Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Blood Test Results Opinions?


Markscura

Recommended Posts

Markscura Newbie

Hi everyone been reading these posts for a while. Just need some opinions on my situation.

( I have posted this on another Celiac forum as well)

53 yr old male no health problems in my life until August 2011 I suddenly became very ill with racing heart,Ab pains,Nausea and Anxiety. Rushed to ER they did a barrage of tests given all clear. They said that I had a panic attack and referred me to my GP for follow up.

Over the next few weeks more blood tests, urine, Xray and a Cat scan. All came up normal given a breath test which discovered I had a HP infection. That was eradicated and confirmed with another breath test.

Over the next few months felt a lot better but still had mild Ab pains loose stool and anxiety. I also developed several skin rashes that were very itchy that would come and go.

Further tests were conducted for Diabetes but was given all clear. I then did tests for Celiac disease. My Dr informed me that my numbers were only slightly elevated but I also have the Dq2 gene.

Dr wants me to have the Endo which I'm not keen on unless I have no choice which I'm leaning towards as Im worried is something else going on. I have no problem sticking to the Gluten free diet for life. My Dr is not that concerned as I dont have any red flag signs that indicate something more sinister. But surely I would be feeling a lot better. I have been on the diet for 4 months and I'm very strict with it and aware of CC. The first week I felt great and thought I had found my answer now I'm not so sure.

These are my blood test results conducted in Australia if that makes any difference I'm not sure.

I mmunoglobulin A. 5.3 g/l (0.60-396)

Gliadin IgA Abs 14 uml (0- 20)

tTg IgA/IgG 50 u/ml. (0-24)

Dq2 gene detected

Thanks very much in advance for any opinions. Mark.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



nvsmom Community Regular

I'm sorry you've been feeling so poorly. It's hard to go through all the testing when not feeling up to snuff.

Is your Immunoglobulin A reference range correct? If it is, I would say that you look to be deficient in IgA; you are in the bottom 2% of the range. If it is correct, I would say it's quite amazing that you managed to test positive for ttg IgA at all. I am not an educated health care provider but I would guess that if your IgA levels had been higher, then your ttg IgA levels would have been very high. As it is, your ttg IgA is still a positive test. Those levels don't often rise unless gut damage is going on...You most likely are celiac.

Some symptoms of celiac will clear up quickly, within days, but others seem to linger for months. Unhealed Celiac damage could still be responsible for your ongoing health problems.

Your ongoing symptoms are also the same as what would appear in a hyperthyroid state. If you google those symptoms you'll see what I mean. Many celiacs end up with hashimotos which is an autoimmune attack on the thyroid. Normally this causes an individual to become hypothyroid where their metabolism slows but in some, it causes periods where it can swing hyper and then hypo; it's called has$#&oxicosis. Graves disease is another AI disease but this just causes a hyper state and is not quite as common with celiacs.

If you want to look into testing of thyroid problems , these tests are a good start:

  • TPO Ab - Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody will indicate an attack on the thyroid
  • TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone will most likely be low if hyper but could be normal so be sure to check TPO Ab which if present will indicate treatment is needed.
  • Free T4 - will probably be high is hyper, this is the hormone the thyroid mainly releases
  • Free T3 - Will probably be high if hyper, this is the active form of the hormone

Good luck!

GottaSki Mentor

Hi Mark-

I'd say welcome to the club - you have Celiac Disease.

Nicole is right. It is amazing that your body has managed to produce enough IgA antibodies considering you have EXTREMELY low Total Serum IgA. I can't imagine what your result would have been had you had normal IgA levels.

Since you have been gluten-free for four months, more blood tests along with endoscopic biopsy will likely be negative. That being said, an endoscopy after removing gluten can be useful to determine the amount of damage to your small intestine and does look at other parts of the digestive system. The procedure is quite simple and has very little risk. Sedating meds are used and many of us don't remember any part of the procedure afterward - full anesthesia is not used for endoscopy.

