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Which Came First Biopsy Or Blood Work?

roxieb73

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roxieb73 Contributor
roxieb73
Posted

Do they ever do a biopsy before or at the same time as blood work? I am really hoping to get them done at the same time. I don't want to have to wait even longer to get a biopsy done and as a result delay going gluten free. :( I am about to have a melt down because with each passing day I feel sooo much worse. If I didn't need the diagnosis to get my family tested and healthy I would just forget it all and go gluten free now.

I am really afraid I am running out of time and it will ruin the crusie I have planned in Aug. This trip has been planned and paid for for over a year! That is long before I got so sick I could barely walk. :( I am a single mother and this will be my son's first vacation!!! He is almost 8 years old. I am freaking out because I only have 3 months left to get well! It isn't like someone else can take him to the ports or on the vacation. We won't be able to afford another vacation for probably another 10 years. Sorry it is just nobody understands and I think I just needed to vent because I am really freaking out over this. :( My Physical Therapist said once testing is done and I go gluten free he will work with me to regain my strength I just hope it isn't too little too late! :(

Roxie

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Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

The blood work is less expensive and non-invasive so it's usually done first. If you have a regular office visit scheduled, they won't just put you under and do an endoscopy on the spot. It's an outpatient procedure and has to be scheduled at a facility where they have the endoscope set up and they can sedate you. It's rare to get in really fast for a biopsy; most doctors will refer you to a gastroenterologist and it can take a few weeks.

I'm wondering, if you're so panicked about the cruise, why you don't just get blood done ASAP and go gluten-free. Will your family members refuse to get tested if you don't have an ironclad celiac diagnosis? If all else fails, go back on gluten for a couple months after the trip and have the testing done then.

roxieb73 Contributor
roxieb73
Posted
  • Author

The blood work is less expensive and non-invasive so it's usually done first. If you have a regular office visit scheduled, they won't just put you under and do an endoscopy on the spot. It's an outpatient procedure and has to be scheduled at a facility where they have the endoscope set up and they can sedate you. It's rare to get in really fast for a biopsy; most doctors will refer you to a gastroenterologist and it can take a few weeks.

I'm wondering, if you're so panicked about the cruise, why you don't just get blood done ASAP and go gluten-free. Will your family members refuse to get tested if you don't have an ironclad celiac diagnosis? If all else fails, go back on gluten for a couple months after the trip and have the testing done then.

Lucky for me I already have a GI doc. I have elevated liver enzymes and severe GERD. Plus he wanted to do an endoscopy in Aug anyway. I think I could get him to bump it up if I begged. Just need to explain the situation. I just didn't know if they would do it without postive lab results. Regardless you have made me think and I have decided. to just tell my Doc Mon when he returns from his vacation that I am done with the gluten challenge because I can't take another week. As of today it hurts just to stand up! :( We can do the blood work and hope for the best. Then I am going to ask him to send my GI doc a request for biopsy which I will follow up with a phone call. If they can get me in great! If not I am going to let them know I am going Gluten free anyway. My family is stubborn and say they won't test without positive results from me but I will just have to dazzle them with my AMAZING recovery from being off the gluten. ;) I can have my son tested without his permisson.

Thank you so much..... You really helped me put things into perspective!

Roxie

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Roxie has two threads going on this subject and she is getting the same answer from us all :) . She had AMAZING initial Results being off gluten.

Stop the challenge that is making you so sick and be well. Get the biopsy done ASAP, if you really want to do it.

Do not worry about the rest of your family right now, hon.

You come first.

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Lucky for me I already have a GI doc. I have elevated liver enzymes and severe GERD. Plus he wanted to do an endoscopy in Aug anyway. I think I could get him to bump it up if I begged. Just need to explain the situation. I just didn't know if they would do it without postive lab results. Regardless you have made me think and I have decided. to just tell my Doc Mon when he returns from his vacation that I am done with the gluten challenge because I can't take another week. As of today it hurts just to stand up! :( We can do the blood work and hope for the best. Then I am going to ask him to send my GI doc a request for biopsy which I will follow up with a phone call. If they can get me in great! If not I am going to let them know I am going Gluten free anyway. My family is stubborn and say they won't test without positive results from me but I will just have to dazzle them with my AMAZING recovery from being off the gluten. ;) I can have my son tested without his permisson.

