Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Help W/blood Tests

anodyne

Recommended Posts

anodyne Newbie
anodyne
Posted

Hi everyone, I'm new here. Nice to meet everyone :)

I've had stomach troubles for a good 25 years now (I'm 38). I had stomach surgery 6 yrs ago and have had many health probs come along since then..kidney infection resulting in 85% loss of kidney function in right kidney, and kidney stones. My other symptoms are depression getting worse and worse, folic acid & iron deficient anemia, nosebleeds daily for a month now, infertility, skin rash, distended stomach, gas, fatty foul-smelling floating stools. Mostly due to the stool probs, I had my blood and fecal fat tested recently. My general doc says I most likely have malabsorption due to celiac disease. He wants me to set up an appt with a G.I. for further testing.

I would like to reasearch my blood test and fecal fat test results as well .. for myself, so I can be a better advocate for myself. But no where have I found what your test results SHOULD BE in order to confirm celiac..or even gluten sensitivity for that matter. I'm listing my test results that were either too high (H) or too low (L) according to the range.. could I please have some feedback as to what results SHOULD BE to be celiac.. and what anyones gut (pardon the pun) reaction is to seeing my test results:

HDL Cholesterol 32 (L) > or = 40 MG/DL

Chloride 114 (H) 98-110 MMOL/L

Calcium 8.4 (L) 8.5 - 10.4 MG/DL

Protein, Total 5.7 (L) 6.0 - 8.3 G/DL

Albumin 3.2 (L) 3.7 - 5.1 G/DL

AST 36 (H) 2 - 35 U/L

Gliadin Antibody IGG 41 (H) < 11 U/mL

Gliadin Antibody IGA 16 (H) < 11/U/mL

Red Blood Cell Count 3.46 (L) 3.80 - 5.10 MILL/MCL

Hemoglobin 11.4 (L) 11.7 - 15.5 G/DL

Hematocrit 33.3 (L) 35.0 - 45.0 %

MCH 33.1 (H) 27.0 - 33.0 PG

Fecal Lipids, Total 31 (H) < 7

There is a notation from the lab on the results:

"Very high fecal fat, suggestive of malabsorption. Refer her to G.I. for malabsorption, and (?) celiac sprue. Advise patient to avoid wheat and wheat containing products. "

Anyone with any info/thoughts to share with me on this, I really would welcome it! I'm new to all of this and until I see the gastro doc I am trying to make sense out of all of this. Does anyone think I need further testing for celiac or gluten sensitivity ?? Cause I really dont want to do a biopsy.

Thanks in advance !

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

Everything right now most certainly points to celiac. The two celiac tests that your doctor did (Iga and Igg) were high. You're anemic and the symptoms fit. Do you know if there's celiac in your family?

You could, of course, just assume you have celiac disease and go gluten-free, but I think if you can do the biopsy you should, particularly if you have any doubts. Your GI will also check to see if you have any other problems down that way. If you are going to have the biopsy, do not stop eating gluten now. It could skew the results. And make sure the GI will take numerous samples from various spots.

richard

KaitiUSA Enthusiast
KaitiUSA
Posted

Your tests done for celiac were the IgA and IgG. Those detect sensitivity to gluten so obviously there is a problem there. Your other levels do fit the category for malabsorption which is in response to celiac because you are not absorbing properly. You do sound like a celiac.

If you wanted further testing then I would recommend the full celiac panel being done. You had 2 of these tests done but the full panel is very efficient. The tTG test is going to take the place of biopsies at least in kids in the near future.

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgA

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgG

Anti-Endomysial (EMA) IgA

Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) IgA

Total Serum IgA

If it were me I think those results would be enough for me to go gluten free though. It's obvious there are gluten issues and malabsorption. It should not be just a wheat free diet though..it needs to be gluten free.

I personally did not get a biopsy(doctor did not even want one for me after seeing the results)and have not really been a fan of them. They can rule celiac in with a positive but they can't rule it out with a negative. If it comes back negative it could be due to sporadic damage that they missed or no damage there yet if it is in beginning stages.

anodyne Newbie
anodyne
Posted
  • Author

Thanks Richard :)

I dont know if there is celiac in my family. My grandmother had colitis and my brother has it--colitis, and my mom had diverticulitis while she was still alive. I myself was misdiagnosed at one point with Crohn's disease. I was later correctly dx'd with peptic ulcer disease which I've had for 21 years. I believe that was taken care of when my duodenum, part of my pancreas, my gallbladder and some sm intestine were removed 6 years ago.

I appreciate the quick response. I have so many questions for my gastro doc when I see him! But until then (another month cause of insurance stuffs) .. I appreciate any support I can get here. You all seem so caring of one another ..

anodyne Newbie
anodyne
Posted
  • Author

Kaiti

Thank you so much for the information regarding further testing.. I didnt know about that and your opinion on biopsies..

this is exactly what I need to hear .. anything anyone has to say about this.. and yes I have been reading that gluten encompasses not just wheat but rye, barley, and oats.

anodyne Newbie
anodyne
Posted
  • Author

hmm now I'm wondering.. I understand to continue eating gluten IF I did a biopsy... but .. should I stop eating gluten or not if I have the additional tests Kaiti indicated above.. I'm considering having them one month from now. Help please if ya can

KaitiUSA Enthusiast
KaitiUSA
Posted

Yes, you have to be on gluten for about 3 months prior to all blood tests and biopsies.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

Your test results do indicate you have a problem with gluten. More tests aren't going to change that. You said you don't want to get a biopsy? I don't blame you. I didn't get one either, my Dr. gave me a choice, but said that my blood test results were HIGHLY indicative of celiac and prior to taking blood he told me he was 99.9% certain I had Celiac based on my symptoms.

