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

How To Know If I Have Gluten Intolerance?

Abdu

By Abdu
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Abdu Newbie
Abdu
Posted

I am trying a gluten free diet just to see if it makes a difference in my health. For example if I have more energy.

I have two questions:

1- How do I know if I have any kind of gluten intolerance?

2- How long should I try a gluten free diet to determine if it made any difference?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Bubba's Mom Enthusiast
Bubba's Mom
Posted

First, if you are still consuming gluten ask your Dr. to run a Celiac panel. Once you go off gluten tests won't read accurately. Some people need the official DX to stay on the diet without cheating for the rest of their lives. If your Dr. wants to order an endoscope to look for damage, that must be done while still consuming gluten too.

If blood tests aren't an option for you, for whatever reason, and you want to try the diet, you must be 100% gluten free to get a true idea. Be sure you are not consuming small traces of it. Get a new tooth brush, get rid of wooden spoons, replace your wooden cutting board. If you have non-stick cookware and it has any scratches don't use it.

Eat mostly fresh fruit and veggies, non processed meats, and dairy if you tolerate it well. Rice is OK. Skip fast food. It has a good chance of being contaminated with gluten.

A trial of 3 months should tell you if gluten is your problem. (most of us notice a difference before going that long though.) Then, eat some and see if you get a reaction.

If you do, gluten is a problem food for you.

Be aware, that if you go off gluten and it's what is causing your problems, you will have to remain gluten-free to be/feel healthy. Later, if you want an official DX you would have to start eating gluten again. Almost impossible to tolerate.

Good luck to you..I hope you get your answers.

Kaz70 Newbie
Kaz70
Posted

I have recently been tested for celiac/gluten intolerance.

A blood test came back with EliA Gliadin IgA at 322.82 and EliA Gliadin IgG at 363.24, what is the normal range? I am told this is high and I am gluen intolerant but how high? Does anyone know what the normal amount is?

Cheers Kaz

sa1937 Community Regular
sa1937
Posted

I have recently been tested for celiac/gluten intolerance.

A blood test came back with EliA Gliadin IgA at 322.82 and EliA Gliadin IgG at 363.24, what is the normal range? I am told this is high and I am gluen intolerant but how high? Does anyone know what the normal amount is?

Cheers Kaz

Welcome, Kaz! Does your lab report show a reference range for the above readings? If you don't have a copy of the lab report, you should pick one up and it should indicate those ranges.

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

I am trying a gluten free diet just to see if it makes a difference in my health. For example if I have more energy.

I have two questions:

1- How do I know if I have any kind of gluten intolerance?

2- How long should I try a gluten free diet to determine if it made any difference?

Before you go off gluten you need to be tested for celiac disease. Celiac tests do not work after you've been on a gluten-free diet. You know you have any kind of gluten intolerance if you feel better off gluten. Most people with gluten intolerance rather than celiac feel better within a few weeks. Celiac can take months to years depending on how bad the autoimmune damage is.

I have recently been tested for celiac/gluten intolerance.

A blood test came back with EliA Gliadin IgA at 322.82 and EliA Gliadin IgG at 363.24, what is the normal range? I am told this is high and I am gluen intolerant but how high? Does anyone know what the normal amount is?

Cheers Kaz

The normal range should be on the lab slip. It's different between diagnostic labs. The level of antibodies doesn't actually correlate that well to symptoms, so it's more of a yes/no for the antibodies. I take it your doctor is following up with TTG and anti-endomysial tests or were those negative? You need to be fairly aggressive with your doctor to be sure you get proper celiac testing and a biopsy with the positive anti-gliadin antibodies.

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,902
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Patty6133
    Newest Member
    Patty6133
    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

    • trents
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @Judy M! Yes, he definitely needs to continue eating gluten until the day of the endoscopy. Not sure why the GI doc advised otherwise but it was a bum steer.  Celiac disease has a genetic component but also an "epigenetic" component. Let me explain. There are two main genes that have been identified as providing the "potential" to develop "active" celiac disease. We know them as HLA-DQ 2.5 (aka, HLA-DQ 2) and HLA-DQ8. Without one or both of these genes it is highly unlikely that a person will develop celiac disease at some point in their life. About 40% of the general population carry one or both of these two genes but only about 1% of the population develops active celiac disease. Thus, possessing the genetic potential for celiac disease is far less than deterministic. Most who have the potential never develop the disease. In order for the potential to develop celiac disease to turn into active celiac disease, some triggering stress event or events must "turn on" the latent genes. This triggering stress event can be a viral infection, some other medical event, or even prolonged psychological/emotional trauma. This part of the equation is difficult to quantify but this is the epigenetic dimension of the disease. Epigenetics has to do with the influence that environmental factors and things not coded into the DNA itself have to do in "turning on" susceptible genes. And this is why celiac disease can develop at any stage of life. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition (not a food allergy) that causes inflammation in the lining of the small bowel. The ingestion of gluten causes the body to attack the cells of this lining which, over time, damages and destroys them, impairing the body's ability to absorb nutrients since this is the part of the intestinal track responsible for nutrient absorption and also causing numerous other food sensitivities such as dairy/lactose intolerance. There is another gluten-related disorder known as NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or just, "gluten sensitivity") that is not autoimmune in nature and which does not damage the small bowel lining. However, NCGS shares many of the same symptoms with celiac disease such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. It is also much more common than celiac disease. There is no test for NCGS so, because they share common symptoms, celiac disease must first be ruled out through formal testing for celiac disease. This is where your husband is right now. It should also be said that some experts believe NCGS can transition into celiac disease. I hope this helps.
    • Judy M
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By Judy M · Posted

      My husband has had lactose intolerance for his entire life (he's 68 yo).  So, he's used to gastro issues. But for the past year he's been experiencing bouts of diarrhea that last for hours.  He finally went to his gastroenterologist ... several blood tests ruled out other maladies, but his celiac results are suspect.  He is scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy in 2 weeks.  He was told to eat "gluten free" until the tests!!!  I, and he know nothing about this "diet" much less how to navigate his in daily life!! The more I read, the more my head is spinning.  So I guess I have 2 questions.  First, I read on this website that prior to testing, eat gluten so as not to compromise the testing!  Is that true? His primary care doctor told him to eat gluten free prior to testing!  I'm so confused.  Second, I read that celiac disease is genetic or caused by other ways such as surgery.  No family history but Gall bladder removal 7 years ago, maybe?  But how in God's name does something like this crop up and now is so awful he can't go a day without worrying.  He still works in Manhattan and considers himself lucky if he gets there without incident!  Advice from those who know would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free beer ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
    • trents
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
×
×
  • 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.