Do You Have To Be Eating Gluten To Get An Accurate Test Result?

[happymom23]

My six-year-old son has been gluten-free for 2 years now. Prior to changing his diet, he had lots of tummy trouble and diarrhea. His blood test for celiac was negative at that time, but my mom is celiac. After going gluten-free, his symptoms went away. We also discovered that he is IgA deficient which would throw off the typical blood test. Just this year, he also has gone off his asthma meds and did not require any allergy medication. We are now wondering how to determine if he is truly celiac or gluten allergic. His allergist says that he will need to eat gluten (as much as a slice of bread a day) for 3 months in order to get an accurate test result. This is obviously a concern for us as he is doing so well. But it would be great to know for sure if he is truly celiac or not. Does anyone know if this is true and is necessary?

[kareng]

Get a new doctor. His response to gluten free is enough for many doctors to diagnose him. The test will peobably be negative again if he is IgA deficient. Making him sick for 3 months is inhumane.

[IrishHeart]

I second Karen's thoughts. No way I would put my child back on a gluten-filled diet to prove what I already know, especially with the genetic component (your Mom--and what about you?)

Your child is thriving and no longer needs any medications! That is fantastic!! Why mess with his good health?? Sounds like a positive response to a gluten free diet IS your diagnosis.

Being IgA deficient will just render another false negative. Nothing's going to change. The "allergist" should KNOW that. So why bother?

Celiac or gluten intolerant (no such thing as a gluten "allergy")--the TREATMENT is the same---a gluten free diet.

[Yeloflower]

I am so sorry that you are faced with this decision for your child. I can't imagine what it must be like for you. This is a decision that can't be taken lightly.

I wanted to share with you that I was preliminarily diagnosed with celiac less than a year ago. I had been living gluten free before that and found relief in the symptoms.

Just this week my new gastro doctor did a colonscopy and endoscopy to further explore my issues and provide a formal diagnosis. The problem is that I attempted to eat gluten for the test, but stopped after one attempt because I became so ill.I wanted to share this with you as you are making this decision for your child.

Would it be possible to ask your son if he wanted to try eating gluten again for the test? He may say no, because it made him feel bad, but he also may not have felt he suffered too much, as kids are resilient, and decide to try again.

This is a tough one. I wish you both luck!

My six-year-old son has been gluten-free for 2 years now. Prior to changing his diet, he had lots of tummy trouble and diarrhea. His blood test for celiac was negative at that time, but my mom is celiac. After going gluten-free, his symptoms went away. We also discovered that he is IgA deficient which would throw off the typical blood test. Just this year, he also has gone off his asthma meds and did not require any allergy medication. We are now wondering how to determine if he is truly celiac or gluten allergic. His allergist says that he will need to eat gluten (as much as a slice of bread a day) for 3 months in order to get an accurate test result. This is obviously a concern for us as he is doing so well. But it would be great to know for sure if he is truly celiac or not. Does anyone know if this is true and is necessary?

[Mummyto3]

As he's doing so well without gluten and for two years too, I wouldn't do that to my child, to make them intentionally ill again. Is there a reason you need to know if he's coeliac? I know in UK you get food perscriptions, don't know about the US. Point is, when he was on the gluten, he was very sick and in pain, off it, he's healthy and happy. For me, it's an easy decision. I wouldn't put my child through it. Mine is currently suffering from the gluten, but as soon as biopsy is done, she's off it and never going on it again.