I was excited to get my results back but don't really understand them this time.......I take it all of these foods are ok for me to eat? I was hoping to find one that wasn't so I could eliminate it and solve the problem of why I can't get away from WD.
I'm on 3mg entocort/day and am experimenting with skipping doses. I just started so I can't tell anything yet.
I've been GF/DF since 12/2011 and EF/SF since 2/2012. I've tested eggs this past month and don't seem to have a problem. I've only eaten four eggs during this time hoping if I didn't overdo it I might be able to keep them as an occasional meal. I can't use D as a gage since I have it more than anything else.
Acupunture has helped and I'm continuing that treatment. It is helping with the eye pain, sinus issues, neck & shoulder pain, and general fatigue. Hasn't changed any bowel habits but I've noticed slightly more noise in he abdominals- nothing negative.
I've started an enzyme that has pepsin, papain, betainev HCl, l-glutamic acid HCl, and pancreatin which seems to help with my stomach aches. It's been suggested that I do a hair analysis to pinpoint deficiencies or anything I may be overdoing. Thinking it may not be a bad idea but the out of pocket dollars keep racking up.
The results from Enterolab are as follows and I'm fine with sharing.
Date: 1/17/2013
C) Antigenic Food Sensitivity Stool Panel
Mean Value 11 Antigenic Foods 2 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Add Fat Malabsorption Stool Test (Fecal Fat) to panel A+C, A, B, or C at a discounted price
Quantitative Microscopic Fecal Fat Score 415 Units (Normal Range is less than 300 Units)
Interpretation of Mean Value 11 Antigenic Foods: A mean value of 2 Units indicates that overall, there was no significant detectable evidence of immunologic sensitivity to these antigenic foods.
Many foods besides gluten, cow’s milk, eggs, and soy are antigenic in their own right; the main classes of which include other grains, meats, nuts, and nightshades (potatoes being the primary food eaten from this latter class). Minimizing exposure to antigenic foods is an important component of an anti-inflammatory lifestyle to optimize immune system health. This is especially important for those with chronic abdominal symptoms and/or chronic immune/autoimmune syndromes, or for those who want to prevent them.
For immunologic food sensitivity testing, the actual numeric value (in Units) for any given test or for the overall average of a group of foods is important mainly for determining: 1) if the immune reaction is present or absent, and 2) in relative terms, the immune reaction to different foods tested in a given individual at a given point in time. It is not a score, per se, to be interpreted as a measure of clinical or immunological severity for that individual or between individuals. This is because the amount of IgA antibody made by a given person is particular for the immune function of that person. Furthermore, sometimes a person can display what can be viewed as immunological and nutritional “exhaustion,” whereby a more significant and symptomatic immunologic food sensitivity is accompanied by a lower positive measured anti-food antibody value (rather than a higher positive). In such an instance, following clinical improvement and improved nutritional status (while the suspect antigenic foods are withdrawn), values can actually be higher for a time before finally falling into the negative range after several years.
Thus, the overall average food sensitivity antibody value for this panel is an assessment of your overall humoral immunologic food reactivity, which can help determine if dietary elimination trials may help you. If the mean value is less than 10 Units, the humoral immune reactions can be considered absent (negative); if greater than or equal to 10 Units, they can be considered present. Rather than reporting the absolute value of a positive result for each individual food, since it cannot be considered as an assessment of severity, the results are reported in relative terms between the foods tested. This provides you with the knowledge of which foods are stimulating the most immune response which, in turn, is indeed the most practically applied information to dietary elimination trials. The report information that follows is based on these facts.
