Newly Diagnosed 9-9-05. I Have Some Questions...

[AN616]

Hi,

I am very new to this board and also to the gluten free thing. I wanted to post my enterolab results and see if you guys have anymore information for me.

Fecal Antigliadin IgA 12 Units (Normal Range <10 Units)

Fecal Antitissue Transglutaminase IgA 9 Units (Normal Range <10 Units)

Microscopic Fecal Fat Score: 301 Units (Normal Range < 300 Units)

HLA-DQ Gene Molecular analysis: HLA-DQB1*0301, 0502

Food Sensitivity Testing

Fecal anti-casein (cow's milk) IgA antibody 7 Units (Normal Range <10)

I think I understand it but I'm not totally sure. Basically I started on the gluten free diet as soon as I got my results back. Before the diet my only symptoms were occasional bloating and constipation and that is all. I was tested because my mom was diagnosed celiac last year. So now after being on the diet for about 5 days I don't really feel any different than I did before I started the diet. (but before the diet I didn't feel bad just had constipation.) I am still having constipation. I know that some of you have said that it can take months of being on the diet to actually start to feel different but from my test results it doesn't look like I had a lot if any damage done. Does that make a difference?

Thank-you for any more information that you might have for me.

[skoki-mom]

Sorry, I really don't know. But, can I just ask why you didn't have blood testing?? It is much more accurate and diagnostice of celiac disease if it is positive.

Sorry you aren't feeling better yet. Hang in there. I've been gluten-free just over 3 weeks, and I just finished rummaging in my pantry and came up with one lousy chocolate for lunch because everything else contains gluten and I am beyond sick of rice cakes already. I need to go grocery shopping today!

((Hugs)) and welcome to the board.

[Rachel--24]

Hi,

You might need more than just 5 days to see results and are you 100% gluten-free like with skin products, lipstick, toothpaste...stuff like that?

You could also be sensitive to another food...especially dairy.

I had Enterolab tests as well...my malabsorption score was 912 so even though my anti-casein was in the normal range (9) I still have problems with dairy such as bloating and gas and various other symptoms. I think even if you have only mild damage you could still be sensitive to dairy or something else till you heal.

Just a thought.

[AN616]

Thanks for the reply Rachel--24. I think that I will try eliminating dairy out of my system also. I thought that since it didn't say that I was sensitive to that it would be ok.

[Rachel--24]

I think what the Enterolab casein test is looking for is an immune response to dairy which is totally seperate from lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance sort of comes with the territory when there is damage to the intestine. It will get better when you heal. Of course I have no idea if thats the case for you but definately worth a try. I know lactose intolerance can cause diarreah and bloating but I'm not sure about constipation. Maybe someone can answer that cuz I'm not sure.

[Carriefaith]

Fecal Antigliadin IgA 12 Units (Normal Range <10 Units)

Fecal Antitissue Transglutaminase IgA 9 Units (Normal Range <10 Units)

Microscopic Fecal Fat Score: 301 Units (Normal Range < 300 Units)

HLA-DQ Gene Molecular analysis: HLA-DQB1*0301, 0502

Food Sensitivity Testing

Fecal anti-casein (cow's milk) IgA antibody 7 Units (Normal Range <10)

It appears from these results that you are sensitive or intolerant to gluten. And you appear to have the gene. You cannot confirm celiac from enterolab results; however, you can tell if you are sensitive or intolerant to something. Based on these results, I think the gluten-free diet is a very good choice if you are not interested in getting other tests done. Being on the gluten-free diet can give false negative results on blood tests and biopsies.

So now after being on the diet for about 5 days I don't really feel any different than I did before I started the diet.

It may take over a month to notice any improvements. If you do indeed have celiac, your intestines will need lots of time to heal. I started to notice improvement after 6 months and started to feel a lot better after 1 year.