Blood Work Results

[KikiB]

Hi! Looks like a lot of blood work coming back today. Dr. said it's a 90% chance I don't have Celiac, but she does recommend having the endoscopy to verify based on my reaction to gluten. I wonder if it's because the Mono I got in April triggered it and it's too new in my body to show up?

IGA <11

IGG <14

IGM <12

Each one of these is one number short of "indeterminate" according to the sheet she gave me.

I have an appointment with the Gastroenterologist on Oct 23rd for a consultation. I know I have to start eating gluten again, but I'm scared. (What a baby, right?) How long before the endoscopy should I be eating gluten? It's not even scheduled yet, but should I just bite the bullet and eat it?

Sigh.

[beachbirdie]

Hi! Looks like a lot of blood work coming back today. Dr. said it's a 90% chance I don't have Celiac, but she does recommend having the endoscopy to verify based on my reaction to gluten. I wonder if it's because the Mono I got in April triggered it and it's too new in my body to show up?

IGA <11

IGG <14

IGM <12

Each one of these is one number short of "indeterminate" according to the sheet she gave me.

I have an appointment with the Gastroenterologist on Oct 23rd for a consultation. I know I have to start eating gluten again, but I'm scared. (What a baby, right?) How long before the endoscopy should I be eating gluten? It's not even scheduled yet, but should I just bite the bullet and eat it?

Sigh.

The tests, as you list them, are not celiac specific tests. Do you have a sheet with the full names?

Not a bad thing that the doc will do an endoscopy even with unremarkable blood work. That is highly unusual! Glad they are willing to look, sorry you have to be eating gluten.

[KikiB]

The tests, as you list them, are not celiac specific tests. Do you have a sheet with the full names?

Not a bad thing that the doc will do an endoscopy even with unremarkable blood work. That is highly unusual! Glad they are willing to look, sorry you have to be eating gluten.

I may have used the wrong references. I have 3 pages of blood test results (she tested me for lots of things) -- what names should I be looking for?

[GottaSki]

You should continue to eat gluten until the endoscopy is complete. Aside from the endo, your GI may want to order more specific blood work and any time gluten free can cause these tests to be less accurate. I know it is frustrating and counter-intuitive but for the best possible results from the available tests, you need to keep eating gluten. If you haven't started eating gluten, I suggest a grilled cheese or bowl of pasta for snack or dinner TODAY!

Like BB said the numbers you posted do not relate to specific celiac blood tests. Do you have written or electronic results you can post here so we can help interpret the results?

[KikiB]

You should continue to eat gluten until the endoscopy is complete. Aside from the endo, your GI may want to order more specific blood work and any time gluten free can cause these tests to be less accurate. I know it is frustrating and counter-intuitive but for the best possible results from the available tests, you need to keep eating gluten. If you haven't started eating gluten, I suggest a grilled cheese or bowl of pasta for snack or dinner TODAY!

Like BB said the numbers you posted do not relate to specific celiac blood tests. Do you have written or electronic results you can post here so we can help interpret the results?

Thanks for making me smile, Lisa! You are too cute suggesting a grilled cheese.

I have 3 pages of test results, I guess I picked wrong -- I wouldn't know which results to give you.

[nora-n]

IgA IgG IgM ate classes of antibodies, just general tests.

Now the celiac tests are like deaminated gliadin IgG or tissue transglutaminase IgA or endomysium Ab

Also vitamin D is often lowish with celiac, and iron/hemoglobin or ferritin too.

[GottaSki]

You are looking for keywords like tTG, Gliadin, Endomysial, IgA and IgG -- below are the names of the tests in the celiac panel, many labs do use slightly different names and abbreviations.

Total Serum IgA

Tissue Transglutaminase IgA and IgG

Gliadin IgA and IgG

Endomysial Antibody IgA

Deamidated Gliadin Peptide IgA and IgG

Also any tests that indicate you are low in nutrients.

[KikiB]

You are looking for keywords like tTG, Gliadin, Endomysial, IgA and IgG -- below are the names of the tests in the celiac panel, many labs do use slightly different names and abbreviations.

Total Serum IgA

Tissue Transglutaminase IgA and IgG

Gliadin IgA and IgG

Endomysial Antibody IgA

Deamidated Gliadin Peptide IgA and IgG

Also any tests that indicate you are low in nutrients.

I've been low on D, B12 and Iron for almost 4 years that I know of. I take a prescription B12 nasal spray, and supplements for D and Iron.

Tissue Transglutaminase AB, IGA <1

Tissue Transglutaminase AB, IGG <1

Gliadin (Deamidated) AB (IGG) 2

Thanks for your help!

[GottaSki]

It is great that your doc has recommended an endo even with negative celiac blood tests. Given your reaction to gluten and nutrient deficiency it will be good to rule out intestinal damage.

Good Luck

[KikiB]

It is great that your doc has recommended an endo even with negative celiac blood tests. Given your reaction to gluten and nutrient deficiency it will be good to rule out intestinal damage.

Good Luck

I had a burger last night with the bun, and the muscle weakness came back within an hour and still bothering me today. Just whining. I wish I could get this over with.

[KikiB]

Here are the new blood test results:

IgA 223 (reference range is 81-463)

Transglutaminase IgG Result <3.0 (less than 6.0 is negative)

Transglutaminase IgA Result <3.0 (less than 4.0 is negative)

Endomysial Ab (IgA) only says Negative. No reference numbers.

Gliadin (Deamidated) IgG Result 4 Reference Range <20 Antibody Not Detected

Gliadin (Deamidated) IgA Result 4 Reference Range <20 Antibody Not Detected

So it looks like they are all negative. Still waiting on the Endoscopy results.

I know mono can trigger Celiac Disease -- but can it/would it just trigger a gluten intolerance? That seems so odd to me.

[jwblue]

What the heck is the point of a blood test if the doctor still recommends an endo?

Waste of money.

[GottaSki]

What the heck is the point of a blood test if the doctor still recommends an endo?

Waste of money.

Celiac Disease can be very difficult to diagnose. Until we have alternatives, we must utilize the mechanisms currently available - this often necessitates using:

Blood Work

Endoscopic Pathology

Dietary Response

Genetic Testing

IMO the waste occurs when doctors don't suspect or test for Celiac Disease - the years of health I and others have lost to misdiagnosis and undiagnosed Celiac are far more costly than these tests.

[GottaSki]

So it looks like they are all negative. Still waiting on the Endoscopy results.

I know mono can trigger Celiac Disease -- but can it/would it just trigger a gluten intolerance? That seems so odd to me.

They are negative - technically a very good thing - but frustrating none the less.

The unknown factors in Celiac Disease and NCGI are incredibly frustrating. So much remains unknown about celiac disease and next to nothing has been studied thoroughly in NCGI.

I remain hopeful your endo pathology will provide a firm diagnosis, but if it doesn't it is possible that you either have Celiac and were fortunate to catch it before damage can be measured OR you have NCGI.

I know this doesn't help much with the frustration factor

[jwblue]

Celiac Disease can be very difficult to diagnose. Until we have alternatives, we must utilize the mechanisms currently available - this often necessitates using:

Blood Work

Endoscopic Pathology

Dietary Response

Genetic Testing

IMO the waste occurs when doctors don't suspect or test for Celiac Disease - the years of health I and others have lost to misdiagnosis and undiagnosed Celiac are far more costly than these tests.

Most doctors are inherently incompetent.

[GottaSki]

Most doctors are inherently incompetent.

In my experience - the training and experience of doctors is incomplete with regard to Celiac Disease.

I - along with members of my family and several friends owe our lives to very competent doctors.