While all of the foods tested can be immune-stimulating, the hierarchy of reactions detected were as follows:
Food for which there was no significant immunologic reactivity: Tuna, Rice, Oat, Corn, Chicken, Beef, Pork, Walnut, Almond, White potato, Cashew
Dietary Recommendation Based on Test Results to Individual Foods: This test panel was designed to guide your choices when building a new more healthful, less antigenic dietary plan. The results are delivered in such a way that you are not left with “nothing to eat,” but instead they guide you in avoiding the foods in each group that are most stimulating to your immune system. We discourage dietary changes that involve removing too many foods at once. This can lead you to feel too hungry too often, especially if adequate healthful replacement foods are not readily available. Dietary elimination (beyond gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free) is best approached over a period of weeks to months and sometimes years, removing one or two additional foods at a time, rather than removing many foods at once.
Although there was no detectable evidence of immunologic sensitivity to these antigenic foods, if you have an autoimmune or chronic inflammatory syndrome, or just want to pursue an optimally healthy diet and lifestyle, avoiding grains, most antigenic meats (such as these), and nightshades can optimize an anti-inflammatory diet despite a negative result on food testing. As nuts and seeds are a very healthful source of vegetarian protein and heart-protective oils and minerals, rather than avoiding all nuts and seeds, you can render nuts and seeds less antigenic, more digestible, and more easily tolerated by choosing the few that you seem to best tolerate overall, soaking a one-day supply in a glass jar filled with clean water for 4-8 hours (or for ease, overnight), and pouring off the water and rinsing before eating. The resultant soaked nuts or seeds can be eaten as is (alone or with fresh or dried fruit), blended into nut butters (by adding some water), or added to “smoothies”.
Furthermore, since 1 in 500 people cannot make IgA at all, and rarely, some immunocompetent people can still have clinically significant reactions to a food antigen despite the lack of a significant antibody reaction (because the reactions primarily involve T cells), if you have a syndrome or symptoms known to be associated with food sensitivity, such as chronic headaches, abdominal symptoms (pain, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and/or constipation), chronic sinus congestion, arthritis, chronic skin problems/rashes, fibromyalgia, and/or chronic fatigue, avoiding antigenic foods may help you despite a negative test. If you have been on a diet reduced or devoid of the suspect food for many months or years (usually but not always requires two or more years), this can also (but not always) reduce your fecal antibody level to that food into the normal range despite underlying ongoing sensitivity to that food. If you have no syndrome or symptoms associated with food sensitivity, and have been eating any or all of these suspect foods, you can continue to follow your normal diet and retest in 3-5 years.
Interpretation of Quantitative Microscopic Fecal Fat Score: A fecal fat score greater than 300 Units indicates there is an increased amount of dietary fat in the stool which usually is due to gluten-induced small intestinal malabsorption/damage when associated with gluten sensitivity. This could indicate there is gluten in your diet. If you are following a strict gluten-free diet (and prepare all meals yourself and eat no commercially processed foods), other possible causes include - another inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease which is associated with gluten sensitivity); deficiency in the production or secretion of bile salts; overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine; diarrhea from any cause which can, in turn, cause dietary fat to rush through the intestine unabsorbed; consuming very large amounts of dietary fat, eating unabsorbable synthetic dietary fat substitutes, or taking “fat blockers” ; and resection of the small intestine causing “short bowel syndrome” (if you have had an intestinal resection).
Deficient production of enzymes by the pancreas can be associated with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity with autoimmune attack on the pancreas, causing maldigestion and malabsorption of dietary fat and other nutrients. Some other causes of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency include chronic pancreatitis from any cause (alcoholism being the most common), pancreatic resection, pancreatic cancer, or common bile duct obstruction. Pancreatic insufficiency as the primary cause of fat malabsorption usually causes significant elevations of fecal fat values, usually into the moderate (600-1000 Units) or severe (>1000 Units) ranges.
To distinguish between small intestinal malabsorption and pancreatic maldigestion, a fecal pancreatic elastase test is necessary, which is now available from our laboratory.
Any elevated fecal fat value should be rechecked in one year after treatment to ensure that it does not persist because chronic fat malabsorption is associated with osteoporosis and other nutritional deficiency syndromes.
