Ok, Im Confused.

[co09wrx]

My dietitian and all I have read says the endoscopy biopsies are required to confirm a celiac disease diagnosis. My GI doctor's office called and said I don't need the endoscopy after the blood test panel confirmed Celiac Disease. They said stay on gluten free (WBOR). I don't go back to see them till Nov. 5th to find out how I am doing.

Confused.

Terry

[psawyer]

I'm not an expert in the blood tests. The ones developed ten to 15 years ago were not as specific as some available today. There is one (somebody will know which it is) which is highly specific for celiac disease. A positive there is 99% accurate.

[Lisa]

  On 10/1/2012 at 9:09 PM, co09wrx said:

My dietitian and all I have read says the endoscopy biopsies are required to confirm a celiac disease diagnosis. My GI doctor's office called and said I don't need the endoscopy after the blood test panel confirmed Celiac Disease. They said stay on gluten free (WBOR). I don't go back to see them till Nov. 5th to find out how I am doing.

Confused.

Terry

If your anti-endomysial antibodes are positive, you can conclude that your diagnosis is Celiac Disease. No biopsy would be needed.

[ravenwoodglass]

  On 10/1/2012 at 9:09 PM, co09wrx said:

My dietitian and all I have read says the endoscopy biopsies are required to confirm a celiac disease diagnosis. My GI doctor's office called and said I don't need the endoscopy after the blood test panel confirmed Celiac Disease. They said stay on gluten free (WBOR). I don't go back to see them till Nov. 5th to find out how I am doing.

Confused.

Terry

You have a good GI. Follow their advice. Plus if you are already gluten free the biopsy has a good chance of being a false negative.

I hope you heal quickly but for some of us things can be up and down for a bit. Hang in there and ask any questions needed.

[Roda]

Go with what you GI is saying if you are comfortable with that. My youngest son is diagnosed without a scope/biopsy.

If you still want to do the scope/biopsy, be aware that you have to be eating gluten to get the most accurate biopsy for celiac. The scope does look at the esophagus and stomach also. Biopsies are taken from both places to rule out other things like barretts esophagus, ulcers, inflammation , cancer, parasites, H pylori, etc. I'm not mentioning this to scare you, its just part of the routine scope process.

[lovegrov]

It's my understanding that a number of doctors now consider symptoms and a positive blood test all you need for a diagnosis. And improvement on the diet would confirm it.

richard

[co09wrx]

Thanks for all your feedback. I know I will need assistance in the future coping with this. Feeling better, I have less blotting staying away from gluten and dairy. Coming to the realization that it may take a long time for my digestive track to heal.

Terry

[nvsmom]

Good luck Terry. You'll probably notice some improvements within a week or two and then other improvements will slowly show up... It does take a while.

I wanted to add that I was diagnosed based on positive EMA and ttg IgA, and my symptoms. No endoscopy neede, which is great since I like to avoid procedures like that.