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

Positive Rheumatoid Test...

IngridBeth

Recommended Posts

IngridBeth Apprentice
IngridBeth
Posted

Okay, I am full of questions since my doctor said I might have Celiac or gluten intolerance of some kind.

I was dx with Fibromyalgia in '03, and blood tests for all auto immune diseases (I guess the symptoms overlap so it's normal to test FM patients for them) were negative...EXCEPT Rheumatoid factor! My specialst (a rheumy) does not believe I have RA but he continues to watch blood tests and monitor for other signs....he said I may develop it later (no thanks!) or there could be another reason for the positive test.

I just thought about this and wondered if there could be a connection with gluten? Has anyone experienced this? I did search this site and found a few links but it seems like it's one of those unkowns....

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

Okay, I am full of questions since my doctor said I might have Celiac or gluten intolerance of some kind.

I was dx with Fibromyalgia in '03, and blood tests for all auto immune diseases (I guess the symptoms overlap so it's normal to test FM patients for them) were negative...EXCEPT Rheumatoid factor! My specialst (a rheumy) does not believe I have RA but he continues to watch blood tests and monitor for other signs....he said I may develop it later (no thanks!) or there could be another reason for the positive test.

I just thought about this and wondered if there could be a connection with gluten? Has anyone experienced this? I did search this site and found a few links but it seems like it's one of those unkowns....

I also have a very high RF and it does not mean you have it or will get it. Other autoimmune diseases like Sjogren's Syndrome and maybe Celiac can elevate this number. My PCP wanted to refer me to a rheumy and I have refused so far because I have zero symptoms of RA or FM and am not a negative thinker so keep positive about ever developing it. I do have Sjogren's, Hashi's thyroid disease, Celiac and Reynaud's so I am convinced these other issues are elevating my numbers. I only worry about stuff if I have symptoms...life is too short to become obsessive about it. ;)

The other test which may come out wonky is the ANA but that is just for general inflammation in the body. Mine was high but, again, I am doing fine so don't give it a second thought. As with the RF, other autoimmune diseases can elevate this number too.

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Okay, I am full of questions since my doctor said I might have Celiac or gluten intolerance of some kind.

I was dx with Fibromyalgia in '03, and blood tests for all auto immune diseases (I guess the symptoms overlap so it's normal to test FM patients for them) were negative...EXCEPT Rheumatoid factor! My specialst (a rheumy) does not believe I have RA but he continues to watch blood tests and monitor for other signs....he said I may develop it later (no thanks!) or there could be another reason for the positive test.

I just thought about this and wondered if there could be a connection with gluten? Has anyone experienced this? I did search this site and found a few links but it seems like it's one of those unkowns....

I am assuming he did either a CRP or an ESR blood test on you - both of those test for inflammation. Were those negative?

I am sero-negative with psoriatic arthritis (which often tests sero-negative).

And yes, there is a positive connection between RA and celiac. Your rheumatologist is more up-to-date than mine, who has not heard of this link. :unsure: A research project from the Academy of Finland's Research Programme on Nutition, Food and Health has identified genes in the body that are both connected to the immune system and to the ability to break down gluten in the intestinal tract. The study conducted by Research Fellow Paivi Saavalainen found evidence that the genes associated with the inability to digest gluten were also linked to other autimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. I am sorry, I printed out the page about the study, but do not have the link to access it on the web.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Yes there is a link with celiac and RA. My genes for celiac, if tested before I was diagnosed would have been considered RA associated genes here in the US. My arthtitis has been in remission now since a couple of months after I went gluten-free.

IngridBeth Apprentice
IngridBeth
Posted
  • Author

Thank you for the responses!

I feel so frustrated right now with testing negative and yet responding so much to the diet change. I know people say just do the diet anyway and I certainly will, but for dealing with friends, family and even my other doctors I just would really like to have an actual diagnosis. Even if it's just gluten sensitivity or something....

Sorry to complain I really am happy about finding a possible answer to so many of the health issues I've had!

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Thank you for the responses!

I feel so frustrated right now with testing negative and yet responding so much to the diet change. I know people say just do the diet anyway and I certainly will, but for dealing with friends, family and even my other doctors I just would really like to have an actual diagnosis. Even if it's just gluten sensitivity or something....

