Labs And Celiac Disease

[lovinit4]

I am trying to piece together whether I have celiac disease or not. Both my children have got celiac disease. I recently had lab work done and would like to know if there may be any kind of connection with these particular lab values. My BUN, Creatine, Sodium, Potassium and vitamin D. These are all borderline low or extremely low. I am just very curious as to maybe there being a correlation between these particular deficiencies. Thanks for any information!!

[Emilushka]

It's certainly possible but I don't think you could possibly use those lab results to diagnose Celiac Disease. Celiac causes the body to attack the gut in a spotty fashion, so it's not continuous (or consistent) damage. Everybody's symptoms and electrolyte lab values are different.

So could you have Celiac? Sure! But is this definitely Celiac or would I even go straight from those lab values to Celiac? No way. There are a lot of other things this could be and you definitely need further testing and to see a GOOD doctor (make sure your doc is actually going to follow through with you!)

Please do go back to the doc. Get the Celiac panel (the blood antibody levels) and have the doc check out your hormone levels too (thyroid panel, checking out the pituitary and adrenals might be good here, too).

I hope you feel better soon and this is something very simple that is easily fixed.

[mushroom]

Of the lab values you mention, low potassium and Vitamin D are commonly associated with celiac disease. BUN and creatinine not that I know of unless the celiac disease has caused some other condition. But if both your children have celiac disease they inherited it from you or your partner, since it is a a genetically linked disease, so now would be as good a time as any to find out if it came from you. Definitely get a celiac panel run. Low Vitamiln D contributes to a mulltitude of further disorders, including osteoporosis, and you would best find out now where it is coming from. And I agree with Emilushka's advice to find a doctor who is both familiar with celiac disease and intends to follow through to get some definitive diagnosis and treatment for you. Too may doctors are prepared to ignore abnormal lab values, whether they be high or low.

[Emilushka]

Of the lab values you mention, low potassium and Vitamin D are commonly associated with celiac disease. BUN and creatinine not that I know of unless the celiac disease has caused some other condition. But if both your children have celiac disease they inherited it from you or your partner, since it is a a genetically linked disease, so now would be as good a time as any to find out if it came from you. Definitely get a celiac panel run. Low Vitamiln D contributes to a mulltitude of further disorders, including osteoporosis, and you would best find out now where it is coming from. And I agree with Emilushka's advice to find a doctor who is both familiar with celiac disease and intends to follow through to get some definitive diagnosis and treatment for you. Too may doctors are prepared to ignore abnormal lab values, whether they be high or low.

The BUN and Creatinine are usually tests of kidney function. The fact that they're low is usually fine - the kidneys are doing an EXTRA super job of filtering waste products!

My biggest concerns are the other values, especially the sodium and potassium. Those shouldn't be chronically low. That's why I suggested the other testing, and why I really think it's essential that lovinit4 see the doc. The BUN and Creatinine can be low without it being a major life problem, but the electrolytes shouldn't be. The vitamin D can be replaced but could also be a sign of something else going on (malabsorption, faulty function of the liver, dietary problems, etc - many options).

It's hard to find a good doc, but when you find one, KEEP THEM. Sometimes a good RN is even better. If the MDs have failed you, try a DO (also doctors, but via a different schooling system). There are a lot of choices. Don't stop trying until you find a good one.

[ravenwoodglass]

The low BUN could be a result of malnutrition which could be caused by celiac disease. I do think it could fit in the picture with celiac.

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Low BUN levels are not common and are not usually a cause for concern. They may be seen in severe liver disease, malnutrition, and sometimes when a patient is overhydrated

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Low blood levels of creatinine are not common, but they are also not usually a cause for concern. They can be seen with conditions that result in decreased muscle mass.

[Emilushka]

Right, but whereas the BUN and Creatinine are just potential signs of things not being quite right, the low sodium and potassium are potentially seriously problematic for the brain and heart. I think the BUN and Cr will fix themselves once lovinit4 gets to the root of the rest of the problems without too much trouble. At least we know there's no kidney failure at all! I find that kind of thing relieving.

