I had lab tests for celiac disease 3 years ago. My GI doc said I don't have it. But the IGG antibody test was 22, which is "weak positive," though the tTGA-IGA and Gliadin IGA were normal. I tried a gluten-free diet for several weeks, which was a pain in the neck and didn't make me feel better (if I recall correctly), so I abandoned it, especially since my doc was sure I don't have it. Well, I'm tired of the diarrhea and abdominal pain, and now I'm underweight and keep losing weight. Should I get retested?
2006-11-14 11:53:06 · 8 answers · asked by nondescript 4 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
It definitely could be something else. But it also could be that you weren't as strict as you needed to be on your original trial of the gluten-free diet. There was one person in my family who thought she was gluten-free, but was still using soy sauce (most are made with wheat) and still eating Quaker oats (very, very, very contaminated with wheat).
From what the leading researchers on celiacsay regarding tests though is that a slightly positive celiac test is like having a slightly positive pregnancy test. It's either positive or negative. No slightly involved.
There are actually a few great online communities for people with celiac and other gluten-related disorders. There are people there who have celiac, wonder if they might have celiac, just heard about it and want to ask questions, etc. Everyone is welcome. There are also people who find us during testing for other things as well as celiac, who ultimately find out it's not celiac at all, or it's celiac AND something else.
If you post your question on either of these boards, I'm sure someone will be able to answer your questions regarding the tests. You can also ask any questions on doing a strict GF diet even just to answer for yourself once and for all if gluten has anything to do with your symptoms.
www.glutenfreeforum.com
www.celiacforums.com
Nancy
2006-11-14 19:51:03 · answer #1 · answered by Nancy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have Celiac. Period. Weak positive is positive. Not all doctors are fully knowledgeable about Celiac so your doctor may not be aware of all that is necessary to diagnose the disease.
You need to be on a gluten-free diet a minimum of 6 months before you can really judge that it's not working. Yes it is not easy but this is your life. Which would you rather do? Read a few labels or spend your time in the bathroom, sick all the time, and if you keep on the road your going now in the hospital with tubes in you. You are already underweight and still losing.
If you don't get back on the diet you could do irreversible damage or even die. Are those more convenient?
2006-11-16 10:24:28 · answer #2 · answered by E. M. A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am somewhat intolerant to gluten. It is more common in Caucasian people that most think. Remember that your doc will not tell you that you have this unless the test spikes off the scale and you are erupting out of your back end like a volcano. You can make life a lot easier by avoiding gluten when you can and taking a digestive enzyme complex when you do eat gluten. Don't take it right away as it sounds like your guts are pretty irritated now and the enzymes will really irritate them. You should go gluten free for a week or two to give them a chance to heal b4 you take any enzymes. You should also get checked for anemia and B12 deficiency. They often accompany gluten intolerance and can cause the symptoms you have. It could be a combo of all these together, or not, good luck in any event...
2006-11-14 12:05:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Celiac ailment is often inherited. it particularly is a genetic, and is led to via an experience in one's existence, including an ailment, stress, being pregnant, divorce, and so on. it could kick in at any element in one's existence, and could need symptoms, or it could have no major symptoms. with or with out symptoms, celiacs does harm to one's small gut, inflicting malnutrition and a protracted checklist of different issues. there is not any regular treatment as we talk different than a gluten unfastened foodstuff plan, which takes purely somewhat artwork, yet is extremely potential. I even have 2 toddlers with celiacs, and that they are happy, healthful and thriving on the GF foodstuff plan.
2016-10-03 23:26:30 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you definitely need to be retested. Take it from a celiac, my IGG antibody test was 21, my GI doc did a biopsy and it turned out I definitely had it! I recommend you asking your GI doc to do a biopsy. My doctor told me that the blood work is not a way to diagnose celiac, it is a way to scan for it, the only way for a diagnoses is to get the biopsy.
2006-11-16 10:44:13 · answer #5 · answered by Maggie S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may have something else, like Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis.
You need a colonoscopy with biopsies to get a diagnosis. There are treatments for those diseases, so it's worth the hassle of the colonoscopy.
Good luck!
2006-11-14 11:57:17 · answer #6 · answered by Pangolin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe it is something else. I have those same problems but I have Crohns Disease. Maybe you should see a GI. If you haven't already.
Jenn
2006-11-14 11:58:06 · answer #7 · answered by jennspelman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to www.medlineplus.gov best health site on the planet.
2006-11-14 12:00:36 · answer #8 · answered by CCC 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