Is it possible to still have celiac disease if you have tested negative for a gluten allergy?

Question

A month ago I had a RAST blood test done for the following allergens: wheat and gluten. My results came back as slightly intolerant to wheat and negative for gluten. What I'm wondering is if this mean I'm in the clear or would I need a different test to make sure? I'd ask the allergy clinic about it but it's a small office and the doctor is always really busy. ---- Also, I read somewhere that if someone is intolerant to something, they can eventually re-introduce it back into their system after a substantial amount of time.. is this true and if it is, about how long should it be? ---- Thanks :)

If I should be tested in a different manner who should I make an appointment with? An allergy clinic? or would I need to see a certain specialist for that?

Answer 1

If you are unsure whether or not your intolerance to wheat is a definite problem after the RAST test, your best bet now would be to go to a gastroenterologist (doctor of the digestive system) and speak with them. They are specialized in dealing with any disease of the digestive system, including wheat/gluten allergies. If they suspect that you do indeed have celiac disease or an allergy to wheat, they will most likely do an endoscopy which is a simple, pain-free test that will definitively verify your wheat/gluten problems by taking a small biopsy of your intestine and testing it.

As for reintroducing wheat into your diet over time: it is possible, but not always the best choice. Once you meet with a specialty doctor, they can tell you what changes you may or may not need to make in your diet. Overall, the general idea is that if you have an allergy to wheat, it needs to be cut of your diet, period. If you do gradually re-introduce it, the symptoms may not show up as physically as they did before, but by eating wheat at all (if allergic to it!) you are still doing damage to your intestines which can lead to some very severe outcomes.

But, my overall advice is to seek out a gastroenterologist. They will give you the clearest, most valid answers. I was diagnosed in August 2006 after suffering from celiac disease for nearly a year and after changing my diet, I feel a million times better! Good luck :-)

Answer 2

Celiac disease is not an allergy. It is a digestive disease that occurs in certain people as a gluten (gliaden actually) intolerance to the point you have damage to the villi of the small intestine if you ingest gluten. It is not only wheat that is a problem! People with celiac disease are damaged by rye, barley, and in the United States oatmeal (it is often contaminated with gluten). People with celiac disease can develop associative symptoms all the way from digestive problems to cancer. This is serious stuff!!!

The determinant diagnosis is an endoscopy (a visualization of the small intestine). There are also blood tests for initial investigation. You do not fool around when you have celiac disase or think you do. A restricted diet for your lifetime is the only treatment currently.

Also if you have a doctor you cannot talk to why go to them.

Answer 3

I have many allergies and went through a very well respected clinic, referred by my doctor, to confirm his suspicions. I had more than expected, and quite a few intolerance's. I went on an elimination diet, leaving out all my intolerant foods, then slowly introduced one back in over a few weeks, if no reaction then did the same with the other ones.It was slow but successful, as we new exactly what was happening. You need celiac testing separately . A telescope inserted through your colon , under a light anesthetic, will take photos and these show clear pictures of any bowel disease, sometimes a small painless biopsy is done. A doctor should NEVER be too busy to answer any questions a patient has, or if concerned, leave a letter with front desk, say you know they are busy, but could answer your the question you forgot to ask and you could pick it up another day.

Answer 4

the test for celiac requires an endoscopy to check the flattening of the villi in the stomach. If you are "slightly intolerant" you could get a severe allergy at some point if you continue to consume it-thats what happened in my case. I ate it anyway, then had a super severe reaction and almost stopped breathing. I would steer clear of it for at least 6 months, if I were you. I have found some really good rice based pastas. Remember, wheat is hidden in many condiments, salad dressing, etc. Its hard to avoid, I know, but can be done. I have been wheat, soy, egss, dairy, peanut free for over two years with dramatic improvement to my health

Answer 5

My son was diagnosed with celiac by the Mayo clinic.
The gold standard to diagnose celiac is through a serious of blood tests which generally give them a pretty good idea that you probably have celiac but they will then do a biopsy of your intestine to see if your villi are damaged. If you have celiac disease you can't have wheat or gluten.

Answer 6

My mom has celiac disease and last year I was told that I had it as well, thru blood test. Now a year later without going gluten free and had another blood test with a different insurance, they are saying that celiac disease is not showing in my new blood test, could that be correct?? now they are saying that I have IBS which I think they are so wrong. Can someone help me on this?

Answer 7

Yes, because celiac's is NOT a gluten ALLERGY at all. It's a Gluten Intolerance, and the two are different things. They have similar symptoms, but are infact very different. I am gluten intolerant, but do not have celiac's disease....nor do I have a wheat allergy.