Your experience since removing gluten is common. It can take months, even years to heal the celiac damage. You are doing the best thing you can - live gluten free. Is it possible you are ingesting small amounts of gluten? Do you share a kitchen with someone that prepares items with gluten? Do you eat gluten free items at restaurants?

Reading the "Newbie 101" thread can provide a lot of useful info. If you are certain you are as gluten-free as possible, just keep at it. It is very frustrating when you have improvement, to have set-backs. Sometimes the symptoms even worsen during healing. I hope that you continue to improve quickly, but also want you to be aware that it can be a very slow process.

Take a look around the forum and ask as many questions as you can think of - asking questions is the best way to speed up the transition to your new - soon to be improved- gluten-free life.

Hang in there :)

GottaSki Mentor

Forgot to ask if you had any IgG blood tests. Even if you don't decide to have an endo, I'd make sure you have the IgG tests. My own IgA tests were weakly positive and my IgG were higher.

tTG IgG

DGP IgG

Also, if they haven't been run - blood tests for nutrient deficiencies. Celiac Disease damages the villi of the small intestine thus preventing proper absorption of nutrients. Supplementation is often needed when newly diagnosed. My celiac doc tested me at dx and annually for the following:

All Bs, D, K, Iron, Ferritin, Copper and Zinc.

Others have suggested: A, Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium

Good Luck!

Markscura Newbie

Tks very much for the quick replys. I will certainly look into more blood tests. By the way when I my other general blood tests were done they we're all in the reference range with no nasty surprises. When I had the celiac ones I had already been partly gluten free for about 3 weeks to see how I would feel. Then completely free after the tests were done.

I was originally so sick that I could not believe that it was not something really sinister going on. It's been over a year since I got sick so I guess if it was something really bad I would be bed ridden at the least!

My appetite is great I'm not losing weight and I don't look sick that's why I think it's hard to get people to believe that you are ill.

It's so awful to go from a healthy life to an awful existence.

I fo have good days where I feel great then sometimes in the same day I start to feel awful. Eg mild upper ab pain with nausea and anxiousness. I believe I'm not getting glutened but you never know. Tks for listening to me moaning I think my partner is sick of it God bless her. I guess im a member of the club. Mark.

GottaSki Mentor

I don't look sick that's why I think it's hard to get people to believe that you are ill.

It's so awful to go from a healthy life to an awful existence.

I fo have good days where I feel great then sometimes in the same day I start to feel awful. Eg mild upper ab pain with nausea and anxiousness. I believe I'm not getting glutened but you never know. Tks for listening to me moaning I think my partner is sick of it God bless her. I guess im a member of the club. Mark.

All very true - you have found a place with others that have walked and sometimes crawled the same path. This is the place to vent - we've all done it - there is always someone popping on that can help.

IrishHeart Veteran

It's so awful to go from a healthy life to an awful existence.

I believe I'm not getting glutened but you never know. Tks for listening to me moaning I think my partner is sick of it God bless her. I guess im a member of the club. Mark.

Hi Mark,

Yes, it is horrible to go from healthy to an "awful" existence. I can relate. :( But, it can also improve!

You said: "My Dr informed me that my numbers were only slightly elevated but I also have the Dq2 gene. "

FWIW, I think you have celiac, hon.

Welcome to the club.

It takes many months (6-24) for most of us to feel better, so please, hang in there.

How else can we help?

IH


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Markscura Newbie

Tks for the kind reply I guess I will be a regular here as it's helpful to share experiences when you have an illness, I was a police officer for 20 yrs and developed PTSD. Was diagnosed 2 yrs ago. Then physically sick with HP infection and now this it's sort of a domino effect which all appears related. Tks again if I think of any questions I will let you know. Here's to feeling better!

Markscura Newbie

Hi again everyone I just made an appointment with a gastro Dr for more tests but I can't see him until the end of next month. Just a question has anyone been gluttened by pool water? I went for a swim in my local pool that contains chlorine and I accidentally swollowed a small amount of water. In half an hour I felt very sick with ab pain and diarrhea. It took several hours to feel better.

