Should I get tested for coeliac again?

[shebird]

My mum and 2 sisters have been diagnosed as coeliac. Last year I had the blood test with my GP as I felt I was suffering possible symptoms but this came back negative.

I still have the symptoms (tiredness, bloating, wind, irritability, stomach pain....) Shoud i just cut out gluten to see if there is any improvement or should I just go back to GP again for another test. Dont know if they will test again if it was negative last year? Interested to hear from anyone with similar experience.

I would strongly advise you NOT to go gluten free as this will prevent you from being re-tested and if you do feel loads better it will be very difficult to reintroduce gluten for a minimum of 6 weeks before you can have the necessary tests. I would go back to the GP and ask for a referral to a specialist given your family history and symptoms. I think you should have a biopsy as false negative results are quite common with the blood test and a biopsy is the only definitive way of either diagnosing or ruling out coeliac disease. You might have to fight for this though and I would recommend having a look at the NICE guidelines: publications.nice.org.uk/coeliac-disease-cg86/guidance, particularly point 1.1.18 and show this to your GP if necessary.

Thanks freefrommum I am aware of the need to be eating a diet containing gluten so I wasn't going to go gf until after testing. Was hoping a blood test would confirm it as I am not too keen on the biopsy really. Will speak to GP again and see if the are willing to let me have another blood test and go from there. I didnt realise that false negatives were so common.