The Results Are In

[Buffheart]

Actually the results came in a few days ago via my mother because I moved a few weeks ago. The GI doctor said nothing has changed since my last round of tests in 2010. My blood work was relatively normal and the endoscopy showed no damage. Like last time he also said that my IgA levels were low, though I do not have the actual score. He also said there is no need to see him and that I do not have Celiac, though I can still cut out gluten, which I have been doing.

I'm just wondering why I would have low IgA levels two years in a row? What causes it? Could that be indicative of gluten intolerance?

[mushroom]

When the doctor says your IgA levels are low, is he talking about your total serum IgA? This is a control test that is run to make sure that you produce normal quantities of IgA. If this result was low, then it would invalidate all other IgA testing. Write and ask for a copy of the results of your blood testing just to clarify what was tested and what the results were. I do understand that the scope results were negative, but if the doctor doesn't take enough samples and/or the damage is patchy, it is easy to miss the damage, or you may not yet have done enough intestinal damage to test positive. At any rate, it would be helpful if you could post your results here so those of our posters who are expert at interpreting them could take a look.

[ravenwoodglass]

In addition to what Mushroom said had you been gluten free before the second scope and blood tests? If you were they should be negative results. If you are gluten free is the diet helping? That's the most important thing.

[Buffheart]

Mushroom- I will try to get a hard copy of the results but that might be a bit difficult as I am out of state and am in college now, but I will see what I can do. If all else fails I should be going back home in March for a week and will see about getting them then. But hopefully they will be willing to send them out here so I don't have to wait. If it makes it better, I am pretty sure it was total IgA levels he tested for. But everything else came back normal. No anemia, nothing like that, so I still don't know why I feel exhausted all the time.

Raven- No, I had not been on a gluten free diet before that. After my 2010 endoscopy the doctor told me I could try going gluten free, but at that time I was living with my parents and was unemployed and they told me that I wasn't allergic so I didn't have to go gluten free so they wouldn't usually help me buy gluten free food and they definitely wouldn't cook gluten-free foods. But now I'm on my own and things have changed. I have been gluten free, to the best of my abilities (I am in college, living in a dorm, and can't cook my own food, so the chef has been sending over gluten free meals, but there is always the risk of CC) for about three weeks now. The only difference I have noticed is that my face looks clearer from the acne I have had for years. That's the only change I have noticed, but I never had a whole lot of symptoms anyway.