Confused about results

[ROWAN6260]

Hi. I recently had a blood test that is positive for celiac disease. However after getting this result any symptoms have gone. I am still eating gluten as advised by dietitian until I have endoscopy test. Why have the symptoms suddenly gone? Is it possible to have a positive test but not have celiac disease?

[Adnil]

When I first became ill with a very nasty tummy upset that didn't seem to want to go away despite several lots of meds from my GP, he decided to refer me to a gastroenterologist (there was no blood test for Coeliac in those days). I had to wait about 4 months for my appointment by which time I had started to feel much better and the awful diarrhoea had stopped. However , I decided to keep my appointment explaining my symptoms were much improved but they did a load of blood tests anyway and on my return said my results were all 'deranged' and sent me for a biopsy which was positive for CD! It was tough starting the GF diet as I wasn't feeling particularly unwell then, just slight weight loss which I was very happy about! By the time I returned for my follow up appointment I realised though that I did have much more energy after following the GF diet for just a few months. The only downside though was the weight loss turned into weight gain! So I think it is possible to start feeling ok and still have CD. The endoscopy will prove it or otherwise definitively, so go for it.

[ROWAN6260 in reply to Adnil]

Thanks this is very helpful, it will be interesting to see if symptoms return while I wait for endoscopy. Hopefully not!!! I am feeling tired all the time which from what I have read is also a symptom ☹️

[Regalbirdy]

Hi Rowan,

I was diagnosed a Coeliac in 2012. My understanding of such matters is that if you have had a positive blood test you are highly likely to be a Coeliac. Whilst nothing comes with a guarantee, I seem to remember that the test is reported to be around 95% accurate, especially if you are in the later (full blown gut damage stage) of Coeliac Disease. It looks for antibodies to gluten - something that is not possible to find in significant quantities if your immune system is operating normally.

I hope this helps,

R.B.

[Lulububs]

Celiac is a weird one! So i have had ibs all my life and eventually got very ill couple years ago and was told to try giving up gluten, bread and highly startchy carb food which i did and started to feel alot better so when i went back to gastro specialist she said i think u mayb celiac so lets give u a blood test.

It came back negative but then was told “ well it would as u have not eaten gluten for 3 months, u have to have it in ur system to show up” which obv didnt.

So i still dont know?

Although if im not id say i was very intolerant as all my ibs symptoms have gone since giving it totally up.

I found out it a immune killing desease so u may feel fine but if uare and ur still eating gluten itcan b fatal, effect ur liver , kidney , kill ur gut ....

Which figures as i was always ill...

I always had colds, kidney or bladder infections... i was bloated, had constant gut ache and since given it all up NOTHING i even had terrible pssoarisis and that went as soon as i gave it up.

So it can show itself in other ways

[Bigums in reply to Lulububs]

Awesome. Thank God for your diagnosis and recovery.