Has anyone had experience with this? I notice with this illness I have become a bit of a hypochondriac sort of

reacting with anxiety to everything. Thanks.

IrishHeart Veteran

Hi again everyone I just made an appointment with a gastro Dr for more tests but I can't see him until the end of next month. Just a question has anyone been gluttened by pool water?

Never. Not possible, hon.

How can gluten be in water? It cannot.

Please, try to relax.

FWIW, I had some PTSD from being deathly ill and not DXed for 3 years. It helps to learn coping mechanisms, being strictly gluten-free and addressing any nutritional and vitamin deficiencies. Anxiety comes from gluten and multiple vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Learn all you can about celiac and why it is not possible to be glutened by pool water or other "urban myths" about this disease... and take deep, slow breaths.

You're going to be okay.

Markscura Newbie

Tks Irish heart for the quick reply. I didn't think that was possible. It's funny with battling illness over the last year has changed me. I use to consider my self as being pretty tough but this has really knocked my self confidence out the window it's hard to do anything when you don't know how you are going to feel. I guess in the back of iyour mind you feel there must be something else going on how can celiac make you feel so ill. It's very unnerving.

Friends think it's all in your head I hope next year will be better for everyone. Tks again.

Lisa Mentor

Hi again everyone I just made an appointment with a gastro Dr for more tests but I can't see him until the end of next month. Just a question has anyone been gluttened by pool water? I went for a swim in my local pool that contains chlorine and I accidentally swollowed a small amount of water. In half an hour I felt very sick with ab pain and diarrhea. It took several hours to feel better.

Has anyone had experience with this? I notice with this illness I have become a bit of a hypochondriac sort of

reacting with anxiety to everything. Thanks.

Gluten, probably not, but bacteria could be a likely issue. Public pools are iky. :ph34r: Not all roads lead to gluten. :)

Please check in after your doctor's appointment. :)

frieze Community Regular

I mmunoglobulin A. 5.3 g/l (0.60-396)

Gliadin IgA Abs 14 uml (0- 20)

tTg IgA/IgG 50 u/ml. (0-24)

Dq2 gene detected

If that is the ref range next to your IgA, you arent low, but have you typed it in correctly? "0.60" is just weird. It seems they have covered that issue, the third line is tTg IgA/IgG so could be IgG and not IgA.

The pool, tech possible, but not probable.

Markscura Newbie

Tks guys those tests are exactly as what's typed in the report. I don't really understand it myself the more I read these things the more confused I get! Anyway I will wait until I see the Gastro Dr late next month I'm sick of stressing myself about it all. I actually don't mind the gluten free diet at all and I intend to stick to it for life regardless.

I don't feel to bad today it's weird considering I felt fairly awful yesterday with no change in diet.

I hope it's just healing I have more good days than bad. I'm glad I found this place.

IrishHeart Veteran

Tks Irish heart for the quick reply. I didn't think that was possible. It's funny with battling illness over the last year has changed me. I use to consider my self as being pretty tough but this has really knocked my self confidence out the window it's hard to do anything when you don't know how you are going to feel. I guess in the back of iyour mind you feel there must be something else going on how can celiac make you feel so ill. It's very unnerving.

Friends think it's all in your head I hope next year will be better for everyone. Tks again.

People who say "it's all in your head" are usually people who have never been seriously ill. Just blow that off. It's not in your head. But you can make yourself crazy with worry that anytime you feel "off" that somehow, gluten got you.

You're pretty tough, believe me!

It is very hard to function day after day after day when you do not feel well and still be positive.

You know what I say? "Celiac--it ain't for sissies." :)

Celiac is a head to toe disease, hon--affecting multiple body systems and organs. It's not just a "gut" issue, so it is understandable that you still feel pretty icky.

