MyHandful

I just had an endoscopy done last Monday and I will have the results early next week. The GI doctor said everything looked normal and he is fully expecting the biopsy to come back negative (I only tested positive on a IGA anti gliadin test and have more constipation than diarrhea issues). He did tell me I could try going gluten free for 3 to 4 weeks to see if I feel better and if I don't than I know it's probably not the gluten.

Do you think it's worth it to try going gluten free? I have 5 kids so it would be a lot of work to go gluten free and change all our meals even for a month. I make 100% whole wheat bread all the time from grinding my own flour. So it would be a huge adjustment, but on the other hand I feel horrible right now. I have nerve, muscle, and joint pain and horrible fatigue. I have stomach cramps all the time.

Could my symptoms be caused by just a gluten intolerance and not celiac disease? I think it would be easier to give the gluten free diet a try if I thought it was at least a possibility.

Thanks!

My rheumatologist recently blood tested me for celiac disease. The only test I tested postive on was the AGA-IGA test. He told me that it meant I most likely had celiac disease. But I did some research and found that while this test is really sensitive it's not very specific. Then I discovered I had the newer anti gliadin test done with deamidation. I found a website that said the newer tests are a little more specific for celiac disease. Does anyone know if that is true or what the difference is between the two tests? I have an endoscopy schedule for May 18th and the GI doctor thinks it will most likely come back negative, but he is going to take tissue from 5 different spots. I have been having lots of health problems that I really don't think could ALL be caused by celiac disease so I am hoping the biopsy will come back negative.

Thanks!

The rheumatologist referred me to the GI doctor, so I have an appointment set up for April 29th. I am anxious to go and find out what is going on with me!

Not sure about all those tests but I believe IGG means you're having a response to gluten. It may not be Celiac disease but you're creating autobodies to it. Many of us are in that boat and just find we're a hell of a lot healthier without gluten in the diet.

It was the IGA I tested postive for. The IGG was negative. What does the IGA class mean?

Sure. The reason I went to the doctor was because I was having pain all over my body like joint and muscle pain. I have IBS so I have diarhea sometimes, but definitely not all the time. I have abdominal cramps all the time that hardly ever go away and I feel bloated. I am completely exhausted all the time. I use to run and I can't run anymore mainly because it's too tiring for my body. The doctor originally thought maybe some type of arthritis or fibromyalgia. I think he just did the celiac tests to cover all possibilities. I am just wondering what the test I tested positive for means, if anything.

I am currently going to a rheumatologist for some heath problems. He has been running all kinds of blood tests on me to see if he can figure out what is wrong with me. He ran a Celiac Disease Ab Eval on me. I got a call from a nurse saying I tested postive for the IGA class reticulin antibody. She said it didn't mean I had Celiac for sure, but that it was probable and told me the doctor wanted me to go on a gluten free diet immediately. I started doing research on the Internet and found that I should not be going gluten free until after we had ruled out celiac disease. I called back to get a referral to the GI specialist and the nurse said the doctor wanted to talk to me first. Now I am wanting to see if I can get into to see the doctor before my next appointment in June.

I have been trying to research what my results mean and I just don't see how the rheumatologist can say that I probably have celiac. The one test I tested postive for looks like an outdated test to me. And the most important tests were negative. And yet he wants me to go completely gluten free immediately??? What????

Here are my results:

Celiac Disease Ab Eval

GLIGA 12.2 H U/mL 0.0 - 10.0

GLIGG 1.5 U/mL 0.0 - 10.0

RETICA Neg Titer Neg: <1:20

RETICG Neg Titer Neg: <1:20

TRGLUTA 3 U/mL Neg: 0-3, Weak Positive 4-10, Positve > 10

ENDIGA Neg Negative

The only one I tested positive for was the first one - Gliadin Abs,IgA.

What does this mean? Am I even gluten sensitive? I am going to visit a GI doctor, but I am sure it will take a few months to get in.

Thanks!

Kim