Help with Coeliac test results needed - Thyroid UK

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Help with Coeliac test results needed

msmono profile image
14 Replies

Hi, I have no Coeliac antibodies (hoorah) but the other 2 results are only just within 'normal' such as that is.

I did the test because I'm still feeling ill, aching bones, muscles, itchy, flaking-off skin and diarrhea (also dry eyes) every day. (I have Hashimotos and glad to say that exhaustion, feeling cold, depression, weight gain and brain fog are a little better since being on levo).

The other results are:

Immunoglobulin A : 3.98 g/L Range 0.7 - 4 g/L

Tissue Transglutaminase IGA: 0.70 U/mL Range 0 - 10 U/mL

Can I assume from these I'm not Coeliac and also I'm wondering if the 'only just normal' results indicate anything else I could look at?

Thank you

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14 Replies
Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27

I have heard of someone being describes as "borderline" before, and because they had a family history, hey were going to be monitored. I don't know what their actual level was though!

If it helps, the coealic blood test tops out at 150, and you have to have levels over 100 before the blood test is considered to have no chance of a false positive, so even if you came in at 4.02, it's still not a certainty.

There is still a chance you have non coeliac gluten sensitivity, in which case it's worth trying to cut out gluten for a little while!

msmono profile image
msmono in reply to Cooper27

Hi Thank you - it's weird to want a positive diagnosis isn't it? It just makes me more motivated because I would know I'm not barking up the wrong tree- giving up bread - that's a big one for me!

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27 in reply to msmono

I get it :)

My OH has coeliac disease, so it's easy for me to eat gluten free for his benefit, but if I was doing the diet off my own back, only accountable to myself, I think I would "cheat" quite a bit! Just think of it as a trial. It's just a month without! Have one last fish supper and go for it :)

(posted that and remembered to correct my Scottish - fish supper=fish and chips from the chip shop)

msmono profile image
msmono in reply to Cooper27

Ha ha yes I was 'cheating' a lot prior to me eating gluten for a few weeks before the test. And I 'cheated' a but yesterday when I ate some (but not all of) the batter on my fish supper (which was not even at supper-time)! Anyway I just spoke to the the medical professional who said that given my other results, I may have a false negative due to me not eating gluten for a long enough period prior to the test (I did eat a LOT mind like 6 -weeks worth in three weeks!) Think I'm just going to try GF for at least two months and see what happens to my TPO anti-bodies. Also I'm going to try and acquire some patience! Does your OH mind being GF?

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27 in reply to msmono

He doesn't mind too much, but that's because he knows what it'll do to him. Every so often we miss something (like being able to get cake in coffee shops, or beer). It's not as bad as you think it'll be though!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Cooper27

It's easy to get wonderful gluten free beer these days

M&s have fantastic new IPA out

Many many coffee shops do GF cakes

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27 in reply to SlowDragon

Unfortunately they aren't suitable - my OH reacts to "gluten removed" beers, and I'm not convinced they're all that suitable for coeliac's in general - most tend to say they can only tolerate one or two, before they get symptoms of being glutened.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Cooper27

Interesting.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormones

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

The ONLY way to know for certain is to try gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

Ideally retest TPO Thyroid Antibodies BEFORE restarting gluten

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

msmono profile image
msmono in reply to SlowDragon

Hi, thanks "The ONLY way to know for certain is to try gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse." I think this is the way to go for me. I guess I would feel more motivated if I got a 'positive' coeliac result, weird though that sounds. If I could just live and eat healthily I would've done it years ago and maybe I wouldn't be here now. I kind of need scare and warning tactics -we're all motivated by different things I suppose :) I am concerned about the Immunoglobulin A result though as this has increased by 25% since it was last tested via a Full blood count. It can be a sign of myeloma which my mum died from but I guess I can only monitor this too as it's still too 'normal' for my G.P. to listen.

(All vitamins have been tested and will be monitored from now on)

Tugun profile image
Tugun in reply to msmono

Hi,

I totally get where you are coming from as I am Gluten Intolerant but not coeliac. Because I have been told I am not coeliac (three tests - even DNA) I cheat a bit - not too much as I then get very sick. My gut stops working and I wake up in the middle of the night vomiting. I think if I found out I was coeliac, I would be more vigilant. Also it would be easier to say "I'm coeliac" than "I'm gluten intolerant". People and "doctors" smile condescendingly as if I am imagining it. It's the latest "fad". "You shouldn't take it too seriously," one doctor told me.

After many years, I take this in my stride. I've had too many dramatic outcomes to not take it seriously. It causes a lack of nutrition, tiredness, illness and, of course, the late night wake up with vomiting and diarrhea. The last time this happened, I had accidentally been taking something twice weekly for approximately 10 weeks that had wheat in it. I was gradually feeling "off" but I didn't know why until I got sick and investigated. It was an eye-opener for me to realize I had only taken it twice weekly.

I did go through a time (a long time) where, because I wasn't coeliac, I thought I could be less vigilant about the gluten but I have to say it is important to not "cheat" even if you don't get to the stage of vomiting like I did. I definitely agree that staying off gluten for at least three months and then eating a lot for a few days would probably let you know. That's how I knew for sure.

The other thing is, it's much easier now to go off gluten. There are many delicious gluten-free products out there. Although I must admit for some reason some of the gluten-free bread doesn't agree with me. It really is getting to a healthy state and then realizing the difference and being able to monitor that difference within your own body.

Wishing you all the best and if you do "cheat", just remember not to say to yourself (like I have), "Oh. I've had a little, I might as well have more!" No - keep it at a little - as little as possible and definitely for four months not at all. You really can't tell until you go off it completely for a long enough time.

msmono profile image
msmono in reply to Tugun

This is so helpful thank you. I completely relate to the cheating a bit leading to just eating full gluten again. Also about G.P's not treating us seriously. I'd forgotten about the flipping supplements - that some have gluten in! I feel like I'm juggling so much all at once and trying to learn as much as I can. Anyway thanks again for your very helpful post.

Tugun profile image
Tugun in reply to msmono

Hi,

Yes, recently I was given a supplement for the gut and when I checked the ingredients, it had gluten in it. The person who gave it to me was surprised that there was gluten in it!

Good Luck!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 if not been done

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