[lovinit4]

Thank you all for being so helpful. My liver function tests are all fine. They are all within the normal limits and I just had a CMP done in October of 2009, which showed things pretty good except my glucose levels were high. Results were 65-99 and mine was 109, non-fasting. Other than that, the other values were borderline low but all within normal range. I had a celiac panel done and it came back negative. I believe that I am dealing with celiac disease and it is pulling my labs all over the place. I am hypothyroid and anemic. I have tried the diet but gluten is like a cigarette addition for me, although I do not smoke, I have a hard time sticking with gluten free choices and not sneaking a piece of warm bread!! It is hard to change!

[Emilushka]

Thank you all for being so helpful. My liver function tests are all fine. They are all within the normal limits and I just had a CMP done in October of 2009, which showed things pretty good except my glucose levels were high. Results were 65-99 and mine was 109, non-fasting. Other than that, the other values were borderline low but all within normal range. I had a celiac panel done and it came back negative. I believe that I am dealing with celiac disease and it is pulling my labs all over the place. I am hypothyroid and anemic. I have tried the diet but gluten is like a cigarette addition for me, although I do not smoke, I have a hard time sticking with gluten free choices and not sneaking a piece of warm bread!! It is hard to change!

I'm really glad that your values are still within the normal range! That's good. Potassium especially, when outside normal range, can actually be very dangerous. So that's a relief to hear.

Do you take thyroid replacement? Levothyroxine? Maybe it's time to get the TSH checked again.

Remember: if this is Celiac, you can't heal unless you stop eating gluten. You just can't. You will continue to feel crappy and have wonky lab values until you give up the gluten. Your immune system is not to be trifled with - it will kick your butt if it decides it needs to (and with Celiac, gluten is what triggers it to kick your butt over and over again). The only way to diagnose Celiac if you've had a negative panel is to give the diet a trial.

Maybe the key for you would be to say to yourself that you'll try the diet for a month and see if it helps. That way, you know there is bread waiting for you at the end of the month. I'd say longer would be better, but if you're really struggling with willpower, a month might be as long as you can manage at a time. Two months would be better than one, so if you get to the end of that month and you're not sure, it'd be great to convince yourself to go for another month.

Good luck. I know the diet's hard, but I promise you it's really worth it. I'm only a month in myself and I miss bread (sometimes I dream about cake/lasagna/bagels/croissants/etc) but I really hated feeling like crud constantly. I feel a LOT better now. A piece of bread isn't worth feeling awful to me.

If you give yourself a chance to get better, it might be easier to have that perspective and stay healthy.

ETA: I should have said the only way to diagnose Celiac with a negative set of biopsies and negative antibody panel ... sorry! Forgot to mention the scoping/biopsies.

ETA again: By the way, your blood sugar reference range that you quoted was for fasting blood sugar. Non-fasting blood sugar is normal up to 200.

[ravenwoodglass]

I have tried the diet but gluten is like a cigarette addition for me, although I do not smoke, I have a hard time sticking with gluten free choices and not sneaking a piece of warm bread!! It is hard to change!

Gluten can be a literal addiction for us. It is hard but do try the diet strictly for a bit after your done with testing.

[Skylark]

Low vitamin D can be connected with celiac, but it can also happen without. One of the major causes of idiopathic anemia is celiac disease. Thyroid trouble is not as strongly associated, but many celiacs do have thyroid trouble.

If gluten is "addictive" it's a pretty strong sign that you are at least intolerant to it. Things that cause inflammation tend to be addictive, and in some people gluten can mimic a narcotic. You won't crave gluten as badly once you "withdraw" from it, so try to be really firm with yourself. Find gluten-free substitutes like the Kinnikinnick donuts, Glutino pretzels, or bake yourself a loaf of fresh bread from the Bob's mixes.

[Skylark]

oops... double post