Allergist To Confirm Wheat Sensitivity?

[vbecton]

I've been gluten free for 1 month now and feel like a brand new person. All my bloodwork (celiac panels) have come back negative for over 10 years, but I fit a Celiac to a tee! I had uncontrollable reactive hypoglycemia until 1 month ago, which miraculously healed after one month free of gluten. I follow a modified Paleo diet.

My question is, can I cheat my way into a diganosis by going to an allergist to test for wheat sensitivity? Having a proper diagnosis isn't that important to me, but I have 2 children and I would like them tested. If they test positive for a wheat allergy, then I can give the schools that information. I feel silly going to their pediatrician with a self-diagnosis (although accurate!!!....and something the medical doctors couldn't pinpoint) and asking for testing when I can possibly get the diagnosis in a round-about way via an allergist. I know the schools take peanut allergies seriously. Do celiacs show up as allergic to wheat on skin tests? Any thoughts?

[Skylark]

I've been gluten free for 1 month now and feel like a brand new person. All my bloodwork (celiac panels) have come back negative for over 10 years, but I fit a Celiac to a tee! I had uncontrollable reactive hypoglycemia until 1 month ago, which miraculously healed after one month free of gluten. I follow a modified Paleo diet.

My question is, can I cheat my way into a diganosis by going to an allergist to test for wheat sensitivity? Having a proper diagnosis isn't that important to me, but I have 2 children and I would like them tested. If they test positive for a wheat allergy, then I can give the schools that information. I feel silly going to their pediatrician with a self-diagnosis (although accurate!!!....and something the medical doctors couldn't pinpoint) and asking for testing when I can possibly get the diagnosis in a round-about way via an allergist. I know the schools take peanut allergies seriously. Do celiacs show up as allergic to wheat on skin tests? Any thoughts?

Glad you're feeling better!

An allergy test is not going to help with a celiac diagnosis, although it's not impossible to have both. Celiac is not an allergy. It's an autoimmune disorder more akin to rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. There seems to be a pretty wide spectrum of gluten sensitivity, and you're not unusual around here for having negative bloodwork but feeling better off wheat.

Not sure what to say about the kids. Do they show signs of celiac?

[WheatChef]

Well technically you have better odds of testing positive for a wheat allergy while having an active gluten intolerance. This isn't because you're necessarily allergic to wheat (where your body reacts to a different protein technically) it's because gluten intolerance often causes increased systemic inflammation and a hyperactive histamine system (your allergy system). If this is the case with you then you'll overreact to the allergy tests and show allergic to multiple things.

I technically responded to wheat in my allergy tests along with many other things but it's not a definite thing that everyone with a gluten intolerance reacts to a wheat allergy test.

[nora-n]

you can get tests for gluten sensitivity at www.enterolab.com

They cannot diagnose celiac, though.

The sensitive antibody tests can detect antibodies in the gut for up to a year after going gluten-free, provided you are not IgA deficient.