after 3 months on GF diet all levels normal. Can it be????

[piak4@charter.net]

Hi all,

Wonder if you can help. My numbers were over 100 in June--positive biopsy and low iron. After 3 months on GF diet my numbers are now completely normal. How can this be? My GI doctor even said the other day that she wasn't expecting normal numbers yet, but at least lower. The nurse called today with these results and seemed to think that was fine. I'm not trying to make issues where there may be none, but I find it odd that in 3 months my numbers can decline so rapidly. By the way, I have no symptoms of celiac and never have--I was diagnosed from a routine physical because of low iron. Everyone in my family is negative except for my 12 y/o daughter who was just diagnosed. What do you make of this? Is it possible to have numbers decrease like this so quickly or do you think I was diagnosed incorrectly OR should I get my blood drawn again? WHEW!!! Thanks for listening. Look forward to some help. Ingrid from Ct.

[aklap]

Hi Ingrid,

Wow - that is interesting. It's been awhile since I've seen any stats on how long it takes for the number to change. I know followups are usually done at 6 months and then at 12 months.

As for diagnosis - I suspect it's hard to get a false positive reading on biopsy. Usually it's the other way around. It's positive, but the docs to catch the small changes.

Certainly a retest might be in order....either now...or keep doing what you're doing and see what the next set tests look like.

I'm glad you mentioned your no sx's except for low iron. Have they retested your iron too?? That'd be interesting to know too.

Thanks for the update!!
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[piak4@charter.net]

Hi Al,

Thanks for your quick response! Actually they said my iron was within normal levels now too. When I get a copy of the actual report I will post all my numbers. I thought having high numbers originally directly correlated to the damage, but if that were the case then I imagine I would not be so low now, right?

Thanks again for the info===will be in touch again soon. Ingrid

[Noatak]

I think it entirely possible for numbers to bounce back to normal within 3 months. For a number of reasons.....you are a fast healer, the damage was not so severe that it prevented you from healing faster, you eat a really good diet which would help enormously in that respect.....the list could go on. I noticed improvement after only 3 days and started to gain weight within a couple of months. I was at end stage and very sick and underweight at diagnosis. I also ate the best diet possible with organics, fresh meat and fish, lots and lots of fruits and veggies and took really good supplements from the doctor.

Pat yourself on the back.....you did a good job! Stay on the diet too!

[aklap]

Hi Ingrid,

I did a little snooping. Take a look: How long being GF will skew the results or How long will it take for blood work to normalize?.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa