-free diet no matter how those results come out? I am a newly diagnosed celiac with severe damage to my vili. I have had to get six infusions of ferritin to bring level back into a low normal range. My vitamin D is depleated, and am also malnurished. Also dealing with osteopenia. Any direction help for my son would be appreciated.

"mild" compares to what my doctor said about my bloodwork "at best okay". i didn't do the endoscopy but had enterolabs do genetic and gluten and it came back positive. i see a lot of gi issues in my (short for his age 13 year old) and now knowing i've got the genes, i am having him tested. a postive response to gluten free diet is also confirmation. my doctor was very accepting of my outside labs and doesn't feel the need for the endoscopy if i do not. i mean the "proof" is there. chances are increased if you have it then he will. best wishes! :)

Reba32 Rookie
Reba32
Posted

if Celiac shows up on a blood test, you're Celiac. Doesn't matter if they consider it "mild" or 99% positive. If you continue to consume gluten, then the damage will get worse, and the next blood test will be more definite. Why cause yourself (or your child!) more damage?

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,901
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    tessycork47
    Newest Member
    tessycork47
    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

    • trents
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @Judy M! Yes, he definitely needs to continue eating gluten until the day of the endoscopy. Not sure why the GI doc advised otherwise but it was a bum steer.  Celiac disease has a genetic component but also an "epigenetic" component. Let me explain. There are two main genes that have been identified as providing the "potential" to develop "active" celiac disease. We know them as HLA-DQ 2.5 (aka, HLA-DQ 2) and HLA-DQ8. Without one or both of these genes it is highly unlikely that a person will develop celiac disease at some point in their life. About 40% of the general population carry one or both of these two genes but only about 1% of the population develops active celiac disease. Thus, possessing the genetic potential for celiac disease is far less than deterministic. Most who have the potential never develop the disease. In order for the potential to develop celiac disease to turn into active celiac disease, some triggering stress event or events must "turn on" the latent genes. This triggering stress event can be a viral infection, some other medical event, or even prolonged psychological/emotional trauma. This part of the equation is difficult to quantify but this is the epigenetic dimension of the disease. Epigenetics has to do with the influence that environmental factors and things not coded into the DNA itself have to do in "turning on" susceptible genes. And this is why celiac disease can develop at any stage of life. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition (not a food allergy) that causes inflammation in the lining of the small bowel. The ingestion of gluten causes the body to attack the cells of this lining which, over time, damages and destroys them, impairing the body's ability to absorb nutrients since this is the part of the intestinal track responsible for nutrient absorption and also causing numerous other food sensitivities such as dairy/lactose intolerance. There is another gluten-related disorder known as NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or just, "gluten sensitivity") that is not autoimmune in nature and which does not damage the small bowel lining. However, NCGS shares many of the same symptoms with celiac disease such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. It is also much more common than celiac disease. There is no test for NCGS so, because they share common symptoms, celiac disease must first be ruled out through formal testing for celiac disease. This is where your husband is right now. It should also be said that some experts believe NCGS can transition into celiac disease. I hope this helps.
    • Judy M
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By Judy M · Posted

      My husband has had lactose intolerance for his entire life (he's 68 yo).  So, he's used to gastro issues. But for the past year he's been experiencing bouts of diarrhea that last for hours.  He finally went to his gastroenterologist ... several blood tests ruled out other maladies, but his celiac results are suspect.  He is scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy in 2 weeks.  He was told to eat "gluten free" until the tests!!!  I, and he know nothing about this "diet" much less how to navigate his in daily life!! The more I read, the more my head is spinning.  So I guess I have 2 questions.  First, I read on this website that prior to testing, eat gluten so as not to compromise the testing!  Is that true? His primary care doctor told him to eat gluten free prior to testing!  I'm so confused.  Second, I read that celiac disease is genetic or caused by other ways such as surgery.  No family history but Gall bladder removal 7 years ago, maybe?  But how in God's name does something like this crop up and now is so awful he can't go a day without worrying.  He still works in Manhattan and considers himself lucky if he gets there without incident!  Advice from those who know would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free beer ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
    • trents
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
×
×
  • 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.