Doctors Tests?

[streethawk]

Hi

I went to my Docs today (GP) after the advise i have recieved on here. I explain to him that i had given up gluten and dairy for a month and a half and my life long diarreah had cleared up completly. He aksed me why my doctor in the past had never tested for a Gluten of Lactose allergy as I had already had a colonospy, endosocpy and a barium swallow. I said I was told no such test exisit and maybe at that time it didnt, it was many years ago now.

He was pretty postive about the whole affair and was a very good Doctor. He said he would give me the following tests.

blood and faeces

Biochemisty

U&E *

Liver Profile *

Glucose

Total T4

Cholestrol

B12

Folicacia

Haematology

Full Blood Count

ESR *

Ferritin

Coeliac Screen *

Immunolgy

Immunoglobulins *

Microbiology

MC&S *

I wonder if you guys can give me any more information about the tests I have put a star next to? Also my Doctor was adament that I should stay of gluten and dairy for the tests as if I had an allergy it would show up with the anti bodies regardless, is this right?

He also said regardless of the results it sounds like you should stay of gluten and dairy indefintly.

[Skylark]

I wonder if you guys can give me any more information about the tests I have put a star next to? Also my Doctor was adament that I should stay of gluten and dairy for the tests as if I had an allergy it would show up with the anti bodies regardless, is this right?

No, this is not right. Celiac antibodies go away on the gluten-free diet. Six weeks is enough to get a false negative if your antibodies were borderline to begin with, particularly if you're now asymptomatic. If they were really high you'll still get a positive result. On the off chance you have a true allergy to wheat antibodies would show up but I don't see allergy testing on your list.

You should definitely stay off gluten and dairy for at least six months. Chances are you will never tolerate gluten, but some of us regain our tolerance for dairy after our intestines heal.

Celiac testing has existed since the '60s but doctors were only aware of the most severe presentation. If you weren't a super-thin child with a swollen belly they would have missed it.

[streethawk]

No, this is not right. Celiac antibodies go away on the gluten-free diet. Six weeks is enough to get a false negative if your antibodies were borderline to begin with, particularly if you're now asymptomatic. If they were really high you'll still get a positive result. On the off chance you have a true allergy to wheat antibodies would show up but I don't see allergy testing on your list.

Well My blood test will be a week away should I be eating gluten everyday, im pretty sure that my symptoms would return as my diarreah returned after I ate a sausage last week.

I thought the allergy test was the Immunoglobulins ones?

As much as I dont want to ever eat gluten again I want a diagnosis 100% for my kids more than anything. My wife thinks all this gluten stuff is in my head while my two year old walks around with a huge bloated belly, pale skin and dark circles. All my attempts to take him off gluten have been met with comtempt as he has no issues with his stools.

[Skylark]

Well My blood test will be a week away should I be eating gluten everyday, im pretty sure that my symptoms would return as my diarreah returned after I ate a sausage last week.

I thought the allergy test was the Immunoglobulins ones?

As much as I dont want to ever eat gluten again I want a diagnosis 100% for my kids more than anything. My wife thinks all this gluten stuff is in my head while my two year old walks around with a huge bloated belly, pale skin and dark circles. All my attempts to take him off gluten have been met with comtempt as he has no issues with his stools.

Is there any way to postpone the celiac panel and go back to gluten for a few weeks? I would personally go a month eating a full gluten diet after that six weeks gluten-free and yes, start eating 3-4 slices of bread worth of gluten a day. After the antibodies go away completely (usually 3-6 months) it can take 2-3 months eating gluten to get measurable antibodies again. I totally understand how miserable it is, but if you MUST have an accurate test you can't be off gluten at all. The really problematic thing is that the celiac blood tests still have a 20-30% false negative rate.

Make sure you're getting deamidated gliadin IgA and IgG as part of the panel. They are the newest and most sensitive celiac tests. There should also be anti-TTG IgA, total IgA, and possibly anti-EMA and anti-gliadin.

I don't know exactly what that immunoglobulins test is. For the celiac panel you do need total IgA to be sure it's valid plus IgA deficiency is a risk factor. I was guessing that's what the test is but maybe you should call the Dr.'s office and ask. Allergies are not related to celiac or genetic non-celiac gluten intolerance - it's a different part of the immune system. If you get a positive skin or blood wheat allergy test it can help explain your reactions but you wouldn't necessarily pass any particular allergy on to your son. You would just pass on the tendency to get allergies.

I'm very sorry to hear about your son. Bloating is a classic celiac symptom, especially if your son is underweight. So is anemia, which he might have if he's really pale. Is your pediatrician brushing you off too? He really needs to be tested! Unfortunately it can be hard to get antibodies to show up in little kids.

[streethawk]

Make sure you're getting deamidated gliadin IgA and IgG as part of the panel. They are the newest and most sensitive celiac tests. There should also be anti-TTG IgA, total IgA, and possibly anti-EMA and anti-gliadin.

I'm very sorry to hear about your son. Bloating is a classic celiac symptom, especially if your son is underweight. So is anemia, which he might have if he's really pale. Is your pediatrician brushing you off too? He really needs to be tested! Unfortunately it can be hard to get antibodies to show up in little kids.

I have eaten Mcdonalds today and am amazed at the speed of the return of the black depression I have suffered my whole life. Did I really live this way? Perhaps I will phone my doctor on monday and see if I can delay the tests. Im not sure this will be the lastest tests its all being done on the NHS.

Yeah I feel for my son all I get from my family is your pale and have dark circles he must get it from you, your ok. People just dont seem to understand?