You are going to feel lousy some days--for a while --until you heal some more. My doc calls each year post-DX a "healing year".

I did more physically this second year gluten-free than I could manage since 2007. I am coming back from the walking dead. I get impatient, too because I want to be all better right now. Gemini and so many other veterans have told me from the beginning---don't do that to yourself. This is a process and each year gets better and better.

I did not really start to absorb nutrients or feel a lot better until 15 months--but this was MY experience and everyone heals at different rates. You may heal a lot faster.

What I suggest is: tell yourself this is a slow, steady progress and try not to get upset every time you feel like crap. If you can swim, you are in decent physical shape! (which speaks volumes about the fact that you are healing well.IMHO )

Okay, that was the "pep talk" :)

Let's get to why you may feel so yucky.

Regardless of the usual blood test results that say you are "normal", you could have any number of deficiencies that do not show up on a CMP or CBC.

Have your thyroid, vit.K, D, B-12 and folate also been checked?

Has your GI doc ruled out other gastro problems?

Being diagnosed with celiac is one thing and yes, taking gluten out will start the healing process, but we can develop any number of health issues in conjunction with it and it is wise to have a trusted doctor providing you with follow up care.

These deficiencies can cause anxiety and a sense of malaise and yes, even gut problems unrelated to celiac and once they resolve, you will feel more like yourself again.

Hope this helps!

IrishHeart Veteran

One more thing Mark,

I was thinking maybe if you read a book like Celiac: the Hidden Epidemic by Dr. Green, it would reassure you about what goes haywire in the body and how it makes us anxious, too.

Also, Recognizing Celiac Disease by Cleo Libonati is very informative and discusses the GI tract and other body systems that are affected as well as what vitamin deficiencies can occur.

After you read Dr. Green's book, give it to family or friends who seem to be less supportive of you. Educating others about this disease may help them understand that all this really "isn't in your head".

In the meantime, check this out:

https://www.celiac.com/articles/21927/1/Celiac-Disease-Head-to-Toe/Page1.html

Markscura Newbie

Tks again Irish heart your comments are very comforting. I m going to take up all those issues when I see the Gastro next. Mark.

IrishHeart Veteran

Tks again Irish heart your comments are very comforting. I m going to take up all those issues when I see the Gastro next. Mark.

Make a list of all your concerns and ask him/her what the test results really mean.

Hang in there. IH

bartfull Rising Star

Just a thought - when I was a kid we had a pool. A lot of times we would have lunch around the pool. Sometimes bread crumbs from our sandwiches would drop into the pool. Sometimes we would get pool water up our noses. Far fetched I know, but it COULD happen, couldn't it?

shadowicewolf Proficient

My Iga TTG (37, positive was 20+) was the only one out of the panel that came back positive, that, along with both genes commonly found, and positive reaction, but negative biopsy, got me the celiac dx:)

It could also be that you caught it before it had a chance to get really going, if ya get what i mean.

IrishHeart Veteran

Just a thought - when I was a kid we had a pool. A lot of times we would have lunch around the pool. Sometimes bread crumbs from our sandwiches would drop into the pool. Sometimes we would get pool water up our noses. Far fetched I know, but it COULD happen, couldn't it?

Honestly, Barty...IMHO?

Those are a lot of "sometimes" ....and so unbelievably remote that if it has happened to him, then the OP should buy up all the lottery tickets he can because he is the luckiest person alive.

bartfull Rising Star

Nah, if he was in a pool where someone dropped sandwich crumbs and those crumbs got up his nose, he would be the UNluckiest guy. :lol:

I was just trying to think of ways someone MIGHT get glutened from pool water, and seriously, we DID sometimes drop crumbs in the pool. Boy did we get in trouble for it too. The filter would take out solid bits, but the bread crumbs would kind of melt and then the water would be cloudy the next day. Time for more chemicals.

