Entereolab test accuracy?

[LauraGld]

I have been very restrictive in my diet for many years before my recent diagnosis of CC. Would an Enterolab test be accurate if I do not have any antibodies for foods that I have not eaten for many years? I have eaten no red meats or nightshades for over 20 years. I have not eaten dairy for the last 10 years. I eliminated red meats for personal reasons...I had been vegan and vegetarian over the years and eventually added meat back into my diet (chicken, turkey and fish) but I never added in red meats. Nightshades, dairy and high oxalate foods were all eliminated because of inflammatory reactions.

My question is if there are no antibodies present will the test be accurate?

Since reading Tex's book and joining this group I stopped all gluten, grains, and gluten free products my symptoms have improved soooooo much!!!!!! D is gone :)

Thoughts appreciated....Laura

[tex]

Maybe. If there are no antibodies because your immune system has been suppressed by a drug, or you have selective IgA deficiency (meaning that your immune system is incapable of producing normal amounts of immunoglobulin A)then the EnteroLab tests, and many others, will not work correctly. Even budesonide begins to suppress the immune system after about six months, and after a year of use, the EnteroLab results would be pretty much useless.

On the other hand, if you do not have selective IgA deficiency, and your immune system isn't otherwise suppressed, then a low antibiotic count from an EnteroLab test result should be correct.

Tex

[LauraGld]

Hi Tex,
I might have worded my question incorrectly. I haven't taken the Enterolab test yet. I have been on a very restricted diet for some years and have taken no drugs. I realized by eliminating certain foods my pain subsided so I avoided medications. If I have eliminated these foods for so many years would there even be antibodies to test? Hope my question makes better sense now.

Thanks so much Tex for all your help.... Laura

[tex]

I can't give you a definitive answer, because whether or not your immune system is still producing antibodies against those foods probably depends on whether you've been exposed to enough cross-contamination in your diet on a somewhat regular basis to activate your immune system, and thereby keep the Immune system active. Theoretically, similar to vaccines, if we are not exposed to those antigens occasionally, after a few years our immune system will tend to forget most of them. Gluten may be an exception, but it probably remains an active sensitivity simply because it's almost impossible not to have one's diet cross contaminated by gluten occasionally due to the fact that gluten tends to be ubiquitous.

Tex

[LauraGld]

Thank you so much Tex...this makes perfect sense. Even if I no longer have antibodies in my system from particular foods it would still pick up possible cross contamination. I also understand the antigens and how they do not recognize something after a period of time. I learned this through a rotation diet for my son many years ago when he became hyper sensitive to so many foods.

I will go ahead with the test just to see if any of my current foods are a problem and if there is still some contamination from other foods that I am not aware of. I know that the occasional cheat with gluten is something of the past.

Thanks so much for all your help Tex....I have begun to feel better than I have in a very long time. Systemic pain is nearly gone, energy levels are great, I had such low energy that I would fall asleep several times a day if I sat down. Walking my dogs was a chore not a joy anymore....but this is all improving greatly :) and no naps...and no D