For more information about result interpretation, please see http://www.enterolab.com/StaticPages/FaqResult.aspx
Stool analysis performed and/or supervised by: Frederick Ogunji, Ph.D., EnteroLab
Molecular Gene Analysis performed by: American Red Cross
Interpretation of all results by: Kenneth D. Fine, M.D., EnteroLab
Thank You For Allowing EnteroLab to Help You Attain Optimum Intestinal And Overall Health.
Enterolab test results back- not sure what it means
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
I'm confused Deb. I don't see your results. What tests did you take? If you have the actual numbers from each food, please give us those. If the results are all under 11, then one of two things is happening. Your MC was triggered by drugs and you don't have any food senitivities, OR you are like me and are IgA deficient. I took the tests ($700 worth) and got no results because it turns out that I don't produce the antibodies that are measured. I had to figure it all out on my own with an elimination diet. If this is the case, you need to ask your doctor to run a blood test to determine if you are IgA deficient. It's important to know because they have to give you something first before you ever get a blood transfusion. It also would explain why you got MC in the first place. People like me tend to either get lots of upper respiratory infections ( I don't) OR AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES! I have three if you count my hypothyroidism.
But look at your test results again and make sure you are reading it right
leah
But look at your test results again and make sure you are reading it right
leah
I looked twice too. This was all I have but I thought Tex mentioned that results for the Panel C read different. I'm understanding it to say the mean value for all eleven foods is 2 so I fall in the normal range. I was tested for gluten, soy, casein, and eggs and was shown to be reactive to those foods...... So that means I'm not IgA deficient, right?
That would be frustrating to spend that much money and find out the test doesn't work for you.
I believe drugs were one of many factors in my MC but foods are the big cause.
That would be frustrating to spend that much money and find out the test doesn't work for you.
I believe drugs were one of many factors in my MC but foods are the big cause.
I was very frustrated when I received the scores for the eleven antigenic foods, and honestly I probably wouldn't recommend that test (a little late I know!) They give you an average score, basically, of all 11. If your results are above 10 (mine were eleven) they give you a hierarchy of which foods are most reactive, intermediately reactive, or not at all reactive. Problem is I was told I had no reaction to potatoes, but I definitely cannot eat them. On the other hand it was correct about me being reactive to chicken.
Your results are saying that you are not reacting to any of the 11 foods tested. You may need to try them on your own however!
Hope that is helpful! Susie
Your results are saying that you are not reacting to any of the 11 foods tested. You may need to try them on your own however!
Hope that is helpful! Susie
DebE,
Yep, that's what the results show — that Tuna, Rice, Oat, Corn, Chicken, Beef, Pork, Walnut, Almond, White potato, and Cashew should be safe for you.
Your fecal fat score is elevated. That would normally be due to one of three possibilities (IMO): Residual gluten damage to the small intestine, excess bile, or a failure of your pancreatic enzymes to hydrolyze fats.
Do you still have your gallbladder? And as far as you are aware, is it working correctly? Is your total cholesterol normal, or is it by chance low? The reason I ask is because if your terminal ileum is not properly recycling bile fatty acids, that should tend to lower your total cholesterol, over the long term. One problem that can cause a failure to reabsorb excess bile fatty acids is the situation where pancreatic enzymes are not adequately hydrolyzing fats. IOW, if the pancreatic enzymes do not adequately hydrolyze the fat particles, then the bile fatty acids will remain bonded with fat particles, and in that state, absorption would be impossible, and they would remain in the fecal stream. This could also cause other issues, such as lower production of vitamin D (since vitamin D is manufactured by the body from cholesterol). Do you happen to know your 25(OH)D level?
Tex
Yep, that's what the results show — that Tuna, Rice, Oat, Corn, Chicken, Beef, Pork, Walnut, Almond, White potato, and Cashew should be safe for you.
Your fecal fat score is elevated. That would normally be due to one of three possibilities (IMO): Residual gluten damage to the small intestine, excess bile, or a failure of your pancreatic enzymes to hydrolyze fats.
