Has anyone had testing done here by chance?
http://www.foodallergytest.com/
Hugs,
C
Sage Medical Laboratory??
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I just started reading this website a few weeks ago and am newly diagnosed with LC. When I attended a conference on Chronic Pain, there were reps from this firm attending who said there was often a connection between chronic pain and food allergies. They have a pretty aggressive marketing program to try to get you to use their lab. I believe the price was at or over $1000, they said covered by Medicare. Now that I also have this problem, I wonder if there really is a connection and if this would help. I also wonder what the difference is between these tests and the ones I saw lesewhere on this site recommended by a firm in Texas doing stool and mouth swab labs. Maybe Tex knows????.......
Bob,
The Sage test is a blood test, and it is expensive because blood tests for allergies are much more expensive than skin tests, in general, (because of all the lab work required to analyze the data, whereas skin tests can be interpreted visually). Also, they are expensive because they test for many items, (44 per panel, and three panels are offered).
The Enterolab tests are even more expensive, because of the difficulty in dealing with the test medium, (feces). The Entgerolab tests are very specific, and they are extremely accurate, and very sensitive, due to the fact that they test for antibodies in the medium in which it is originally generated, (the contents of the intestines). By the time enough antibodies are generated in the intestines, so that they show up in detectable levels in the blood, a lot of damage has already been experienced by the intestines. Celiac disease, for example, can be reliably detected in the stool, months/years before it can be detected by any blood test available. In fact, the Enterolab tests are so specific, that when you order a gluten test, (gliadin antibody test), it will detect only antibodies to wheat gluten. It will not detect, for example, antibodies to the gluten equivalent in barley, (hordein), or rye, (secalin), even though anyone who is sensitive to wheat gluten, is also automatically sensitive to those other prolamin proteins.
Because of the cost, Enterolab only offers tests for the main proteins that cause reactions, so there is a limited selection of tests, and each test only checks for antibodies for one food item. That said, they do offer tests for the most common food intolerance problems, such as gluten, (wheat), casein, (cow's milk), soya, (soy beans), egg whites, and dietary yeast.
Yes, there definitely appears to be a connection between food intolerances and chronic pain, because when we stop eating the foods that we are sensitive to, our pain gradually goes away. The gluten sensitivity that usually comes with MC can cause gut pain, muscle pain, joint pain, connective tissue issues, etc. This doesn't happen to everyone who has MC, but it affects many of us. Gluten sensitivity can cause a unique form of arthritis that behaves like RA, except that it usually does not present symmetrically, that is to say, it can develop in one hand, but not the other, or one knee, but not the other. A lot of GI docs are unaware of that side effect, (probably most of them are unaware of it), but it was a serious problem for me, before I cut gluten out of my diet. (One knee got so painful that I had to walk with a cane, and I had a couple of fingers that began to grow very crooked, and, of course, they hurt like the devil, constantly).
Here's what Sage says about the technology behind their tests:
From the perspective of someone with MC, the biggest problem that I can see, is that most clients are paying for a lot of tests that will be of no value to him or her. Experience has shown that while many of those foods can irritate the gut, until it heals, we are only truly intolerant of a few items on their list, which I named above, in reference to the Enterolab tests. If you read a lot of support boards for issues that involve food sensitivities, such as MC, Crohn's, celiac disease, etc., you will come across dozens/hundreds/thousands of unsolicited testimonials for the value of the tests done by Enterolab, but very few that praise other lab tests - at least, that's been my impression from reading those boards.
The cheek swabs, incidentally, are used for genetic testing. If you are interested, you can see the results for many of us who have had that test, tabulated here:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2645
We have discovered, for example, that those of us with double DQ genes, (such as double DQ1, or double DQ2), virtually always have many food intolerances, and also have a much more difficult time achieving remission.
Tex
The Sage test is a blood test, and it is expensive because blood tests for allergies are much more expensive than skin tests, in general, (because of all the lab work required to analyze the data, whereas skin tests can be interpreted visually). Also, they are expensive because they test for many items, (44 per panel, and three panels are offered).
The Enterolab tests are even more expensive, because of the difficulty in dealing with the test medium, (feces). The Entgerolab tests are very specific, and they are extremely accurate, and very sensitive, due to the fact that they test for antibodies in the medium in which it is originally generated, (the contents of the intestines). By the time enough antibodies are generated in the intestines, so that they show up in detectable levels in the blood, a lot of damage has already been experienced by the intestines. Celiac disease, for example, can be reliably detected in the stool, months/years before it can be detected by any blood test available. In fact, the Enterolab tests are so specific, that when you order a gluten test, (gliadin antibody test), it will detect only antibodies to wheat gluten. It will not detect, for example, antibodies to the gluten equivalent in barley, (hordein), or rye, (secalin), even though anyone who is sensitive to wheat gluten, is also automatically sensitive to those other prolamin proteins.