Sorry to complain I really am happy about finding a possible answer to so many of the health issues I've had!

Dietary response is the most important part of the diagnostic process. If your symptoms resolve gluten free and reappear if you add gluten back in that is diagnostic in itself. More doctors are starting to recognize this. There is nothing wrong with accepting your body's response and listening to it.

txplowgirl Enthusiast
txplowgirl
Posted

Hi Ingridbeth,

I have fibro and RA, and I am gluten free. Going gluten free didn't totally take all of my joint pain away or help with the fibro or RA until I removed the nightshade vegetables. (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and all bell peppers.) They cause a lot of swelling and pain in the joints. Once I eliminated those my fibro and RA has eased up a lot to where they are managable without meds. Also, apartame will cause fatigue and pain in fibro sufferers to. Just a thought for you.

Hope you start feeling a lot better.

Vicky

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

There's always Enterolab.com. I imagine if you're still eating a little gluten you'll come up positive there. Most folks do, as the tests are set up to be sensitive at the expense of specificity. They are NOT diagnostic, but maybe seeing a positive stool result or gene test would help you accept that the diet is working for you?

Fair warning - friends and family will probably accept an Enterolab result. Anyone with any scientific or medical training (like me or your doctors) will not draw any strong conclusions from the Enterolab tests.

  • 1 year later...
lcarter Contributor
lcarter
Posted

I'm one of those with Celiac, Sojgrens, and Hasi-hypothyroid - all AI diseases. I also have some mild joint achiness from time to time, but have yet to figure out what triggers it at those times when I'm pretty sure I haven't been accidently glutened. Anyway, I had one episode a couple of years ago of some joint swelling with an elevated Rheumatoid Factor and another test that was positive for inflammation. [Not sure which one it was]. So, my GP sent me to a rhemy who ran all the Rheumatoid Arthritis tests and decided that, luckily whatever it was, it wasn't RA. So, I'm guessing that those tests can be positive just because of the celiac disease and Sojgrens? [Fortunately, haven't had another joint swelling episode]

chasbari Apprentice
chasbari
Posted

Serum negative for celiac, very positive for RA (RA Factor in the 800's when anything +17 is considered positive for RA,) had RA to the point of crippling, finally Dx'ed for celiac by endoscopic biopsy. went paleo gluten-free and within forty eight hours the RA started to do a disappearing act. Even the "permanent" joint damage has healed in the last several years as a result and I need take no meds for RA at all.

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

I'm one of those with Celiac, Sojgrens, and Hasi-hypothyroid - all AI diseases. I also have some mild joint achiness from time to time, but have yet to figure out what triggers it at those times when I'm pretty sure I haven't been accidently glutened. Anyway, I had one episode a couple of years ago of some joint swelling with an elevated Rheumatoid Factor and another test that was positive for inflammation. [Not sure which one it was]. So, my GP sent me to a rhemy who ran all the Rheumatoid Arthritis tests and decided that, luckily whatever it was, it wasn't RA. So, I'm guessing that those tests can be positive just because of the celiac disease and Sojgrens? [Fortunately, haven't had another joint swelling episode]

Looks like we are AI disease twins! I have found out since this post first appeared that Sjogren's will cause elevated RF numbers as Sjogren's is considered an arthritis type disease.

My RF tests are slowly coming down but they are still elevated and I don't have RA.

The joint swelling and pain can come from the Hashi's problem. That is one of the symptoms of low thyroid and just because you are being treated for it doesn't mean you won't have issues from time to time. Mine can swing occasionally between hypo and hyper in times of stress and that is normal for someone with AI thyroid disease. I used to have joint pain but don't anymore once I got my thyroid under control.