Do you still have your gallbladder? And as far as you are aware, is it working correctly? Is your total cholesterol normal, or is it by chance low? The reason I ask is because if your terminal ileum is not properly recycling bile fatty acids, that should tend to lower your total cholesterol, over the long term. One problem that can cause a failure to reabsorb excess bile fatty acids is the situation where pancreatic enzymes are not adequately hydrolyzing fats. IOW, if the pancreatic enzymes do not adequately hydrolyze the fat particles, then the bile fatty acids will remain bonded with fat particles, and in that state, absorption would be impossible, and they would remain in the fecal stream. This could also cause other issues, such as lower production of vitamin D (since vitamin D is manufactured by the body from cholesterol). Do you happen to know your 25(OH)D level?
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I was curious about these foods especially the rice and cashew as those appeared as reactive on blood tests that I had done about three years ago. I know the blood test isn't as accurate but I was wondering how it would turn out. If I eat more than a handful of cashews at a time I get a stomach ache. I'm not sure if its better to avoid them entirely or not.
Does that mean I could eat oatmeal? I sure do miss it but gave it up when I went GF.
I'm not sure what to do with the fecal fat scores tests. Mentally, I told myself I needed to be on my current diet for at least two years before making any major changes. Although that was more of a hope that I could go back to eating what I'd prefer- I know now that's just a though that isn't going to happen. I've had a lifetime of poor eating habits combined with excessive NSAID use, and although not confirmed- poor genetics.
I still have my gall bladder and assume it is working correctly. Both my mom and brother have had theirs removed. There was question at one time if I had gall bladder issues when I was always sick to my stomach and had frequent stomach pain. I believe it was all food related as it has pretty much cleared now
that I've changed my diet.
the nurse told me my cholesterol was "awesome" and I didn't think to ask for the numbers. It may be on the low end.
I always wonder about the bile acids since my son has his own issues that are most likely hereditary, although doesnt mean I will have similar issues.
As far as I know my Vit D level is in the normal range because that was also tested but I'm not sure if there are different kinds. They told me my vitamin levels are fine and to take a multi vitamin.
I do take a Vit D supplement.
Does that mean I could eat oatmeal? I sure do miss it but gave it up when I went GF.
I'm not sure what to do with the fecal fat scores tests. Mentally, I told myself I needed to be on my current diet for at least two years before making any major changes. Although that was more of a hope that I could go back to eating what I'd prefer- I know now that's just a though that isn't going to happen. I've had a lifetime of poor eating habits combined with excessive NSAID use, and although not confirmed- poor genetics.
I still have my gall bladder and assume it is working correctly. Both my mom and brother have had theirs removed. There was question at one time if I had gall bladder issues when I was always sick to my stomach and had frequent stomach pain. I believe it was all food related as it has pretty much cleared now
that I've changed my diet.
the nurse told me my cholesterol was "awesome" and I didn't think to ask for the numbers. It may be on the low end.
I always wonder about the bile acids since my son has his own issues that are most likely hereditary, although doesnt mean I will have similar issues.
As far as I know my Vit D level is in the normal range because that was also tested but I'm not sure if there are different kinds. They told me my vitamin levels are fine and to take a multi vitamin.
I do take a Vit D supplement.Oh, now I get it. I didn't take this test, so was unaware of how the results are given. I guess the good news is that you are not overly reactive to most of those foods. If you are still having issues with D, you might want to cut out some of the known 'irritants" until your gut is more healed..... like fresh fruit, juice, too much sugar or artificial sweeteners, tomatoes ( and maybe potatoes) and it's products ,peppers, coffee, tea. I had to cut all these foods out for about 6 months. I have been able to add a little fruit, some sugar, and potatoes back in. I still haven't truly tested tomato in any quantity ( like tomato sauce). I'm a bit scared, but will do it at some point.
