Little Confused Re Lab Results

[carteem]

Hello. I am new to all of this, and I am just wondering if there is any feedback re my lab results.

I have quite a few of family members who are in the medical field. They really pushed the "false positives" of the lab results. From everyhing I've read, there seems to be a greater chance of "false negatives".

Here are the results:

Tissue Transglut IGA- <1.2 Reference Range- <4.0 Negative

Reticulin ABS-Negative

Endomysial IGA- Negative

Deamidated Giladin IGG- <10 Reference Range- <20 Negative

Deamidated Giladin IGA- *88.9 Refernence Range - <20 Negative >30 positive

I have been symptomatic for a good 2 years. I was in a weight loss challenge and was very meticulous with my diet. I ahd pretty much cut out all breads, alcohol, etc... I lost 50lbs very quickly and felt FANTASTIC! When it was over I added in healthy grains (whole wheat pastas, breads, etc..) About a month later I felt like I was hit by a train! Joint and muscle aches, fatigue, pitting edema, weight gain. My doctor ran hormones and my progesterone was very low/undetectable so I have been on Progesterone cream. Shortly after, I started with GI symptoms and had my gallbladder out (no stones but it was in bad shape) . My GI symptoms improved but then lately I had all of the other symptoms return with very noticable joint pain/stiffness in wrist and knee and feet. Now I am getting bombarded with GI symptoms (heartburn, bloating, gas, belching, diarrhea alt with constipation, etc...)

I was told that the DGA is very specific and I pretty much am celiac. I do have a GI consult setup but of course its another 5 weeks before the consult. I will continue the same diet, but I have to admit my family members are making me second guess myself.

Also, does anyone know if the DGA number is significant to the amnt of gut damage? I wasn't able to find "average" high postives vs low positives etc...

I appreciate your feedback! Thanks!

[mushroom]

Hello, and Welcome.

Yes, the DGP is a new test and is very specific for celiac. The numbers in your testing score do not necessarily reflect the degree of intestinal damage. Some people with quite low numbers have severe damage, and vice versa. Yes, do keep eating gluten until your biopsy even though it will be painful. And do NOT listen to your family -- you have it quite right that false positives are very rare, and false negatives run about 20%. You only need be positive on one of the tests and the DGP is an accurate one.

[carteem]

Hello, and Welcome.

Yes, the DGP is a new test and is very specific for celiac. The numbers in your testing score do not necessarily reflect the degree of intestinal damage. Some people with quite low numbers have severe damage, and vice versa. Yes, do keep eating gluten until your biopsy even though it will be painful. And do NOT listen to your family -- you have it quite right that false positives are very rare, and false negatives run about 20%. You only need be positive on one of the tests and the DGP is an accurate one.

Thank you for the information! I just needed a little clarification and some reassurance with my thoughts. I'm sure many can relate when I say that I almost started to feel like I was a hypochrondriac. Now that I look back, I see so many suttle signs of gluten problems even through grade school. Silly things really make sense now. (I havent bought gram crackers or wheat thins for years, as I never liked how groggy I felt after eating them...but never knew why.)

I have started to prepare for my gluten free adventure even though my consult is weeks off. (I am married with 3 young children and I never even thought of the effects of cross contamination until I found this website.)

I am really thankful to learn so much here!

[Takala]

Some of your "medical field" family members may darn well know that a celiac has a much higher probability of having celiac or gluten intolerant relatives, and they may be doing the ostrich thing as a defensive mechanism, because of their love of cupcakes or beer or whatever - and a few matching symptoms.

[beachbirdie]

Hello. I am new to all of this, and I am just wondering if there is any feedback re my lab results.

I have quite a few of family members who are in the medical field. They really pushed the "false positives" of the lab results.

From everyhing I've read, there seems to be a greater chance of "false negatives".

With all due respect to their education, your "medical field" family members should know that as you found, false positives almost never occur, it is false negatives that are quite a bit more common. Especially with the DGP, they are very sensitive and very specific.