Positive Blood Test

[shamrock62081]

I have been having some stomach issues lately and my doctor decided to run some blood tests. One of them was for celiac disease. I just heard back today that the test was positive and that all my other tests were normal. Given what I had heard about celiac disease I was surprised by the positive result. The doctor said it wasn't a diagnosis, but maybe to try going gluten free and see if that makes me feel better.

It surprised me because I eat gluten all of the time and don't seem to have any isses. It's been a week since I had any issues and I've had cake, pizza, white bread, beer, corn flakes, granola bars, cereal (7 whole grains) and haven't had any problems. I would htink that especially given that I eat a cereal for breakfast every morning with all sorts of whole grains, and thus gluten, that I would feel bad, but I'm fine eathing that. When my symptoms do occur, they come on about an hour after eating and last for about 4-5 hours before going away.

Couple of questions for those experienced with celiac disease...

1 - how long after going gluten free should I see a result if i truely have celiac disease?

2 - does eating gluten always make you feel bad or can it be sporadic?

3 - any other words of wisdom?

I'm starting a food journal to see what is triggering my symptoms because I'm just not convinced that it's the gluten. Maybe you guys can convince me otherwise.

[Skylark]

If you're eating gluten all the time and you have celiac disease, your gut is so damaged from autoimmunity that you won't necessarily notice immediate effects from eating any particular meal. Celiac stomach trouble can definitely be intermittent. Some people notice a difference after a few days, others have problems off and on for a couple months before things settle down.

Did your doctor tell you which blood test came back positive? If it was anti-endomysial antibodies, you're either celiac or on your way there (it's a process), and you need to be off wheat permanently, symptoms or not. Otherwise you risk osteoporosis, neurological damage, autoimmune thyroid disease, and some rare intestinal cancers.

[ravenwoodglass]

If you're eating gluten all the time and you have celiac disease, your gut is so damaged from autoimmunity that you won't necessarily notice immediate effects from eating any particular meal. Celiac stomach trouble can definitely be intermittent. Some people notice a difference after a few days, others have problems off and on for a couple months before things settle down.

Did your doctor tell you which blood test came back positive? If it was anti-endomysial antibodies, you're either celiac or on your way there (it's a process), and you need to be off wheat permanently, symptoms or not. Otherwise you risk osteoporosis, neurological damage, autoimmune thyroid disease, and some rare intestinal cancers.

I agree completely with this. For years my gut symptoms were on and off before they became a daily and nightly issue but there was a lot of other stuff going on that I didn't know was celiac related until they resolved on the diet. Those included mood issues, bone and joint pain that eventually developed into arthritis that caused permanent joint deformities, migraines, nerve conduction issues to the point where I could eventually barely walk, osteopenia that eventually turned into osteoporosis, anemia, skin problems, liver and kidney damage. You risk a lot by not listening to your doctor.