IrishHeart Veteran

Nah, if he was in a pool where someone dropped sandwich crumbs and those crumbs got up his nose, he would be the UNluckiest guy. :lol:

When I said "luckiest", I meant it in terms of he would be ONE IN A BAZILLION.

Seriously?

What are the odds that someone happened to be standing there the exact same day he was at the pool ...and that person was eating a sandwich ....and some odd crumb fell in.... and it happened to somehow survive the chemicals in the pool water ....and then, somehow it managed to find his nostril and he swallowed it??

Come on.

The chances of that happening---are as remote as winning the lottery.

That's what I meant when I said....buy all the damn tickets you can find.

Markscura Newbie

Tks Guys I had a good laugh reading the last couple of posts. In regards to swimming I was wondering if the clorine in the pool might have effected my damaged gut.

Not actually gluten! If so I might go and buy a lottery ticket if it was bread crumbs in the water. Ha ha.

GottaSki Mentor

Tks Guys I had a good laugh reading the last couple of posts. In regards to swimming I was wondering if the clorine in the pool might have effected my damaged gut.

Not actually gluten! If so I might go and buy a lottery ticket if it was bread crumbs in the water. Ha ha.

All this talk of lotto tix - I think were all due for a big win!

I've always disliked chlorine, but am very happy pools use it - would rather swallow a touch of chlorine than untreated pool water :blink:

Personally, I think the gains from swimming far, far outweigh any drawbacks. It is so hard to know what causes upset in the healing digestive system -- it could have been something you ate earlier in the day - not necessarily gluten.

