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I plan to have the Enterolab food sensitivity in the gut tests in the near future. But before I do those tests, it makes sense to rule out IgA deficiency, which if I had that, I wouldn't want to spend the money on the Enterolab tests, since IgA deficient persons could get false negative results at Enterolab. (Do I have this correct so far?)
At Tex's suggestion, I asked my Dr. for the IgA Deficiency blood test, and she order the lab to give me the IgA,Serum test. The results are in: my value is 162, and the standard range is 87 - 426 mg/dL.
Q1. Did I get the correct blood test?
Q2. What does a value of 162 indicate? (Hopefully it means that I am not IgA deficient, and can move forward with the Enterolab tests)
Thanks in advance for any responses to this! Have a great weekend everyone!!
“Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.” - Samuel Johnson
"When making your choices in life, do not forget to live." - Samuel Johnson
Yes, that is the correct test, and yes, your result is well within the normal range, so you should be good to go with the EnteroLab stool tests.
You're very welcome, and I hope your weekend is most enjoyable too.
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.
Great! Thank you, Tex, for taking the time on a Friday night to answer my questions! Take care!
“Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.” - Samuel Johnson
"When making your choices in life, do not forget to live." - Samuel Johnson
Thanks for asking this question, Cinemom and thanks for your answer, Tex!
I tapered off Entecort very slowly and had my last pill on April 16 - almost 2 months ago. So far, so good. My Rheumy is retiring but he was so impressed that I'm now off all 4 of my gastro and arthritis meds that he agreed to order and IgA test for me. I talked to the helpful folks at Enterolab and they suggested waiting 6 months from my last pill. On one hand, I'm impatient to pinpoint my sensitivities, but on the other hand, I don't want to waste 1/2 a thousand bucks on false results. I'm thinking of splitting the difference and having the IgA test mid-July. Hopefully, all will go well to proceed with the stool test!
Meanwhile, I keep a strict diet. I really don't want to have to go on Entecort and start back at square one. Yes, it's boring but it's also pretty easy when you get used to it. You just have to keep your special foods around at all times. Breakfast is 2 thin rice cakes with almond butter and jam. I eat an egg every other day. Lunch is a cup of white rice with fish or meat and a veg. Dinner is meat or fish and 2 cooked veggies. Luckily, the big garden is starting to produce so I have some terrific, fresh veggies to choose from! Treats are 90% chocolate, white wine, Nabisco rice thins, and fruit sorbet. Life is good!
I couldn't have done it without all your support. I am excited about the new website which I think will attract more people. Thank you all!
Chris
Hi Chris,
I went off all prescriptions (2) immediately following my diagnosis. Then I found this website, and thank goodness it exists, because the only help I got from my GI was his suggestion to take Pepto. He didn't want to start me on steroids and I agreed. Since this is a lifetime disease, I didn't want to take anything unless absolutely necessary - I feel I have a long way to go to understand this disease, and it turns out I got along without a prescription, although I presented pretty severely he said.
I took nothing to alleviate the WD until about a 2 months ago. I regret not taking some anti-diarrheal during these 9 months, but I got through it. I now take Immodium generic (2mg) about every 24 hours. I will take an additional 2mg if needed for an event or if I stray from my diet (like eating fruit which has caused WD.) Not taking any medications since diagnosis did help me understand very quickly what foods hurt and what foods helped during these first months. My diet is GF, DF, SF. I do eat eggs almost daily, and eat avocado every day. My only added fats are EV Coconut oil and EVOO. I have had moderate success with diet alone, and my stool started forming after 6 months to a Bristol 6 or 5. But just recently I took a trip over several days and ate restaurant food, being as careful as possible. But that few days un-did all my success, and returned home with WD again. So I'm back at my healing foods diet and now improving.
I'm curious what I may be reacting to and to what degree, so the Enterolab is my next step. But having accepted the fact that more damage can be done by eating Gluten especially, keeps me motivated to embrace this way of eating. I feel better than I did leading up to the diagnosis - I was an inflamed mess! Now - very little rosacea, no more abdominal pain (rarely) and no headaches. And, that bought of horrible myalgia that I wrote about here - thank goodness that was just temporary!! I believe it was caused by taking a very strong Probiotic while I was initially healing, and that just did me in, so I dropped taking those and any thing else immediately. I am grateful to know what I must do. And grateful for my DH who eats whatever I cook without complaining! He is on this way of eating with me, for better or for worse! lol
Typical day of eating:
Rice, egg, avocado for breakfast, almond milk latte I make later in morning
Chicken and veggies for lunch; tea w/honey in the late afternoon, sometimes with a GF coconut macaroon
Meat and veggies for dinner w/potato or rice
I got an Instant Pot - pressure cooker which is really great. It cooks pot roast or any meat so tender, juicy and quick! I love it, it really saves me time. I still work, so I need all the time saving devices I can find.
And I can eat my 85% dark choco and a little wine on occasion, too! So I agree that life is good! I don't have a garden, but visit our Farmer's Market every week for the best produce in town.
I'll have to look for a good fruit sorbet recipe, or do you buy something legal? haha
“Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.” - Samuel Johnson
"When making your choices in life, do not forget to live." - Samuel Johnson
You and I eat very similarly, indeed!
One thing you might try is an antihistamine. I have tried a few different kinds but now take a 60mg. Allegra (fexofenadine) once or twice a day and 1/2 Benadryl tab at bedtime. It's especially helpful during allergy season when the histamines that I react to in some foods gives my seasonal allergies a double whammy.
Good luck w/the Enterolab testing - can't wait to get mine.
P.S. - I don't check this site as much in the summer because I'm outside all day with our small farm...
Chris