Thank you so much..... You really helped me put things into perspective!

Roxie

This was a challenge??? OMG you poor thing. Good luck scheduling the blood work and biopsy fast. It sounds like you have your answer either way.

Good luck recovering in time for your cruise. I hope it's a wonderful vacation.

roxieb73 Contributor
roxieb73
Posted
  • Author

This was a challenge??? OMG you poor thing. Good luck scheduling the blood work and biopsy fast. It sounds like you have your answer either way.

Good luck recovering in time for your cruise. I hope it's a wonderful vacation.

I can deal with whatever comes as long as I can walk on my vacation other symptoms can be dealt with. :) Thanks!

roxieb73 Contributor
roxieb73
Posted
  • Author

Roxie has two threads going on this subject and she is getting the same answer from us all :) . She had AMAZING initial Results being off gluten.

Stop the challenge that is making you so sick and be well. Get the biopsy done ASAP, if you really want to do it.

Do not worry about the rest of your family right now, hon.

You come first.

Haha well it didn't start off as the same post but sure ended up that way. You are right everyone is. I just need to quit being the mother hen and let my siblings take care of themselves. It is just hard when I see a way to fix everyone! That said I did have wonderful results and I can't wait to get back to that! So I will do what I can but come first thing Monday morning I am done with the Gluten FOREVER! Who knows maybe the genetic testing will be enough to convince them. :)

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IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Some "intelligent" docs use symptom reversal/resolution, your health history and the genetic test as enough info to make a DX.

As for your sibs, Honey, I have tried to get mine to be tested too. My whole extended family has dozens of AI diseases I KNOW are linked to celiac/gluten, but no one is being tested or even trying the gluten-free diet, except my Mom. She feels great. She's 85 and walks faster than I do.

You can only give them the info. Then, let it be.

Take care!!

Razzle Dazzle Brazell Enthusiast
Razzle Dazzle Brazell
Posted

Do they ever do a biopsy before or at the same time as blood work? I am really hoping to get them done at the same time. I don't want to have to wait even longer to get a biopsy done and as a result delay going gluten free. :( I am about to have a melt down because with each passing day I feel sooo much worse. If I didn't need the diagnosis to get my family tested and healthy I would just forget it all and go gluten free now.

I am really afraid I am running out of time and it will ruin the crusie I have planned in Aug. This trip has been planned and paid for for over a year! That is long before I got so sick I could barely walk. :( I am a single mother and this will be my son's first vacation!!! He is almost 8 years old. I am freaking out because I only have 3 months left to get well! It isn't like someone else can take him to the ports or on the vacation. We won't be able to afford another vacation for probably another 10 years. Sorry it is just nobody understands and I think I just needed to vent because I am really freaking out over this. :( My Physical Therapist said once testing is done and I go gluten free he will work with me to regain my strength I just hope it isn't too little too late! :(

Roxie

Roxie! Girl If i were as bad as you, I think I would just resort to going gliten free of my own accord and never looking back. Maybe when your family sees such a drastic change in your health, they will realizethat something is going on even without the paperwork to show it.

I think my family can already tell a difference with me being back on gluten with the swelling and surviving off metamucil and a bunch of b12, sleeping all day long and all night, im irritable and move much more slowly. My bladder symptoms are back like crazy as i am always in the bathroom and im always holding my belly. I also eat all day long and am never satisfied. What im getting at is that that is pretty much evidence in and of itself. Iam considering giving up as well. The bladder pain for me is the worse symptom....go figure. I think they know the difference and if they choose to ignore their own risk they probably would do so even if we had a report with big red letters reading, [CELIACcolor=#FF0000]

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