Saw My Doctor Today

[Ursa Major]

Well, I went today and told my doctor that I have obviously celiac disease. She said that I did have all the symptoms, but she thought it couldn't be celiac disease, because I was gaining weight instead of losing it, so she didn't pursue testing for it.

I gave my doctor an interesting information session , but she was quite willing to listen.

She is convinced now that I actually have celiac disease, especially since all the tests she ordered (not looking for celiac but everything else, both stool and blood) came back negative. And of course, the amazing progress I've made since going gluten-free speaks for itself.

I also sent my homeopath (who was also clueless) some links to inform her of the facts of celiac disease. I hope that they will both recognize the signs of celiac disease in the next person, so they don't have to go through what I had to endure.

I am wondering: What ARE they teaching them in med school?

[Lisa]

I sure hope that you don't have all the celiac symptoms........there are over 200 of them.

I lost weight due to malnurishment, but there are many many others that have gained weight.

Glad that you pushed your way through. Good for you!!!!

[Guest nini]

I gained massive amounts of weight before my dx and my dr. recognized it as Celiac right away. I'm glad you gave your dr. an educational session! They need that!

[Ursa Major]

I sure hope that you don't have all the celiac symptoms........there are over 200 of them.

I lost weight due to malnurishment, but there are many many others that have gained weight.

Glad that you pushed your way through.  Good for you!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, Lisa, if I'd write a list of ALL the symptoms I had/have, it would take pages. My whole family had stopped listening, thinking I was a hypochondriac, claiming that NOBODY could have all those problems for real!

I doubt that I have all 200, though. But probably pretty close.

[yorkshire lass]

I find the 'it can't be celiac if you don't lose weight' thing very true too, The doctors over here insisted i couldn't have it because i had not lost weight untill i had the camera investigation and they found out i had

[tarnalberry]

I am wondering: What ARE they teaching them in med school?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The human body is *very* complex, and with all the things they've learned about it, there's no way a GP can know it all. They're teaching them anatomy, chemistry, physiology, psychology, more chemistry, and the diseases. I can't begin to fathom the amount of information they need to learn, as it covers such a wide spectrum of the human health capacity.

Honestly, I can't fault a GP for not thinking "ah, this must be celiac" at first, particularly since there are other, more common things, that cause many of the same symptoms (if not all together). I do, however, fault GP's for not at least having it down on their list somewhere (and hopefully studies on the true prevalence of celiac will cause it to go up in priority on their list), or accepting that they are not the only doctor-resource out there and hence referring their patients to another doctor when they're approach falls short. (And I'm not talking "over the course of two years" here, I mean "over the course of two or three months".)

[tiffjake]

Hi, I am new to the post and a new celiac. I had an Lame Advertisement Test that said that I had a gluten intolerance, so I cut out gluten for a couple of weeks. Then I found out about celiac disease and started researching. I am very overweight, so I thought that this could not be what I have, because several website's said that celiacs are very thin. So I went off of the gluten diet (I know, not smart, because I DID have a blood test) and ate a bowl of pasta. I got so sick that I was in the ER for hours as the doctor waited for my bowel sounds to start back up. He said that they were in shock. I just went to a health food store and stocked up today. I am so overwhelmed. I want to go to my primary care doc and talk about getting the anti-body test to confirm what the ER doc said (that it probably is celiac) but I am worried about a reaction like you had. Any pointers? I am really worried. I don't want to get sick like that again, but I don't want to be told that I am over reacting either......please help!!! TiffJake

[cornbread]

You can get the antibody test (and more) done in the comfort of your own home, via www.enterolab.com. All I ever seem to do is post links to Enterolab! but really, they are good and it's very simple. You get to see your own results with an explanation, and you can do what you want with the info.

[Ursa Major]

The human body is *very* complex, and with all the things they've learned about it, there's no way a GP can know it all.  They're teaching them anatomy, chemistry, physiology, psychology, more chemistry, and the diseases.  I can't begin to fathom the amount of information they need to learn, as it covers such a wide spectrum of the human health capacity.

Honestly, I can't fault a GP for not thinking "ah, this must be celiac" at first, particularly since there are other, more common things, that cause many of the same symptoms (if not all together).  I do, however, fault GP's for not at least having it down on their list somewhere (and hopefully studies on the true prevalence of celiac will cause it to go up in priority on their list), or accepting that they are not the only doctor-resource out there and hence referring their patients to another doctor when they're approach falls short.  (And I'm not talking "over the course of two years" here, I mean "over the course of two or three months".)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, I presented ALL MY LIFE (52 years) with symptoms of gluten intolerance, starting as a toddler. And NO DOCTOR ever put all the pieces together and figured it out, I finally figured it out myself, when I went into full blown Celiac disease in May and was terribly ill until October. And even then they didn't clue in, even though I went to the ER twice, and saw my doctor several times over the course of the summer.

I was severely anemic for several years, and had a very poor response to even twice weekly iron injections (a common symptom of celiac disease). I had joint and muscle pains all my life. Brain fog was bad from the time I was a little kid. Never had any energy. Bowel problems from a young age. Eight miscarriages. Problems with blood clotting............and the list is endless.

So, really, it's incredible that no doctor has ever had the slightest clue as to the real problem. And the one who did dismissed it, because she didn't know that weight gain can be a symptom, too!

Hi, I am new to the post and a new celiac. I had an Lame Advertisement Test that said that I had a gluten intolerance, so I cut out gluten for a couple of weeks. Then I found out about celiac disease and started researching. I am very overweight, so I thought that this could not be what I have, because several website's said that celiacs are very thin. So I went off of the gluten diet (I know, not smart, because I DID have a blood test) and ate a bowl of pasta. I got so sick that I was in the ER for hours as the doctor waited for my bowel sounds to start back up. He said that they were in shock. I just went to a health food store and stocked up today. I am so overwhelmed. I want to go to my primary care doc and talk about getting the anti-body test to confirm what the ER doc said (that it probably is celiac) but I am worried about a reaction like you had. Any pointers? I am really worried. I don't want to get sick like that again, but I don't want to be told that I am over reacting either......please help!!! TiffJake

Jake, why do you need any more evidence? Isn't it enough that you feel better being gluten free, and that you get deathly ill eating gluten? Just go gluten free, forget about doctors (you don't need them, medicine won't help you), and live happily and healthy ever after!

You'll find that you are going to lose weight on the gluten free diet without even trying. Since I went off gluten six weeks ago I lost about 20 pounds already (only about 70 to go now ), and I am feeling so much better!