Doctor

[JCS]

I was recently diagnosed with celiac by endoscopy and blood tests. I received results on my patient portal. I called to ask about a followup to discuss a plan or if any further testing would be needed.  The office recommended a nutritionist and said they could see me the end of July. Is this normal for celiac? Am I pretty much on my own to figure this out? Any advise is much appreciated. 

[Scott Adams]

Unfortunately this seems to happen too often. You can get a big jump on this by learning about the gluten-free diet, and going gluten-free now. I see no reason to wait for two months if you're diagnosis is now official, which sounds like it is in your case. This article is a good starting point:

 

[GodsGal]

On 4/27/2021 at 3:53 PM, JCS said:

I was recently diagnosed with celiac by endoscopy and blood tests. I received results on my patient portal. I called to ask about a followup to discuss a plan or if any further testing would be needed.  The office recommended a nutritionist and said they could see me the end of July. Is this normal for celiac? Am I pretty much on my own to figure this out? Any advise is much appreciated. 

Hi JCS!

Yes, there is a huge learning curve. I felt totally overwhelmed at the beginning. And it is hard. But you can do this. Don't forget to breathe. 

I am not a medical professional, just a person who has also been diagnosed with celiac. You will need to avoid wheat, barley, rye, and probably oats as well. Read labels carefully, even the ones that say "gluten free". Watch for it in sauces and seasonings. You may have to give up dairy products. 

Some things that are not as obvious that can contain gluten include toothpaste, cosmetics, lotions, and medications. I found that after switching to gluten free soaps, shampoos, and conditioners my skin felt a lot better. Not as much itching.

I am glad you found this site. There is a lot of good information here. Do you know other people who have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity? Do you know of any support groups in your area? I've found that talking with a counselor and other people who have a similar diagnosis has been really helpful. 

You will probably make mistakes sometimes. At least I do. Give yourself a little grace and try again. 

Keep us posted!