Good luck in your quest to figure it all out Deb
Leah
Good luck in your quest to figure it all out Deb
Leah
Thanks Susie, I'm a bit frustrated that I didn't find anything and it does seem like a waste of money but any doubts I had are now gone so I should look at the results as a good thing. At least I don't have to cut out more foods! I agree with you, for whatever reason large amounts of cashews don't sit right with me even though the result say they're ok. I was mostly concerned about the meats, potato, corn, rice, and almonds since they are my staples. I was going to save the money and cut the foods out of my diet but I just didn't want to give up more for any length of time and I wouldn't have anything left to eat.
Leah, that's what has been bothering me for months. I have given everything up and am at a standstill. I eliminated coffee for a couple months with no changes so I keep to my 2 cups/day. Potatoes are a regular but the test confirmed I'm good with that. I don't eat much fruit or sugar......mostly meat & veggies, corn, and rice. I wanted it to be a specific food but perhaps a year just isn't long enough for my healing.
I think I'll wait on the oatmeal for now but will consider it at a later date. I'm probably not ready to start introducing new foods right now. Isn't it funny to be afraid to try new foods? I had an egg for breakfast yesterday and all morning I sat at work analyzing each grumble or trying to figure out if I felt more tired than usual because of the egg. Like I said earlier, I can't use D as a gage right now and generally have to depend on stomach aches and fatigue to let me know if I made a poor choice. At one point mid morning I though it would have been easier to skip the egg and have a bowl of Chex! It was good though.
Leah, that's what has been bothering me for months. I have given everything up and am at a standstill. I eliminated coffee for a couple months with no changes so I keep to my 2 cups/day. Potatoes are a regular but the test confirmed I'm good with that. I don't eat much fruit or sugar......mostly meat & veggies, corn, and rice. I wanted it to be a specific food but perhaps a year just isn't long enough for my healing.
I think I'll wait on the oatmeal for now but will consider it at a later date. I'm probably not ready to start introducing new foods right now. Isn't it funny to be afraid to try new foods? I had an egg for breakfast yesterday and all morning I sat at work analyzing each grumble or trying to figure out if I felt more tired than usual because of the egg. Like I said earlier, I can't use D as a gage right now and generally have to depend on stomach aches and fatigue to let me know if I made a poor choice. At one point mid morning I though it would have been easier to skip the egg and have a bowl of Chex! It was good though.
Well, the results you received Deb, did not look anything like the results Tex posted of other members' scores. They were easier to read and had more specific numbers to go by--yours were so general! I guess if I take the plunge and do the test I want more specifics than you received. Are they doing it differently now, or was it that you did not show specific reactivity to anything so it was all averages and ranges?
I am so glad that you shared this because it raises a bunch of questions I want answered before I ask my doctor to order it. I hear both you and Susie feeling like it was not helpful. Are their other people who felt like they did not get their money's worth? I would be very upset to spend that kind of money (or know that my insurance has spent that kind of money) for not a whole lot of specific sensitivities. If I KNOW I am definitely sensitive to something and it doesn't show up on the test, how do we know that it is valid for other things?
I am so glad that you shared this because it raises a bunch of questions I want answered before I ask my doctor to order it. I hear both you and Susie feeling like it was not helpful. Are their other people who felt like they did not get their money's worth? I would be very upset to spend that kind of money (or know that my insurance has spent that kind of money) for not a whole lot of specific sensitivities. If I KNOW I am definitely sensitive to something and it doesn't show up on the test, how do we know that it is valid for other things?
Jane
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis 12/19/12
"When it gets dark enough,you can see the stars."
Charles A. Beard
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis 12/19/12
"When it gets dark enough,you can see the stars."
Charles A. Beard
Jane,
The Panel A and Panel B tests at EnteroLab are very specific (they are the most specific food sensitivity tests of any kind that are available anywhere in the world).
The Panel C tests are relative (for the individual foods), but specific for the entire group. Therefore, if the reactivity result for the entire group is negative, (that is, if all of the foods do not show any significant degree of reactivity, as was the case with DebE's results), then no relative rankings for the individual foods is possible. IOW, her result on panel C was negative, which is a good thing, IMO.
