Gluten Sensitivity Testing- should you do it? by: Kerri Knox, RN-The Immune Queen!
Hi Andrew,
Well, this puts you in the same position as thousands of others. YOU know that you have gluten sensitivity, but you don't have a diagnosis and you want to be 'sure'.
Interestingly, if you went to your doctor and said that every time that you drink milk you get gassy, bloated and have diarrhea- he would tell you that you have 'Lactose Intolerance'. But there are no tests to do for it except for taking your word for it and believing what you tell them.
So why this is different for gluten I have no idea.
But anyway, you now have to make a decision to get tested and get a 'diagnosis' or just trust what you already know. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
1) You will have a legitimate 'disease'. Your doctor will believe you when you say that you can't eat gluten and so will your friends and family
2) Your doctor may help you will other tests for malabsorption such as anemia and vitamin D deficiency and other food allergy tests if you want them
3) You may be able to write some foods and books off on your taxes
4) If you have the diagnosis, then you may be able to take advantage of any new drugs that come out that may benefit you
Disadvantages
1) You'll have to eat gluten and feel terrible for at least a couple of weeks before you are able to do the test
2) If you test positive, then you now have a 'pre-existing condition' as far as insurance companies are concerned.
3) You may still not get a diagnosis because unless you have severe or moderately severe gluten sensitivity it's unlikely that you will test positive. Then anytime you talk to your doctor about gluten sensitivity or not eating gluten, then he will not listen to you because you tested negative.
4) If you test negative, then your doctor will tell you that you are fine and to eat gluten. You will second guess yourself all of the time and not ever feel really sure that you have a problem even though your body will tell you that you have a problem
5) If you have the diagnosis, then you may be able to take advantage of any new drugs that come out that may harm you
So, is it worth it for you to get tested? Only you can decide. But either way, you will still be gluten sensitive and should not eat gluten!!
Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen Functional Medicine Practitioner Easy Immune Health.com
saliva test for gluten intolerance by: Anonymous
I had a saliva test for hormone therapy and the doctor tested my gluten intolerance. It came back borderline intolerant.
What is the saliva test actually testing to make this diagnoses? I have no recognized symptoms, do I need to go to a gluten free diet or will cutting way back do the trick?
I eat a lot of bread and other gluten containing products.
Thank you
Gluten free or not... by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!
Could you give me some more information. You say that you don't have any 'recognized' symptoms of gluten intolerance, but if you have ANY health problems, if you read my Gluten Sensitivity page, you'll see that ANY health problem COULD be a symptom of gluten intolerance.
Unfortunately, when you are first starting out and want to see if gluten is a problem for you, then 'cutting back' will not help. Some people can have a reaction even to the amount of gluten that is present in their prescription medication tablets!!
So, if you want to see if going gluten free will help you, then you need to read my Gluten Intolerance Diet page and then get one of the following books to help you learn how to go gluten free the right way. If you try to do it on your own, I GUARANTEE that you will not be successful.
This is really the best book to take you step by step to be gluten free without having to make all the mistakes that everyone before you has already made.
Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen Functional Medicine Practitioner Easy Immune Health.com
alternative test by: Anonymous
I went with a genetic test, that showed me at 25 times the normal risk level for celiac. That and a family history was enough confirmation for me.
That's great for you... by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!
That's great for YOU, but what if you had tested negative on the genetic test? Then what would you have done?
You can STILL be gluten sensitive even with a negative genetic test, negative Celiac Test, negative antibodies and a negative biopsy. The ONLY way to truly tell if you are gluten sensitive is to get off of gluten and see how if affects you.
The majority of people who can benefit from a gluten free diet do not get a clear confirmation like you did. So seeking testing is often confusing, misleading and leads to experiencing symptoms of gluten sensitivity sometimes for decades without a diagnosis. I don't advocate RELYING on testing to see if you will benefit from being gluten free.
Hi! I was reading your comments...I had some similar symptoms. I was diagnosed with RA and maybe Lupus. During my flare up I experienced dizziness. I have had inner ear problems for 28 years and have managed it with no problem. But this dizziness was different. Get a Ana test to rule it out.
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