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

Ttg Antigen Level 10

Nizzy

Recommended Posts

Nizzy Newbie
Nizzy
Posted

I just went to the GI doc on Friday (due to MANY symptoms of gluten intolerance/celiac disease for many years) and got my tests back on Tuesday. They took a blood and feces test. The nurse called me and told me everything was normal except for me tTg antibody test. She said the normal level was 5 and my level was a 10. She said that is very common for celiacs and told me the doc wants me to have an endoscopy.

Can anyone explain to me what this means? She didn't confirm or deny that had celiac disease...

I'm a college student and everyone knows what that means - I don't have much money to pay for medical expenses! I do have medical insurance but I will still get a bill that I'm not ready to pay.

I would like to do the biopsy but would good would it do?

Any advice or help would be much appreciated!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


pain*in*my*gut Apprentice
pain*in*my*gut
Posted

I just went to the GI doc on Friday (due to MANY symptoms of gluten intolerance/celiac disease for many years) and got my tests back on Tuesday. They took a blood and feces test. The nurse called me and told me everything was normal except for me tTg antibody test. She said the normal level was 5 and my level was a 10. She said that is very common for celiacs and told me the doc wants me to have an endoscopy.

Can anyone explain to me what this means? She didn't confirm or deny that had celiac disease...

I'm a college student and everyone knows what that means - I don't have much money to pay for medical expenses! I do have medical insurance but I will still get a bill that I'm not ready to pay.

I would like to do the biopsy but would good would it do?

Any advice or help would be much appreciated!

Well, here is the thing....you have abnormal bloodwork that could indicate that you have a disease that is causing damage to your body which could result in some pretty serious complications down the road if it goes untreated. The way I see it you have two options:

1) You could follow thru with further testing now and bite the financial bullet, and find out if you have Celiac disease or not. If you do, the rest of your family should be tested as well (mom, dad, siblings, children), and you could be saving them a lifetime of illness as well if they have it and don't know it.

2) Assume that you do have Celiac disease, and commit to a lifetime of eating gluten free. If you think that you can do this without confirmation that you do have Celiac, then this would be the least expensive way to go. Keep in mind that if you do go gluten free now, and decide down the road that you want further testing, you will have to do a gluten challenge (eat gluten again) for 3-6 months to have the biopsy. This is NOT fun. :(

If it were me, I would do the biopsy. I personally would never be able to stick the diet if I didn't know "for sure". But that is just me. You have to decide what is best for you. Do some research on Celiac and the testing. Learn everything you can about it, and then decide what you want to do.

Good luck!

Nizzy Newbie
Nizzy
Posted
  • Author

Well, here is the thing....you have abnormal bloodwork that could indicate that you have a disease that is causing damage to your body which could result in some pretty serious complications down the road if it goes untreated. The way I see it you have two options:

1) You could follow thru with further testing now and bite the financial bullet, and find out if you have Celiac disease or not. If you do, the rest of your family should be tested as well (mom, dad, siblings, children), and you could be saving them a lifetime of illness as well if they have it and don't know it.

2) Assume that you do have Celiac disease, and commit to a lifetime of eating gluten free. If you think that you can do this without confirmation that you do have Celiac, then this would be the least expensive way to go. Keep in mind that if you do go gluten free now, and decide down the road that you want further testing, you will have to do a gluten challenge (eat gluten again) for 3-6 months to have the biopsy. This is NOT fun. :(

If it were me, I would do the biopsy. I personally would never be able to stick the diet if I didn't know "for sure". But that is just me. You have to decide what is best for you. Do some research on Celiac and the testing. Learn everything you can about it, and then decide what you want to do.

Good luck!

Thanks! I think I'm to follow through with the biopsy. I have it scheduled for the 31st of this month.

I got the official test results in the mail which further confused me. It said:

TTG Antibody, IgA: <1.0 Interpretation: Negative

TTG Antibody, IgG: 10.0 U/ml Interpretation: Positive

After doing some reading, I read that some people might not be able to produce the IgA antibody. And they also test for IgG.

If someone could explain this to me that would be great!

Roda Rising Star
Roda
Posted

Some people have IgA deficiency which would render IgA testing invalid. So yes it is possible to be negative on one and positive on another. Did they do a total IgA? As for the biopsy, a negative result doesn't necessarily mean you don't have celiac. Reasons: caught it early enough and you don't have any damage/little damage, improper biopsy/not enough samples taken, inexperienced pathologist in interperting biopsy samples, or the damage is patchy and the samples in a damaged area were missed(can not tell villi damage by the naked eye). When you go for your biopsy request a min. of 6-8 samples or 8-11 as new research is stating. If your biopsy should come back negative you can always try the diet strictly for three months. After you could reintroduce it to see how you do. Your body will give you the answer.

