Celiac Concerns

[shels77]

This past winter, I was dealing with extreme fatigue. My family physician ordered some blood tests and found anemia and an elevated c-reactive protein result. At the time, I had an enlarged lymph node, so that was biopsied; the results were negative for lymphoma.

After going through a roller coaster of emotions and testing, my husband and I decided to take a step back from all of the testing. I started exercising more frequently and taking iron and multi-vitamins. Once I changed my diet (smaller portions, lower cal, etc.), my fatigue got better, but it still exists.

I went in recently to have my cholesterol levels tested, and my doctor suggested I take the blood test for Celiac Disease. She said that my fatigue, unexplained anemia, and IBS symptoms could be related to the disease. She also said having adult asthma could be related as well. She gave me the orders for the lab test and said she'd see me when the results came back.

A few days after that appointment, I went in because my back was bothering me. A chiropractor, who is attached to my doctor's practice, saw me. The x-rays came back with what the chiro called "the classics markers for osteoarthritis" in my spine. The disc space is significantly diminished, and I've developed bony spurs in certain places along my vertebrae. The chiro was a little shocked since I'm only 33 years old. In going over my options to treat the osteoarthritis, the chiro mentioned an anti-inflammatory diet, which is essentially a gluten-free diet. I told him about the upcoming blood test, and he said that my osteoarthritis could be related if the test comes back positive for Celiac Disease.

I'm going in today for the blood test and haven't cut gluten from diet yet. Because of reading I've done, I'm well aware that the blood test can come back with a false-negative reading. I'm worried that could happen to me.

What has been your experience with false-negatives? Should I proceed with a gluten-free diet even if I get a false-negative? Do my symptoms seem to be in line with what others have experienced?

Thanks in advance.

[ravenwoodglass]

First off you have a very wise and knowledgeable doctor. You are very lucky. Yes it does sound like you are in the right place. After all the testing is done do try the diet even if the results are negative. Do not go gluten free until after the biopsy if you are going to have one.

[shels77]

First off you have a very wise and knowledgeable doctor. You are very lucky. Yes it does sound like you are in the right place. After all the testing is done do try the diet even if the results are negative. Do not go gluten free until after the biopsy if you are going to have one.

Thanks for your reply. I'm thinking that after the test results come back, I'll go gluten-free due to the osteoarthritis diagnosis. I'm worried about how all of this will be received by family and friends. I don't want them to think I'm acting weird, but I need to keep the osteoarthritis in check.

How should I approach this with my family?

[ravenwoodglass]

Thanks for your reply. I'm thinking that after the test results come back, I'll go gluten-free due to the osteoarthritis diagnosis. I'm worried about how all of this will be received by family and friends. I don't want them to think I'm acting weird, but I need to keep the osteoarthritis in check.

How should I approach this with my family?

I would just tell them you are following your doctors advise. If they doubt it perhaps your doctor would write a 'script' for the diet that you could show them. In my family seeing my symptoms resolve made a believer out of them all and they listened and got tested themselves, as doctors recommend. As you can see in my sig they were all positive also.