Orange County, CA Support Group

[Sai Pratap]

Hi! I just joined this group as my Primary Care Physician has informed me that I have Celiac disease after conducting some blood tests and wanted me to go on a gluten free diet.  I have two questions:

 1.  Is there a local support group in Orange County, California?

 2.  I have an appointment with a Gastroenterologist tomorrow.  Please advise what are the most important questions that I need to ask.

I am glad to be part of this group.  Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Sai

 

[cyclinglady]

Welcome!  

Here is a link to the OC local celiac group:

http://www.occeliacs.com

Please make sure you are still on a gluten diet.  It sounds like your PCP advised you to go on a gluten-free diet.  However, all celiac disease testing requires you to be on a full gluten diet and that includes the endoscopy to obtain small intestinal biopsies.  This is important.  Otherwise your biopsies may not show any damage.  The diet is recommended as a treatment, after a diagnosis.  With this pandemic, the protocol may change.  

If an endoscopy is ordered, make sure enough biopsies are obtained as the small intestine is larger than a tennis court.  Following the GI guidelines is your best bet.  

https://gi.org/topics/celiac-disease/

As stated in the link, if you do have celiac disease, your first-degree relatives should be screened even if asymptomatic.  A recent Mayo Clinic study indicated that relatives have a 44% chance of developing celiac disease.  A much larger number than previously thought.  

Glad you found us!