I had a positive IgA tTg and positive small bowel biopsy. My youngest son last year had an elevated IgA tTg and I opted out of biopsy (he was almost 6 at the time). I chose not to do the scope/biopsy since I already had a diagnosis and his positive blood work. Also to further confirm celiac we did a gluten challenge on him after 4 1/2 months and it only lasted three days. He reacted horible. My oldest son has had repeated negative blood work even with celiac symptoms. His allergist wants him gluten free even if he is not a celiac as he feels that he could be gluten intolerent. Same treatment anyway. I decided to have him scoped before putting him gluten free. I'm waiting on the results now.

Since you are in college, a diagnosis may help you to be able to opt out of any required meal plans.

Nizzy Newbie
Nizzy
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the suggestion. I will definitely tell them I would like 8-11 samples. I'm pretty eager/anxious to get this done. I would very much like the get to the bottom of my issues.

I have been staying on my regular diet but have been monitoring my reaction to things that I have been eating. On Friday I had a muffin and was running to bathroom for the rest of the day. And on Saturday, I had pita bread and felt incredibly tired and bloated the next day. It does seem that my symptoms are related to eating gluten.

If simply cutting out gluten will make me feel better, I will be one VERY happy girl!

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Hmart
      - Hmart replied to Hmart's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      11

      Is this celiac?

      Hello again. Thank you for the responses to date. I have had several follow-ups and wanted to share what I’ve learned. About a month after my initial blood test and going gluten free, my TtG went from 8.1 to 1.8. I have learned that my copper is low and my B6 is high. My other vitamins and nutrients are more or less in range. After I glutened myself on 1...
    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Trish G's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      7

      Fiber Supplement

      @Trish G, I like dates, they have lots if fiber as well. But what I found helped most was taking Thiamine (in the form Benfotiamine which helps promote intestinal healing), Pyridoxine B 6, Riboflavin B 2, and magnesium, and Omega Three fats. The absorption of nutrients is affected by Celiac disease which damages the intestinal lining of the small...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to kpf's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      ttg iga high (646 mg/dl) other results are normal

      @kpf, Were you eating ten grams or more of gluten daily in the month preceding your antibody blood tests? TTg IgA antibodies are made in the intestines. Ten grams of gluten per day for several weeks before testing is required to provoke sufficient antibody production for the antibodies to leave the intestines and enter the blood stream and be measured...
    4. Trish G
      - Trish G replied to Trish G's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      7

      Fiber Supplement

      Thanks, I'm not a big fan of prunes but did add them back after stopping the Benefiber. Hoping for the best while I wait to hear back from Nutritionist for a different fiber supplement. Thanks again
    5. Wheatwacked
      - Wheatwacked replied to Larzipan's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      36

      Has anyone had terrible TMJ/ Jaw Pain from undiagnosed Celiac?

      If you were wondering why milk protein bothers you with Celiac Disease. Commercial dairies supplement the cow feed with wheat, which becomes incorporated in the milk protein. Milk omega 6 to omega 3 ratio: Commercial Dairies: 5:1 Organic Milk: 3:1 Grass fed milk: 1:1
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,345
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    rolland mcclay
    Newest Member
    rolland mcclay
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Hmart
      Is this celiac?

      By Hmart · Posted

      Hello again. Thank you for the responses to date. I have had several follow-ups and wanted to share what I’ve learned. About a month after my initial blood test and going gluten free, my TtG went from 8.1 to 1.8. I have learned that my copper is low and my B6 is high. My other vitamins and nutrients are more or less in range. After I glutened myself on 10/24, I have been strict about being gluten free - so about a month. I have been eating dairy free and low FODMAP as well because it’s what my stomach allows. Baked fish, potatoes, rice, etc. Whole foods and limited Whole foods. I have continued to lose weight but it has slowed down, but a total of about 15 pounds since I went gluten free. Along with stomach pain, my symptoms included nausea, body and joint pain, a burning sensation throughout my body and heart rate spikes. I still have them but I have them less now. These are the symptoms that led to my doctor appointments and subsequent diagnosis. I also did the DNA screening and was positive. So, at this point, the answer is yes, I have celiac. I have two questions for this group. Any ideas on why my enteropathy was so severe (marsh 3B) and my TtG was so minimal? Is that common? Or are there other things to consider with that combo? And this recovery, still having pain and other symptoms a month later (7 weeks gluten free and 4 weeks after the glutening) normal? I’m going to continue down this path of bland foods and trying to heal but would love to understand the reasons for the long journey. I read so much about people who stop eating gluten and feel amazing. I wish that was my experience but it certainly hasn’t been. Thank you again!
    • knitty kitty
      Fiber Supplement

