New And Confused By Doctor

[vtphd]

So I am new! I recently had a Celiac panel test run by Labcorp on a bit of a whim. I have had "IBS" (mainly D) for several years but the episodes are few and far between and have been treated with Elavil 5mg a night. My new primary said, hey let's just do this test as 1)it's something people are being commonly diagnosed with these days and 2)you've never had it before and it seems you suffer sometimes. So long story short, here are my test results (he also did ESR, ferritin, CBC, etc. all normal)

Immunoglobulin A -- 229 (range 68-378)

Endomysial IgA- negative

tTG-IgG Ab -- 3.9 (range under 20 negative)

tTG-IgA Ab -- 8.9 (range under 20 negative)

Gliadin Peptide Ab IgG --7.0 (range under 20 negative)

Gliadin Peptide Ab IgA -- 20.9 (positive for "equivocal")***

So the Gliadin IgA was high (but the range said over 25 for "positive". My doctor said with these results I am negative for anything... what do you think? Why would I get a positive if I didn't have something going on

Thanks for looking and advising, I've been trying to determine from the internet but don't understand all this...

[Takala]

Well..... you do have symptoms. Chronic IBS and D isn't normal. You normally would then, with the symptoms and the one positive, get a biopsy. Or at least a gene test. But it is possible to have celiac or non celiac gluten intolerance, and not test out positive on it for one or both. But the symptoms AND the one near positive... I guess they make more money selling you IBS drugs ? Or you could be on the edge of developing damage. Like, you have to be only half dead to get on track to get the full diagnosis. What about family history of medical problems, and your ethnic heritage ?

If they will not do a biopsy, you can either switch doctors, or trial a gluten free diet yourself and see if you feel any differently. I missed my formal diagnosis because the doctor(s) I had at the time, (in the rotten HMO and then in another less than stellar insurance) I was getting very sick, refused to listen to my positive response to diet, and did not recognize the neurological form of celiac damage and would not diagnose, even with the scan showing brain lesions. Years later, (I think it was about 5 years into the gluten free diet) I was tested by a different doctor, with a celiac blood panel, and of course came back negative at that point, (yeah, see, I do stick to my diet, LOL) but I don't have any problems accepting that I have a "gluten" problem. I don't know if I would have showed intestinal damage or not, but I had so many other symptoms other than the classic "weight loss," such as bone loss, heartburn, kidney problems, ataxia, numbness, vision problems, etc, who knows. The fact that I am getting more sensitive to cross contamination as I get older is another hint, that doesn't happen with regular people, who can switch back and forth. So, if you can't get a biopsy and end up going gluten free for a month, and then reintroduce it, and subsequently feel rotten, that's another sign.

[vtphd]

Thanks Takala!

Well I guess I should say I had post-viral gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying/nausea/D etc. after a really bad norovirus) about 8 years ago which is why I have the diagnosis of "IBS" still to this day -- most gastroparesis never goes away but does get better. The Elavil is cheap haha $3 a month so I'm OK with that and it also treats mild anxiety.

Nope, no family history. I'm white Caucasian with an Italian/English heritage. Thanks for sharing your story -- I actually don't have any other "classic" symptoms so maybe you are right that I am on the "edge." No they won't do a biopsy, so yes, I'll request the DNA test! What exactly would the DNA test show -- just a susceptibility to celiacs correct?

I just find it strange only one out of all the ones is possibly positive. So if I decide to go on my merry way after doing the DNA test, how often should one be re-tested?

I really appreciate all the help!