Because of the cost, Enterolab only offers tests for the main proteins that cause reactions, so there is a limited selection of tests, and each test only checks for antibodies for one food item. That said, they do offer tests for the most common food intolerance problems, such as gluten, (wheat), casein, (cow's milk), soya, (soy beans), egg whites, and dietary yeast.
Yes, there definitely appears to be a connection between food intolerances and chronic pain, because when we stop eating the foods that we are sensitive to, our pain gradually goes away. The gluten sensitivity that usually comes with MC can cause gut pain, muscle pain, joint pain, connective tissue issues, etc. This doesn't happen to everyone who has MC, but it affects many of us. Gluten sensitivity can cause a unique form of arthritis that behaves like RA, except that it usually does not present symmetrically, that is to say, it can develop in one hand, but not the other, or one knee, but not the other. A lot of GI docs are unaware of that side effect, (probably most of them are unaware of it), but it was a serious problem for me, before I cut gluten out of my diet. (One knee got so painful that I had to walk with a cane, and I had a couple of fingers that began to grow very crooked, and, of course, they hurt like the devil, constantly).
Here's what Sage says about the technology behind their tests:
ELISA testing is a well-established method of testing, that's used for other food testing, in addition to allergies, (such as testing for mycotoxins, contamination, etc.). IgG antibodies are predominantly a secondary antibody response, which occurs approximately a month after the immune system recognizes an antigen. Therefore, the presence of specific IgG typically corresponds to a "mature" antibody response. IgM antibodies appear within minutes after exposure, (and in some cases they can appear in seconds), whereas IgA and IgE antibodies are produced soon afterward. They specifically mention that they measure both the IgG antibodies, and the "immune complex". To be honest, I'm not sure what could be gained by measuring the immune complex, in addition to the IgG antibodies. The "immune complex" that they refer to, is the combination of the epitope, (which is the part of the antigen that the immune system responds to), and the antibody. Since the immune complex already contains the antibody, (by definition), it's not obvious to me, why measuring it again, (in combination with the epitope from the antigen that they use to trigger the response), would provide any additional information of value. It sounds good, though, when they refer to it as a "patent-pending" process.Sage Complement Antigen Technology
The Sage Complement Antigen Test
The Sage Complement Antigen Test is based on an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA) which measures the presence of both IgG and immune complexes against a wide variety of foods, food additives and dye antigens in a patient's serum. Unlike other ELISA tests, which measure only IgG, this test employs a unique process (patent-pending) to measure both IgG and immune complex. Simultaneously, it measures Type II and III reactions, the test provides physicians with a more complete picture than measuring IgG alone.
From the perspective of someone with MC, the biggest problem that I can see, is that most clients are paying for a lot of tests that will be of no value to him or her. Experience has shown that while many of those foods can irritate the gut, until it heals, we are only truly intolerant of a few items on their list, which I named above, in reference to the Enterolab tests. If you read a lot of support boards for issues that involve food sensitivities, such as MC, Crohn's, celiac disease, etc., you will come across dozens/hundreds/thousands of unsolicited testimonials for the value of the tests done by Enterolab, but very few that praise other lab tests - at least, that's been my impression from reading those boards.
The cheek swabs, incidentally, are used for genetic testing. If you are interested, you can see the results for many of us who have had that test, tabulated here:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2645
We have discovered, for example, that those of us with double DQ genes, (such as double DQ1, or double DQ2), virtually always have many food intolerances, and also have a much more difficult time achieving remission.
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.
Sage worried me a bit on both of their websites due to the fact that nowhere on either site does it give a cost for their test. And emailing them for a price did not get a response..... And they seem to have a very aggressive marketing style...More telemarketing selling than scientific laboratory...
I just wondered if anyone had ever used them before...
Hugs,
C
I just wondered if anyone had ever used them before...
Hugs,
C
Carrie,
Hmmmmmmmmm. For all I know, their tests may well be AOK. Most "legitimate" labs don't go out of their way to hide their pricing, though. That part, and the aggressive marketing style, bother me more than a little, but maybe I'm just overly suspicious.
By the way, how is Rick doing, these days, (and how are you doing, also)?
Hugs,
Tex
Hmmmmmmmmm. For all I know, their tests may well be AOK. Most "legitimate" labs don't go out of their way to hide their pricing, though. That part, and the aggressive marketing style, bother me more than a little, but maybe I'm just overly suspicious.
By the way, how is Rick doing, these days, (and how are you doing, also)?
Hugs,
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.
Let's just say that after looking at their aggressive marketing on both websites, I don't think we would be sending them any money for testing. They are CLIA certified, so they are legit, I just get the vibe that they may be a bit shady...but I could be just as suspicious as you Sweetheart.
