Getting A Diagnosis

[elk]

My doctor says that it doesn't matter if I'm eating gluten or not in order for the anti-bodies to show up on the blood test. Based on what I've read, she's wrong. How long can I go gluten free before it affects my test results? I want to stop gluten asap, but I feel like I need the dx as added incentive to stay away from it.

[ravenwoodglass]

Your doctor is wrong. The blood test looks for antibodies and if your not eating gluten your not going to be forming antibodies. You need to stay on gluten until all your testing is done. As soon as you are done with testing start the diet. Your response to the diet is the best diagnostic tool for whether you need the diet or not.

[elk]

Thanks. That's what I was afraid of.

[elk]

Another question: How about if I go 2 weeks without gluten then have a bunch of bread the night before my labs? Will that be sufficient for reliable results? I really don't think I can eat it daily until then.

[ravenwoodglass]

Another question: How about if I go 2 weeks without gluten then have a bunch of bread the night before my labs? Will that be sufficient for reliable results? I really don't think I can eat it daily until then.

If your not already gluten free you are better off continueing on gluten until the tests. If you go gluten free for a couple weeks then load up the night before the tests you may become more ill than you are now. Have you called the doctor and asked if you can just pick up a lab slip for the tests? You may have to ask to speak to a nurse to get an answer but that shouldn't be an issue. If you are already gluten free now then depending on how long you have been gluten free you would need a challenge of about 2 months for the best chance at accurate blood work.

[elk]

I've been eating gluten about once a week for the past 6 months. Sometimes I go longer without eating it and sometimes it's more frequent. I just recently ate some and was in bed for 3 days with a migraine, etc.

[tarnalberry]

That is unlikely to be enough gluten to show up antibodies on the test. The recommendations are approximately three slices of bread every day for three months. There has to be enough damage to the intestines that the antibodies can leak into the blood stream in sufficient quantity to be detected.

[elk]

eesh, that sounds insane and I can't see me doing it, so I guess I'll go by how I feel and not an "official" diagnosis. I'm also starting to read some of the signatures and see that it's common to have a negative result anyway. Fun.