Coeliac Home Fingerpick Test

[RedApple]

Has anyone here used the Medichecks Fingerprick Immunoglobulins IgG IgM IgA test?

This was tested by my GP many years ago and as the result was negative, no further investigation was considered necessary at the time.

But I'd like to revisit the possibility of coeliac disease as a cause for my deteriorating health, (i.e. not just gluten'sensitivity' ). I have various symptoms that could be linked to gluten, and am wondering whether it's worth doing this home test first. I have not trialed going GF yet, and am aware that any testing has to be done before I go down the fully GF route.

Are there any real benefits of having an official coeliac diagnosis these days? Or isn't it worth the bother, and less stressful to just adopt the GF diet?

[Delgor]

Red Apple

I haven't personally done the home test for celiacs as I got my GP to do it about 3 years ago following advice on this forum. However, you still can have Non-Celiacs Gluten Sensitivity which doesn't show up in a blood test. When my health took a turning for the worse I did actually do the Cambridgeshire Food Intolerance Test online and was utterly amazed at how many things I was intolerant to even though I ate a reasonably healthy diet. I went gluten, dairy, soy, caffeine and sugar free which did seem to help but now looking seriously into gut issues as a lot of ill health can supposedly start here. ~ Best Wishes ~

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Delgor]

Thanks Delgor, I am very aware of the possibility of  Non-Celiacs Gluten Sensitivity. I'm literally on the verge of just going completely GF for that reason.

But, to get an official diagnosis of coeliac, you need to continue consuming gluten until all investigations have been done.

[Sleepman in reply to RedApple]

Hi RedApple,

I do not think it is worth the bother.

I tested clear on bloods for celliac. The gold standard check is an Endoscope inspection though. It was over a year wait just to see gastro or private for over £2000 and still eat gluten. I went gluten free and things improved alot. Nearly a year later I found out was also autoimmune hypo.

Eventually saw gastro and he was happy for me to stay off gluten but it did various other scans/checks.As no prescription food anymore he did not see any point in testing.

From this forum also found out about gluten ataxia where gluten can damage nerves etc.

I did some gluten tests after thyroid levels improved and gluten definitely wipes me out with brain fog and fatigue and some numbness/pins and needles.

Good luck

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Sleepman]

Sleepman, 'As no prescription food anymore he did not see any point in testing.'

This is my thinking too.

Everything you have said makes sense. Thank you for telling me your experience.

[Delgor in reply to RedApple]

Oh wow, I've learnt so much from your post that I didn't know about like having an Endoscope inspection and gluten ataxia - probably too late now anyway as I've been gluten free for some considerable time. Sincerely hope it all helps you!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If you were to test positive…medics perhaps have slightly more understanding that you have several autoimmune diseases going on

I tested negative twice on NHS coeliac blood test

First test via endocrinologist 4-5 years after Hashimoto’s diagnosis…..2nd time via GP 20 plus years later in 2016

But a (private) endoscopy after 2nd negative test revealed damage effectively as if coeliac …..

Cost of endoscopy then, including consultation, approx £1700

gastroenterologist said after endoscopy, he was was astonished I don’t test positive. So he organised an NHS DNA test…….this said “probably not coeliac”

wether it’s coeliac or “just” gluten intolerance…..makes no difference to me…….Strictly gluten free diet is astounding improvement

But because I have medical report from Gastroenterologist, that I need to be gluten free, that probably carries more influence than me just saying “I am gluten intolerant “

And certainly helped get my T3 prescribed on NHS

Before I went gluten free I was extremely immobile…..barely walking 500 meters……so I thought it was important to get endoscopy to definitely rule coeliac in or out

NHS wouldn’t consider doing endoscopy as I tested negative for coeliac on blood test

[RedApple Administrator in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SD. I know you're a great advocate of going GF. I've held off on this for myself for probably far too long. Just want to be sure about doing it without going through all the testing first.

Back in the day when my GP did the  Immunoglobulins testing (at my request), which came back negative, I'd already had a bad experience with a gastro. I was told I couldn't have the endoscopy, so didn't pursue further. I wasn't nearly as well informed about things then!

'And certainly helped get my T3 prescribed on NHS'

How and/or why did the coeliac thing help with getting T3 prescribed?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to RedApple]

I had confirmation in writing from leading gastroenterologist that I was definitely gluten intolerant on my medical records

Even NHS recognises that gluten intolerance is likely to result in poor conversion of Ft4 to Ft3

I also paid for Dio2 gene test …..tested positive for heterozygous Dio2 (inherited from one parent)

These facts, combined with very poor vitamin levels before supplementing, and extremely poor quality of life on just levothyroxine……much to my astonishment CCG immediately agreed to fund T3 (this was when T3 was £258 per 28 tablets….Mercury Pharma only brand available)

Now dairy free too since August 2022 and seeing ongoing improvements month on month

I never had any gut issues of any sort

[RedApple Administrator in reply to SlowDragon]

'Even NHS recognises that gluten intolerance is likely to result in poor conversion of Ft4 to Ft3'

Ah, I didn't realise that.

I do have the one parent DI02 gene.

[Jazzw in reply to SlowDragon]

gastroenterologist said after endoscopy, he was was astonished I don’t test positive. 

I’ve read that they’d have to take biopsies from every part of your digestive tract to definitively rule it out. A bit of a tall order!

I guess in severe cases the damage can clearly be seen but I think it might be one of those “just because they can’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening” things.

[Sleepman]

Thanks SD info about GI and possible poor fT4 to fT3 conversion, very interesting as usual.

Building on SD reply that she did not have gut problems.

I had bloating and trots when on gluten, so I think my need to stop gluten was high and I could not face any more gluten time,to do more testing. I had a period of time with no gluten a few months before celiac blood test and knew these digestive symptoms got better with no gluten

It take some time(months) for you to feel benefit of gluten free as your body repairs damage.

I have been on T4 since October and I think that is now helping heel my gut further.