To my way of thinking, a negative test result is not a waste of money, any more than a positive test result is a waste of money. If you will look at all of DebE13's test results here, you will see that all of her other test results were positive, so it's good news to get a negative result, for a change. Apparently I have a different attitude about test results, because anytime I receive a negative test result, I'm a happy camper, not disappointed because I spent money on a test that yielded a negative result.
We shouldn't confuse frustration with disappointment. And we should always remember that the perfect test for anything has not yet been invented, and it never will be, because it exists only in the minds of dreamers. In the real world, perfection does not exist (despite claims to the contrary). Everything has a few warts, whether they are visible, or not.
Tex
The Panel A and Panel B tests at EnteroLab are very specific (they are the most specific food sensitivity tests of any kind that are available anywhere in the world).
The Panel C tests are relative (for the individual foods), but specific for the entire group. Therefore, if the reactivity result for the entire group is negative, (that is, if all of the foods do not show any significant degree of reactivity, as was the case with DebE's results), then no relative rankings for the individual foods is possible. IOW, her result on panel C was negative, which is a good thing, IMO.
To my way of thinking, a negative test result is not a waste of money, any more than a positive test result is a waste of money. If you will look at all of DebE13's test results here, you will see that all of her other test results were positive, so it's good news to get a negative result, for a change. Apparently I have a different attitude about test results, because anytime I receive a negative test result, I'm a happy camper, not disappointed because I spent money on a test that yielded a negative result.
We shouldn't confuse frustration with disappointment. And we should always remember that the perfect test for anything has not yet been invented, and it never will be, because it exists only in the minds of dreamers. In the real world, perfection does not exist (despite claims to the contrary). Everything has a few warts, whether they are visible, or not.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Yup- I totally agree Tex 
Now that the more rational me has pondered the results, you are absolutely right. I have enough problems to deal with and this is a confirmation that I don't have to turn the page to keep the list going. Had I not done the test, it would ALWAYS be in the back of my mind- what if..... I did it with soy already and the Enterolab tests put an end to that thought.
Hopefully the answer now will be time.
Now that the more rational me has pondered the results, you are absolutely right. I have enough problems to deal with and this is a confirmation that I don't have to turn the page to keep the list going. Had I not done the test, it would ALWAYS be in the back of my mind- what if..... I did it with soy already and the Enterolab tests put an end to that thought.
Hopefully the answer now will be time.
Tex explained it perfectly Jane. I was confused at first also. I didn't realize that she had already done tests A and B ( which are specific) and this was the results from panel C.
I wish I had some good ideas for you DebE. Are you taking Budesonide? I remember when my body was telling me it had had enough of that drug when I started to get pain.
Leah
I wish I had some good ideas for you DebE. Are you taking Budesonide? I remember when my body was telling me it had had enough of that drug when I started to get pain.
Leah
Ahhhh...I "get it" now. I thought this was everything. I didn't know that DebE had done the other panels. I guess I am so used to hearing about "false negatives" (for instance in cases where no biopsies are done in a colonoscopy and one is patted on the head and told they have IBS) so I thought that was the case here.
I do think that you are pretty lucky, DebE. I would like my testing to come out as well as that, too!
I do think that you are pretty lucky, DebE. I would like my testing to come out as well as that, too!
Jane
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis 12/19/12
"When it gets dark enough,you can see the stars."
Charles A. Beard
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis 12/19/12
"When it gets dark enough,you can see the stars."
Charles A. Beard
I believe that's the most vivid description of the routine that GI specialists follow when they misdiagnose an IBD as IBS that I've ever seen.Jane wrote:I guess I am so used to hearing about "false negatives" (for instance in cases where no biopsies are done in a colonoscopy and one is patted on the head and told they have IBS) so I thought that was the case here.
Great description! 
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.