Jump back in and let us know if it happens repeatedly.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,188
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Leeila
    Newest Member
    Leeila
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Ginger38
      So I recently had allergy testing for IGE antibodies in response to foods. My test results came back positive to corn, white potatoes, egg whites. Tomatoes, almonds and peanuts to name a few.  I have had obvious reactions to a few of these - particularly tomatoes and corn- both GI issues. I don’t really understand all this allergy versus celiac stuff. If the food allergies are mild do I have to avoid these foods entirely? I don’t know what I will eat if I can’t  have corn based gluten free products 
    • Kris2093u4
      Geography makes a difference.  I'm in the West and Trader Joe's gluten-free bread tastes great and is a better price than most gluten-free breads sold elsewhere in my area.  
    • JForman
      We have four children (7-14 yo), and our 7 year old was diagnosed with NCGS (though all Celiac labs were positive, her scope at 4 years old was negative so docs in the US won't call it celiac). We have started her on a Gluten Free diet after 3 years of major digestive issues and ruling out just about everything under the sun. Our home and kitchen and myself are all gluten-free. But I have not asked my husband/her dad or her other siblings to go completely gluten-free with us. They are at home, but not out of the home. This has led to situations when we are eating out where she has to consistently see others eating things she can't have and she has begun to say "Well, I can't have <fill in the blank>...stupid gluten."  How have you supported your gluten-free kiddos in the mental health space of this journey, especially young ones like her. I know it's hard for me as an adult sometimes to miss out, so I can't imagine being 7 and dealing with it! Any tips or ideas to help with this? 
    • Jane878
      By the time I was 5 I had my first auto0immune disorder, Migraine headaches, with auras to blind me, and vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound. I was 5 years old, and my stepfather would have pizza night, milling his own flour, making thick cheesy gluten pizza, that I would eat and the next day, I would have serious migraines, and my mother & stepfather did nothing about my medical problems. When I was 17 in my first year at college, I was diagnosed with my 2nd known auto-immune disorder, Meniere's disease. I was a elite athlete, a swimmer, and soccer player. And once again my parents didn't think anything of understanding why I had a disorder only older people get. Now after my mother passed from Alzheimer's disease she also suffered with living with gluten. She had a rash for 30 years that nobody could diagnose. She was itchy for 45 years total. My brother had a encapsulated virus explodes in his spleen and when this happened his entire intestines were covered with adhesions, scar tissue and he almost lost his life. He has 5 daughters, and when I finally was diagnosed after being pregnant and my body went into a cytokine storm, I lost my chance to have children, I ended up having Hashimoto's disease, Degenerative Disc disease, and my body started to shut down during my first trimester. I am 6ft tall and got down to 119lbs. My husband and I went to a special immunologist in Terrace, California. They took 17 vials of blood as we flew there for a day and returned home that evening. In 3 weeks, we had the answer, I have Celiac disease. Once this was known, only my father and husband made efforts to change their way of feeding me. At the family cabin, my stepfather & mother were more worried that I would ruin Thanksgiving Dinner. It wasn't until one of my cousins was diagnosed with Celiac disease. They finally looked into getting Gluten Free flour and taking measures to limit "gluten" in meals. He did nothing but ask for me to pay for my own food and wi-fi when I came to the cabin to stay after our house burned down. When he informed my mother, they proceeding to get into a physical fight and she ended up with a black eye. The is just more trauma for me. Sam had no interest in telling the truth about what he wanted. He lied to my mother that he had asked my husband if I could pay for "food" when he asked Geoffrey if I had money to pay for my wi-fi. My mother hates when he spends so much time on the computer so he lied and said I could pay for my own food. I will remind you I weighed 119lbs at this time. (At 6ft) that is a very sick looking person. Neither parent was worried about my weight, they just fought about how cheap my stepfather was. As my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2014. He had her sign over the will to a trust and added his children. He had no testimonial capacity at the time, so she signed without proper papers. Making this Trust null and void. When I gave my brother my childhood home, my mother stated I would be getting an equal part of inheritance to the house on Race. It currently worth 2.0 million $. I got nothing, and my stepfather has since disowned me b/c of my claim and he knows that my mother would never have left it uneven between my biological brother and myself. She sat me and my husband down, as we lived at the Race Street house and treated and took care of it as our own. My brother took over b/c he was going through a horrific divorce and needed a home so he could get a better custody deal with his soon to be ex-wife who was a Assist DA for Denver. She used the girls against him, and he & I were the primary caregivers. We, Judd and I spent the most time with them pre the divorce. Once Judd moved into the house, he threw all of my mother, grandmother and my family heirlooms out to the Goodwill. Nobody told my mother about this as she was going through cancer treatment and had Alzheimer's disease in her mother and her sister. My stepfather and biological brother took advantage of this matter, as I called a "family council" that my brother just never could make it to at the last moment. All of the furnishing, kitchen ware, everything was in the house my brother just moved into. He had had 2 weddings, I chose to elope b/c my stepfather ruined my brother's first wedding by talking about his relationship with my brother in front of my dad and his entire family, insulting him and having my grandfather leave the ceremony. It was a disaster. My stepfather just plays dumb and blames my father for the slight. I was the only child not to have a wedding. So, my mother and stepfather never had to pay for a thing. My mother had had an agreement with my father he'd pay for college and all medical issues with their kids, myself and Judd. So truly my mother never had to pay for anything big for me in her entire life. I am looking for anyone that has had a similar story, where they grew up in a household that had a baker that regularly milled flour and ate gluten. What happened to you? DId you suffer from different auto-immune diseases b/c of living with a baker using "gluten" Please let me know. I have been looking into legal ways to get my stepfather to give me what my mother had promised, and he erased. Thank you for listening to my story. Jane Donnelly  
    • trents
      Possibly gluten withdrawal. Lot's of info on the internet about it. Somewhat controversial but apparently gluten plugs into the same neuro sensors as opiates do and some people get a similar type withdrawal as they do when quitting opiates. Another issue is that gluten-free facsimile flours are not fortified with vitamins and minerals as is wheat flour (in the U.S. at least) so when the switch is made to gluten-free facsimile foods, especially if a lot of processed gluten-free foods are being used as substitutes, vitamin and mineral deficiencies can result. There is also the possibility that she has picked up a virus or some but that is totally unrelated to going gluten-free.
×
×
  • Create New...