We are hanging in there, still no remission, but we are now growing our own veggies ( most are heirloom) and are trying to steer clear of all GMO products, to see if that helps any with him...
I'm good, still checking in here everyday to keep an eye on you all
Keeping the stock and both gardens going has me chasing my tail most days, so that is why I have not been posting as much.
How you are doing?
Hugs,
C
We are hanging in there, still no remission, but we are now growing our own veggies ( most are heirloom) and are trying to steer clear of all GMO products, to see if that helps any with him...
I'm good, still checking in here everyday to keep an eye on you all
Keeping the stock and both gardens going has me chasing my tail most days, so that is why I have not been posting as much. How you are doing?
Hugs,
C
Just curious - do you have your own well, or are you connected to a public water system? If you're connected to a public water system, do you check the analysis reports that they send out from time to time, just in case there might be minimal amounts of coliform, or formaldehyde, or other chemicals present? I'm sure the levels will almost always be maintained below regulatory limits, but there's always a chance that Rick might be super-sensitive to something, and it might not take much, on a daily basis, to perpetuate the problem. If I recall correctly, your part of Oklahoma had a lot of rain last year, (it seemed that way, anyway, because it was so dry here. 
), and I've noticed that whenever we have flooding conditions around here, traces of coliform, and various chemicals, show up in the water samples, even in water supply systems that get their water solely from wells. Systems that rely on surface water, have a much bigger problem with runoff contamination, of course. (I'm on a local NRCS district board, so I see a lot more data on water quality issues, than most folks normally see).
As for me, I can't complain. Outside of a few minor issues that crop up from time to time, due to getting older, the world is probably treating me better than I deserve.
The biggest problem around here, seems to be the drought, (as if that's something new. ). Thanks for asking.
Hugs,
Tex
), and I've noticed that whenever we have flooding conditions around here, traces of coliform, and various chemicals, show up in the water samples, even in water supply systems that get their water solely from wells. Systems that rely on surface water, have a much bigger problem with runoff contamination, of course. (I'm on a local NRCS district board, so I see a lot more data on water quality issues, than most folks normally see).As for me, I can't complain. Outside of a few minor issues that crop up from time to time, due to getting older, the world is probably treating me better than I deserve.
The biggest problem around here, seems to be the drought, (as if that's something new. ). Thanks for asking.Hugs,
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.
Water!! I never really thought about that as a problem, but you might be right. We are on a rural water district that has always tested safe, but usually squeaked by just barely. For that reason we run both a whole house filter and a filter for ice and tap water. I will check and see what the latest testing showed. Always worth checking into...Thanks Sweetheart!!!
Glad your doing well, wish we could send some of this rain your way, we are about to get nailed again....
Hugs,
C
Glad your doing well, wish we could send some of this rain your way, we are about to get nailed again....
Hugs,
C
Hi Carrie?
Just a note to say hi and to encourage you and Rick. We double DQs take a very long time to go into remission, so hang in there. Take it from me, the end result is well-worth the seemingly endless patience! If you have a moment, I'd like to see a list of all foods that Rick is now avoiding.
Love,
Polly
Just a note to say hi and to encourage you and Rick. We double DQs take a very long time to go into remission, so hang in there. Take it from me, the end result is well-worth the seemingly endless patience! If you have a moment, I'd like to see a list of all foods that Rick is now avoiding.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Hey Polly,
We are trudging along, refusing to give up. The new list of things we are avoiding is...(drum roll please)
Gluten
Soy
Dairy
GMO products (corn, potato starch, etc) only buying products from non-GMO companies.
store bought veggies(very big list, we are growing our own heirloom variety veggies and the seem to be okay for him)
Trying to figure out the safest water options, our rural water has tested out of range of a few things over the past years, we run a whole house filter plus a filter on the fridge water, but it still does not cover coliform...still working on that..
Triclosan (antibacterial linked to many GI issues)
Any store bought meats ( not hard, since we have our own beef,pork and eggs)
Pop (been using Blue Sky which has no GMO with no problems)
Hugs,
C
We are trudging along, refusing to give up. The new list of things we are avoiding is...(drum roll please)
Gluten
Soy
Dairy
GMO products (corn, potato starch, etc) only buying products from non-GMO companies.
store bought veggies(very big list, we are growing our own heirloom variety veggies and the seem to be okay for him)
Trying to figure out the safest water options, our rural water has tested out of range of a few things over the past years, we run a whole house filter plus a filter on the fridge water, but it still does not cover coliform...still working on that..
Triclosan (antibacterial linked to many GI issues)
Any store bought meats ( not hard, since we have our own beef,pork and eggs)
Pop (been using Blue Sky which has no GMO with no problems)
Hugs,
C