If you are feeling extremely ill and want to start the diet right away to see if it helps, there is nothing wrong with that, a lot of people have "self diagnosed" by a positive dietary response alone. But keep in mind that any further testing would be inaccurate. Also, a biopsy cannot tell you you don't have Celiac, it can only confirm that there is DAMAGE. My personal opinion is that if the blood tests are indicative of celiac, then try the diet, what have you got to lose?

FaithInScienceToo Contributor
FaithInScienceToo
Posted

My two cents:

PLEASE do not believe that biopsy results are 100% accurate -

They can come back false negative (meaning you do have small intestine damage, but the test failed to detect)...

...the doc performing it may not cut at the proper angles...OR may not get enough samples...or may not sample enough areas of the small bowel (It's not short...)...OR the pathologist reading the samples may not do his/her job well...

You IGG already indicates gluten intolerance AT A MINIMUM...

If I were you, I would only get the biopsy if your doc can give you very good reason to suspect anything other than celiac disease, and if the biopsy can rule those diagnoses out...

That's why my doc did both an endoscopy and colonoscopy.

I had had 20 years of MANY digestive system problems...and he wanted to be sure it wasn't anything MORE than celiac disease causing them....

He already knew I had celiac disease from my blood results and Enterolab testing -

I was lucky...I got a good doc...

He didn't do the endoscopy in order to diagnose celiac disease...it did it to be sure celiac disease was my only diagnosis...

GOOD LUCK.

LOVE,

Gina

Hennessey Rookie
Hennessey
Posted
Your tests done for celiac were the IgA and IgG. Those detect sensitivity to gluten so obviously there is a problem there. Your other levels do fit the category for malabsorption which is in response to celiac because you are not absorbing properly. You do sound like a celiac.

If you wanted further testing then I would recommend the full celiac panel being done. You had 2 of these tests done but the full panel is very efficient. The tTG test is going to take the place of biopsies at least in kids in the near future.

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgA

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgG

Anti-Endomysial (EMA) IgA

Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) IgA

Total Serum IgA

If it were me I think those results would be enough for me to go gluten free though. It's obvious there are gluten issues and malabsorption. It should not be just a wheat free diet though..it needs to be gluten free.

I personally did not get a biopsy(doctor did not even want one for me after seeing the results)and have not really been a fan of them. They can rule celiac in with a positive but they can't rule it out with a negative. If it comes back negative it could be due to sporadic damage that they missed or no damage there yet if it is in beginning stages.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Kati,

I hope you don't mind answering a question for me..from reading your posts you sound the like person to ask. My son was diagnosed and so now my husband and I are being tested. I gave my doctor the panel of tests that need to be done from your list above. My question is when the results come back I'm afraid no one will know how to read them?? maybe that sounds stupid, but no one really knows anything about it. My question to you is...is there a number you go by, I see numbers after other people's blood tests, so I was wondering if there was a range you are in to be positive. I guess I just don't have the confidence in many doctors these days...which is sad...and you seem very knowledgeable about this. I appreciate any advice you can give me. Thanks, Mary

KaitiUSA Enthusiast
KaitiUSA
Posted

Mary~

When you get the results back, make sure you get a copy of them so you can see them for yourself. They have reference ranges on the blood test sheet. Not all labs are the same so normal in one lab may be abnormal in another, so you have to look at their ranges.

Hennessey Rookie
Hennessey
Posted
Mary~

When you get the results back, make sure you get a copy of them so you can see them for yourself. They have reference ranges on the blood test sheet. Not all labs are the same so normal in one lab may be abnormal in another, so you have to look at their ranges.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank you very much....you have been such a help with lots of things, I have read a ton of stuff on this website and have learned so much from your postings, as well as others. To bad you couldn't charge a fee you would be rich (hee hee). Thanks again I really do appreciate it!

KaitiUSA Enthusiast
KaitiUSA
Posted
Thank you very much....you have been such a help with lots of things, I have read a ton of stuff on this website and have learned so much from your postings, as well as others.  To bad you couldn't charge a fee you would be rich (hee hee).  Thanks again I really do appreciate it!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

:lol: well I just like to help any way I can...my job will give me $ but this is something I do because I like to.

If you have any questions though...just ask

anodyne Newbie
anodyne
Posted
  • Author

Just wanted to say that I appreciate the responses to my post. Its hard going through in the beginning. But you all know that :)

I've decided to go gluten-free.. or at least as gluten-free as I can with my so-far limited knowledge. Its been a good 3-4 days since I've had anything blatently gluten-filled. I cant say I feel any better yet. But if I do feel better at some point, I know its gonna take some time to get there.

I just cant see eating gluten products for another month til I get different insurance and follow up with a G.I. at that time. I already have too many health problems that relate to this disease.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,546
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    KimberlyAnne76
    Newest Member
    KimberlyAnne76
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.