Positive Blood Test For My 4 Year Old

[Lunabell]

We just got the results this morning, over the phone. My youngest daughter had a positive blood test for celiac. I managed to get her a GI appt on December 10,which is much earlier than the receptionist was telling me. My oldest is disabled so I know how to work the system a bit.

Right now though, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. I was told that we need to have an endo with a biopsy, which I am not looking forward to putting her through. I know it is painless, after they are knocked out, but still not a ball of fun. My oldest had a couple of them for reflux when she was younger.

I am glad we are finally getting some answers, I just really, really with there was nothing to be getting answers for. I know this isn't the end of the world, but we have been through so much with my oldest daughter's issues that I really emotionally "needed" the other two kids to not have health issues. Alas, that is not the case. I will get over the self pity in a couple of days, but right now I am wallowing in it.

I have been reading about how celiac can be strongly genetic. Have families here found that to be the case? I am wondering about my oldest daughter. She had reflux as a baby, lifelong constipation problems, weird eczema issues (like in her ears) etc. We assumed most of it was related to her brain issues, but now I wonder. I will pursue this more if my youngest's endo confirms the diagnosis.

Also, does a positive blood test usually lead to a confirmed diagnosis?

Thanks for any advice. My brain is struggling to wrap itself around this potentially new "normal".

[Roda]

I would probably go ahead and get all the kids, you and dad blood tested now. My youngest son just showed up with a positive celiac test (negative 2 yrs ago), but I am not going to do the biopsy for him. Since I am diagnosed (blood and biopsy), his symptoms and the positive test it was enough for me to put him gluten free. THat said, if I did not have celiac and we were going down this road for the first time with my son, I probably would have the biopsy done. It is quite possible you can have positive blood work and a negative biopsy. The biopsy can be negative due to the samples were not taken of the damaged areas (seen under microscope) or it is early celiac and not enough damage is there to show up. There are others on here that are probably more helpful. I hope you get some answers soon.

[Lunabell]

Thanks, Roda. I will probably get everyone tested. Though, I don't relish the experience with the 6 year old. I have to dig her out from underneath the examination table every year for her flu shot. She can be a bit dramatic. A blood draw is going to take it to a whole new level.

If Laura's biopsy is positive, I am not inclined to do it for the other kids, if they have positive blood tests. I will just have them go gluten free as well. I am not about doing procedures, just for the sake of doing them.