Blood test results

[KJP723]

Hi, this might seem like an odd one so forgive me for sounding stupid.

I’ve been tested for coeliac 4 times now since first being diagnosed with IBS about 8 years ago. I have injections for B12 deficiency and have persistently low iron no matter how well I eat or what supplements I take. I also have a number of other symptoms which I’d linked to various ailments, trigeminal neuralgia, pins & needles in hands & feet, anxiety & depression, brain fog, digestive issues amongst other things.

Now my question is, each time I’ve had the total serum iga test my result has dropped from the previous time, I’m still within the normal range but if I continued to drop I would eventually go under the normal range I would assume, or could it go back up again? Is this normal for the result to change if there is no underlying issue?

I’d appreciate if anyone could shed some light.

Thanks in advance. K

[jointpain]

I would have a look at the Pernicious Anemia site on health unlocked as you have the symptoms of PA. I had IBS symptoms for many years and probably 4 celiac blood tests, all negative, then last year I found I was low on b12, I have b12 every other day now and my food intolerances have just about disappeared now.

[KJP723 in reply to jointpain]

Thank you for your reply. I have been having injections for just over a year for b12 and only just recently had another set of loading doses. I’m still having digestive trouble, dizziness and fatigue so wondered whether this was linked to iron or food. It was the drop in levels I was curious about. Someone I know who is a GP said you can get diagnosed with coeliac at any age so I wondered whether if I continued eating gluten my levels would continue to drop.

[Penel]

A continuing drop would suggest the possibility of an underlying health problem, as do all your other symptoms.

It is possible to become Coeliac at any age and a negative blood test doesn’t guarantee that you are not Coeliac. There is also a condition called non-Coeliac gluten sensitivity, which can give the same symptoms as Coeliac disease. Have you tried giving up gluten to see if this has any effect on your symptoms?

If you want to find out if a change in diet might improve your symptoms, you could have a look at something like the Autoimmune Protocol, or at the low Fodmaps diet (often recommended if you have IBS).

thepaleomom.com/start-here/...

[KJP723 in reply to Penel]

Thank you for your reply.

I cut out gluten about 2.5 weeks ago and seemed to perk up then I ate some Doritos which had wheat in on Saturday night without checking the ingredients as I’d eaten a different flavour only a few days earlier which had been fine then woke up with terrible stomach cramps and needing to rush to the loo, that continued for the remainder of the day on Sunday. Since then I’ve been getting the awful cramps in my stomach with everything I eat even though I’m trying to be extra vigilant now I made the Doritos mistake so now I’ve no idea what is causing the pain, I’ve also pretty much had a headache since then too. I’m going to continue with GF for a few more weeks and see how I get on.

[Penel in reply to KJP723]

Unfortunately your reaction to accidentally eating gluten is a common one. Make sure you keep well hydrated and perhaps try some ginger to settle your stomach. You could try ginger tea or you can put some slices of root ginger into hot water yourself.

Keep your food really plain and easy to digest. It may be a good idea to avoid dairy for a while. Also a good idea to avoid ready-made gluten free foods, like bread, as the additives can often upset your stomach.

Good luck with going GF.

[KJP723 in reply to Penel]

Thank you