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Blood Test Only?

Lifenthefastlane

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Lifenthefastlane Rookie
Lifenthefastlane
Posted

I posted a few days ago and was told which blood screens I should ask for. After emailing my doctor she called in blood work for a celiac panel (I hope it's all of the tests yall told me about) .. But my dilemma is I have insurance with my county and I pay co-pays (my husbands insurance is to expensive to add me) well mine expires at the end of this month and I won't be able to reapply. However I had a appointment with a gastronologist in november but won't be able to go now since I won't have insurance..

So my question is.. If the blood tests come back positive for Celiac can I safely assume I have celiac disease and start a gluten free lifestyle ??

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nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

So my question is.. If the blood tests come back positive for Celiac can I safely assume I have celiac disease and start a gluten free lifestyle ??

Yes. :)

Biopsies are not as commonly used as they used to be. Many doctors don't deem them as a necessary step in the diagnostic process. In fact my doctor, who I don't consider to be an overly progressive kind of guy, diagnosed me as celiac with positive blood tests.

I think biopsies are helpful for those who have questionable (or surprisingly negative) tests, who might have a tough time following a gluten-free diet unless they know they're celiac "beyond a shadow of a doubt".

GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

So my question is.. If the blood tests come back positive for Celiac can I safely assume I have celiac disease and start a gluten free lifestyle ??

Yes.

If your test comes back positive, I would call gastroenterology and let them know you've had a positive test for Celiac Disease and would like to move your November appointment up if at all possible for two reasons:

1) your insurance expiring

2) no one should have to wait over two months to move along the Celiac Disease diagnosis process as you shouldn't remove gluten until all the testing is done.

Ask to speak to a GI nurse about moving your appt, not the scheduling staff. If they will not get you in this month, then remove ALL gluten immediately. Even if your tests are negative and you have symptoms, you should remove ALL gluten for 3-6 months and watch for improvement - this is often the most accurate test.

Good Luck to you :)

eatmeat4good Enthusiast
eatmeat4good
Posted

Yes you can be diagnosed with blood tests alone. My son had a Ttg/Iga and tested positive. The nurse called and said the Dr. says he is Celiac and no further testing is needed.

Vitamin levels were already checked.

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    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      So you're saying that you think you should have severe intestinal damage since you've had the symptoms so long?   DGP IgG antibodies are produced in response to a partial gluten molecule.  This is different than what tissue transglutaminase antibodies are  produced in response to.   TTg IgA antibodies are produced in the intestines in response to gluten.  The tTg IgA antibodies attack our own cells because a structural component in our cell membranes resembles a part of gluten.  There's a correlation between the level of intestinal damage with the level of tTg antibodies produced.  You are not producing a high number of tTg IgA antibodies, so your level of tissue damage in your intestines is not very bad.  Be thankful.   There may be reasons why you are not producing a high quantity of tTg IgA antibodies.  Consuming ten grams or more of gluten a day for two weeks to two months before blood tests are done is required to get sufficient antibody production and damage to the intestines.  Some undiagnosed people tend to subconsciously avoid lots of gluten.  Cookies and cakes do not contain as much gluten as artisan breads and thick chewy pizza crust.  Anemia, diabetes and thiamine deficiency can affect IgA antibody production as well.   Do you carry genes for Celiac?  They frequently go along with EDS.
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Food and environmental allergies involve IgE antibodies.  IgE antibodies provoke histamine release from mast cells.   Celiac disease is not always visible to the naked eye during endoscopy.  Much of the damage is microscopic and patchy or out of reach of the scope.  Did they take any biopsies of your small intestine for a pathologist to examine?  Were you given a Marsh score? Why do you say you "don't have intestinal damage to correlate with lifelong undiagnosed celiac disease"?   Just curious.  
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      I was tested for food allergies and environmental allergies about 7 months before I started taking Naltrexone, so I don't think that is the cause for me, but that's interesting!  The main thing with the celiac thing that is throwing me off is these symptoms are lifelong, but I don't have intestinal damage to correlate with lifelong undiagnosed celiac disease.
    • trents
      Finding gluten free ingredients

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @Kara S! Warrior bread is a grain free bread product. Google it. There are commercial mixes available, I believe, Youtube videos and many recipes. 
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