How Can I Find A Good Doctor In Colorado?

[rantipoles]

Hello. This is my first post on celiac.com. After having 10 years of digestive problems that were repeatedly misdiagnosed as either acid reflux or IBS, I had a basic blood test come back positive for celiac. The upper GI biopsies came back negative. Because of this, my doctor gave me a diagnosis of "mildly gluten-sensitive" and told me to just avoid gluten. The problem is, I suspect I'm having cross reactions with other foods (proteins that my body is mistaking for gluten) and have yet to feel much symptom relief under the gluten-free diet after a month. I recently switched jobs and lost my health insurance, but I will be looking to see what is available under Obamacare once the health care exchanges open in October.

 

As I compare options, I'd like to know if anyone knows of a good doctor who knows about gluten issues and celiac issues and is competent in treating individuals with this problem. My experience thus far dealing with both general practitioners and GI doctors has been frustrating. I understand that gluten problems are a relatively new and little understood area of medicine, but I am getting tired of paying $50 copays to doctors who seem to know even less than I do about celiac. I'd also really love to find a doctor who might be able to help me heal my gut enough to where I might eventually be able to eat some of the foods that I'm intolerant of right now (I know, gluten's out forever, but I really, really don't want to have to give up coffee for the rest of my life). If anyone knows a good doctor anywhere along the Colorado Front Range area, I'd really, really appreciate knowing about him or her. Thank you all.

[kareng]

You might have a hard time finding a legit doctor that will help you with " cross- re activities" as that isn't really scientifically backed up at this point.

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It can take a year or more to get better from Celiac. You might want to cut dairy, if you haven't, as that is hard to digest with damaged villi. Maybe make sure you are really gluten-free for a few months and see how it goes. It is possible there are other health issues or even other foods you are intolerant to.

[tonalynn]

Where are you in Colorado? I had no idea I have celiac until I was diagnosed last October by a naturopath in Boulder. She is really great, has been gluten free herself for 20 years and deals with a lot of patients with celiac and gluten intolerance. She also works with an MD in the office, so if you needed prescriptions or something, they can take care of that too.

 

If you like, you can message me and I'll give you her contact info. :-)

[Rachelle#]

I'm curious if anyone has a good GI doctor in or around the Denver Metro area? If so, I am in need of one. I've been gluten free for 3 years (never tested for celiac just knew my hand rash went away with not eating gluten).  After two rounds of antibiotics last Feb I developed a white appearance towards the back of my tongue that did not clear with Diflucan or Nystatin, so was ruled to be "hairy tongue." A few months after I started to have extreme bloating and diarrhea after very small amounts of dairy. I've seen a GI doctor, but after 1 visit and no tests was told I have IBS and should take fiber.  I stopped dairy last week and symptoms are gone. Not sure why I suddenly can't tolerate dairy and part of me thinks, great what will be next. I would love to have a provider that could help me make sense of all this.