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Trish G,  I like dates, they have lots if fiber as well.  But what I found helped most was taking Thiamine (in the form Benfotiamine which helps promote intestinal healing), Pyridoxine B 6, Riboflavin B 2, and magnesium, and Omega Three fats. The absorption of nutrients is affected by Celiac disease which damages the intestinal lining of the small intestines where our nutrients are absorbed.  If you have constipation, where your body is rather pushing your food away and not interacting with it, the nutrients in the food are not being released and absorbed.  You can develop deficiencies in all the vitamins and minerals necessary for the body to function properly.   The B vitamins cannot be stored for long, so they must be replenished daily.  Thiamine B 1 stores can run out in as little as three days.  Constipation (or diarrhea or alternating) is one of the first symptoms of thiamine deficiency.  Thiamine needs magnesium, Pyridoxine B 6, and Riboflavin B 2 to make the intestinal tract function.  Thiamine and Niacin make digestive enzymes.  Thiamine provides the energy for nerve impulses to carry messages to the brain and back about digestion.  Thiamine provides the energy for the muscle contractions which move your food through the digestive tract. High calorie meals containing lots of starches and sugars can deplete thiamine stores quickly because more thiamine is required to turn them into energy.   Are you taking any vitamin and mineral supplements?  Correction of malnutrition is very important in Celiac disease.  Thiamine, the other B vitamins and magnesium will help with constipation better than adding more fiber.  What did your nutritionist recommend you take, besides just the fiber? The association between dietary vitamin B1 intake and constipation: a population-based study https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11100033/ Thiamine, gastrointestinal beriberi and acetylcholine signaling https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12014454/ Association between dietary vitamin B6 intake and constipation: a population-based study https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11584952/
    • knitty kitty
      ttg iga high (646 mg/dl) other results are normal

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @kpf, Were you eating ten grams or more of gluten daily in the month preceding your antibody blood tests? TTg IgA antibodies are made in the intestines.  Ten grams of gluten per day for several weeks before testing is required to provoke sufficient antibody production for the antibodies to leave the intestines and enter the blood stream and be measured in blood tests. If you had already gone gluten free or if you had lowered your consumption of gluten before testing, your results will be inaccurate and inconclusive.   See link below on gluten challenge guidelines. Have you had any genetic testing done to see if you carry genes for Celiac disease?  If you don't have genes for Celiac, look elsewhere for a diagnosis.  But if you have Celiac genes, you cannot rule out Celiac disease. You mentioned in another post that you are vegetarian.  Have you been checked for nutritional deficiencies?  The best sources of the eight essential B vitamins are found in meats.  Do you supplement any of the B vitamins as a vegetarian? Deficiency in Thiamine Vitamin B 1 is strongly associated with anemia which can cause false negatives on antibody tests.  Fatigue, numbness or tingling in extremities, difficulty with coordination, headaches and anemia are strongly associated with thiamine deficiency.  Other B vitamins that contribute to those symptoms are Riboflavin B 2, Pyridoxine B 6, Folate B 9 and B12 Cobalamine.  The eight B vitamins all work together with minerals like magnesium and iron.  So your symptoms are indicative of B vitamin deficiencies.  You can develop vitamin and mineral deficiencies just being a vegetarian and not eating good sources of B vitamins like meat.  B vitamin deficiencies are found in Celiac due to the malabsorption of nutrients because the lining of the intestines gets damaged by the antibodies produced in response to gluten.    
    • Trish G
      Fiber Supplement

      By Trish G · Posted

      Thanks, I'm not a big fan of prunes but did add them back after stopping the Benefiber. Hoping for the best while I wait to hear back from Nutritionist for a different fiber supplement.  Thanks again
    • Wheatwacked
      Has anyone had terrible TMJ/ Jaw Pain from undiagnosed Celiac?

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      If you were wondering why milk protein bothers you with Celiac Disease.  Commercial dairies supplement the cow feed with wheat, which becomes incorporated in the milk protein. Milk omega 6 to omega 3 ratio: Commercial Dairies: 5:1 Organic Milk: 3:1 Grass fed milk: 1:1
×
×
  • 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.