  • 1 month later...
Roda Rising Star
Roda
Posted

I just found out that my RF is slightly elevated from my last labs done in June (I just got the results, another story :angry: ). I had a bunch of tests run back in Feb. by my PCP for other autoimmune issues and they were normal then. I'm unsure if a RF was done then. I do have a few aches and pains but I can easily explain them away from "sleeping wrong". I can not lay a certain way because it bothers my neck and upper spine between my shoulder blades. My elbows hurt in the morning and pop, but then I feel alright. What has me perplexed recently, (before I knew of this elevated test) is that I'm having left hip pain for no apparent reason. It comes and goes. It does not feel like a pulled/stretched muscle as I can't think of anything I have done. I thought is was peculiar that my endo asked me on Wednesday if I was seeing a rhuematologist. I had no idea why she asked until I left. What has me worried is that maybe I'm not gluten free enough. I have not had my celiac labs drawn in a year either. I'm probably going to make an appointment with my PCP to see what she thinks. Could the RF be elevated and not have it? The whole thought of it scares the heck out of me. I have this mental image stuck in my head from when I was five. I remember seeing one of my great uncles at my gradfather's funeral who's hands were all twisted up and misformed from rhuematoid. He also couldn't get around very well. I realize that he was elderly then (back in 1978) and things have come along way medically since then.

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,777
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Sandra Carter
    Newest Member
    Sandra Carter
    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

    • Colleen H
      Celiac attack confusion and anxiety

      By Colleen H · Posted

      Hi all ! Can a celiac attack be so intense that it causes your entire body to work in reverse? Meaning really bad pain,  neuropathy and muscle,  jaw pain,  the stomach issues , Horrible anxiety and confusion??  I had a Tums and you would think I ate poison. My jaw and stomach did not like it . Not the norm for me. Things that are simple are just out of control. Anyone ever have this happen??  I'm trying to figure out what I ate or did to bring on a celiac like attack. I had an idea before but yesterday I didn't have any gluten unless it was in a medication ?! Any positive suggestions ??  Thank you 
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free stuff

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      The following two lists are very helpful for anyone who is gluten sensitive and needs to avoid gluten when shopping. It's very important to learn to read labels and understand sources of hidden gluten, and to know some general information about product labelling--for example in the USA if wheat is a possible allergen it must be declared on a product's ingredient label like this: Allergens: Wheat.      
    • trents
      Gluten free stuff

      By trents · Posted

      Tammy, in the food industry, "gluten free" doesn't mean the same thing as "no gluten". As Scott explained, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) allows food companies to use the "gluten-free" label as long as the product does not contain more than 20 ppm (parts per million) of gluten. This number is based on studies the FDA did years ago to determine the reaction threshold for those with celiac disease. And the 20 ppm figure works for the majority of celiacs. There are those who are more sensitive, however, who still react to that amount. There is another, stricter standard known as "Certified Gluten Free" which was developed by a third party organization known as GFCO which requires not more than 10 ppm of gluten. So, when you see "GFCO" or "Certified Gluten Free" labels on food items you know they are manufactured with a stricter standard concerning gluten content. Having said all that, even though you may read the disclaimer on a food item that says the spices may contain wheat, barley or rye (the gluten grains), you should be able to trust that the amount of gluten the spices may contain is so small it allows the total product to meet the requirements of gluten free or certified gluten free labeling. I hope this helps.
    • Tammy Pedler
      Gluten free stuff

      By Tammy Pedler · Posted

      As soon as I see gluten free I read the labels. I always find stuff that I cannot have on the products them selfs. Like spices, when the labels says  everything listed and then after like say garlic salt then the next thing is spices. When it says that that can contain wheat and other things I can’t have.. 
    • Scott Adams
      Do some people with Celiacs develop hypoglycemia?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      While hypoglycemia isn't a direct, classic symptom of celiac disease, it's something that some individuals with well-managed celiac disease report, and there may be a few plausible explanations for why the two could be connected. The most common theory involves continued damage to the gut lining or nutrient deficiencies (like chromium or magnesium) that can impair the body's ability to regulate blood sugar effectively, even after gluten is removed. Another possibility is delayed stomach emptying (gastroparesis) or issues with the hormones that manage blood sugar release, like glucagon. Since your doctors are puzzled, it may be worth discussing these specific mechanisms with a gastroenterologist or endocrinologist. You are certainly not alone in experiencing this puzzling complication, and it highlights how celiac disease can have long-term metabolic effects beyond the digestive tract.
×
×
  • 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.