Trace Blood Test

[Trace]

Still shows Negative for Celiac....and at the time only on GF diet for 10 days or so.

My rheumatologist is convinced the test is ridiculous. She told me, "Look..you have the genes for celiac, you have 99% of the symptoms, you have the rash....YOU HAVE CELIAC!!!! Don't let this test give you false security. YOU HAVE CELIAC!!!"

So...I guess I have celiac!

[tex]

Hi Trace,

That result proved once again, just how worthless those celiac blood tests actually are, and yet most doctors, like lemmings blindly marching toward the sea, will steadfastly insist that you can't have celiac disease if you pass the blood test.

I can certainly understand your rheumatologist's frustration, because ignorance runs rampant among doctors in general, regarding the topic of gluten sensitive enteropathy. She is one of the very, very few "enlightened" doctors, who are willing to admit that the official medical position on celiac disease sucks. Here's what an article on the Celiac.com site says about it:

If you have dermatitis herpetiformis, you always have celiac disease. With dermatitis herpetiformis the primary lesion is on the skin rather than the small intestine. The degree of damage to the small intestine is often less severe or more patchy then those with only celiac disease. Both diseases are permanent and symptoms/ damage will occur after comsuming gluten.

(The emphasis in red is mine, of course). Until your body can heal from all the gluten damage, and stop producing antibodies, (which will probably take more than a year), I suggest that you drastically reduce your iodine intake. Don't cut it all out, because that could trigger damage to your thyroid, (goiter), just cut it way down. An expert in dermatitis herpetiformis, Dr. John J. Zone, at the University of Utah, says this about the link between iodine and dermatitis herpetiformis:

The mineral iodine is known to make the disease (dermatitis herpetiformis) worse. For this reason, foods and supplements high in iodine should be avoided. Table salt which is not iodized should be used. This can be found in most grocery stores with the other salts. Avoid kelp and other seaweed products, and do not use sea salt. If you take any nutritional supplements, examine them carefully to avoid any iodine containing ingredients.

This information is from:

http://www.celiac.com/articles/177/1/Th ... Page1.html

Thanks for posting that test result. It reinforces what we have always known, but most doctors are totally confused about it. Rheumatologists, as a group, seem to have a much better understanding of this than GI docs. GI docs would greatly benefit from a lot more training on the subject of immune system issues, and especially autoimmune reactions.

Tex

[Trace]

Thank YOU, Tex for the info. We use sea salt around here!!! I guess I need to look up the DH a bit. Whew! .