[PaulaJoAnne]

So, through simple experimentation, I have determined that I am either simply gluten intolerent, or I actually have Celiacs.
We have been eating a TF/NT diet for a year now, so we never buy prepackaged/bottled anything.
And wheat is no longer a part of my life now.
I am going to teach dh how to make the no knead bread for himself, so I do not even need to touch wheat, just in case.
You can read my story here....
http://steveandpaularunyan.blogspot....-leads-us.html

Not eating gluten has turned my life all the way around. It was that final step to total health for me.

I also refuse to go the route of replacing gluten flours with all kinds of processed gums and all the other grains out there.
fresh ground rice flour works just fine for me, if I truly need to use flour.

Now, I am being inundated with "orders" to get tested professionaly tested to be sure.
The fact that I have been able to heal candida overgrowth, raise my thyroid levels, etc., all through diet, leads me to believe that any damage/healing, can be addressed just as simply.
Granted, some damage will likely be permament, but still, you know what I mean!!

We also cannot afford to go get a bunch of extra testing done.

What would you all advise?

 

[kjbrown92]

How long have you been off gluten? Celiac testing is only accurate if you've been consuming gluten. My friend had two sons who had elevated blood tests for gluten. They couldn't get a biopsy for EIGHT MONTHS, so even though they knew they were most likely celiac, they went right on feeding them gluten so that the test would be accurate. It seems to me if you went off gluten, and feel good, why would you have to have the test? To prove it to other people? I went off gluten (and dairy and soy) in July. My back pain got so much better that I went off all my pain meds. I'm pretty sure it's an intolerance and not celiac, but regardless, I wouldn't put myself back on gluten, and get all that pain back for 6 months for a million bucks (okay, maybe for a million bucks

), but not just so someone else can "prove" it. I know how I feel when I'm off gluten, and that's all that matters.

 

[tanyalynn]

I think the most important part of this is whether the information will change the course you take. My daughter is gluten intolerant (I highly doubt celiac, based on lack of anything in the family history that usually coincides) and I haven't done any testing and I'm fine with this. We may never eat gluten again, we definitely have a few more years of healing for all of us before considering it. But if we're GF for life, I'm okay with that. Since you're so much better, would having more information help, either now or in a couple years? Enterolab has both a gene test (for gluten intolerance genes and celiac genes) and a stool test for antibodies that's supposed to be good for a year or two after removing gluten from the diet. Although it's not the official celiac test, it seems more useful. But I haven't felt compelled to test any of us.

I don't think you'd need the test in order to heal more now--I mean, if you do any testing, I'd think iron, ferritin, D, stuff like that, that celiacs are usually low in (due to poor absorption from intestinal damage), to see if you have any deficiencies to address, which seems not terribly likely given the improvement you've felt just with diet--which to me seems like it leans toward a gluten intolerance, since absorbing all those nutrients would be pretty questionable if your villi were gone from CD.

 

[JaneSmith1010]

First of all, who is ordering you to undergo more testing? Secondly, I had a doctor tell me I need to do a gluten challenge after being GF for 5 years. I flatly refused and don't really want a medical diagnosis. I know what wheat does to my body. I don't need to go into shock to let an MD know. Third, so many are intolerant, allergic to wheat on top of the number of Celiacs that it shouldn't matter which it is. You are resolving your problems on a GF diet, that is the treatment for Celiacs and all that counts. Boo to test unless there is a good reason for it.

I have to say, I have been GF since 2003ish. While many, many issues have ameliorated or disappeared, I still have problems that have not cleared up. I am not sure if it is from intestinal damage that has still not healed or from other allergies/intolerances. Keep that in mind when you are monitoring your progress.