Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Why Are Knowledgeable Doctor's So Hard To Find?

eden-arteaga

By eden-arteaga
in Doctors

Recommended Posts

eden-arteaga Rookie
eden-arteaga
Posted

I live in Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley area to be exact. I've consulted 3 doctor's already, one GI and two General Practitioners. Nobody seems to know anything about Celiac's or how to test for it. After having stomach problems for nearly four years, constant diarrhea, bloating, cramping, and nausea when I eat the only answers I've gotten is you probably just have IBS or acid reflux. When my first cousin was diagnosed six months ago with Celiac's I started doing my own research and tried eating Gluten Free. I've been Gluten Free for about two weeks now and I'm feeling a lot better generally speaking. I only have gotten sick a few times. Even though it seems to be Celiac's, ( I've also been anemic for years, gotten frequent headaches, and light headedness along with the GI symptoms) I would like to know for sure! So far my GI has tested for ulcers & gallbladder disease. When I asked him to test me for Celiac's his reply was "if it looks like a Zebra don't go chasing a Horse." I recently left him a message asking him again to test me for Celiac's since my other tests came back negative, and since the Gluten Free diet seemed to be working and he hasn't returned my calls. My other two doctor's have stated that they would need to do more research and they are not familiar with even how to do the blood tests for the disease. Does anyone know a Doctor in my area with knowledge of Celiac's? I'm beginning to get so frustrated with the whole thing, it makes me want to say forget it!!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


queenofhearts Explorer
queenofhearts
Posted

I really feel for you, Eden. My previous doctors didn't catch on to Celiac's despite 20 years of recurrent diarrhea, anemia, joint pain & migraines. It was only elevated liver enzymes (& even then a clear CAT scan) that finally got me a referral to the wonderful specialist who almost instantly diagnosed Celiac's just from my list of symptoms. Endoscopy confirmed it. It's distressing that even your GI specialist isn't seeing the pattern, but my first GI didn't either. (Good ol' IBS was his diagnosis.)

I hope another L.A. Celiac can help you find a doctor who knows what he/she is doing. But be careful of following the gluten free diet before you are diagnosed as it can throw off the test results.

Hang in there! You sound exactly like me pre-diagnosis, so keep fighting to get tested.

Leah

eden-arteaga Rookie
eden-arteaga
Posted
  • Author

Thanks Leah! It does seem like we've had a few similar experiences. I appreciate the support!!

Samantha Newbie
Samantha
Posted

Eden:

Go to the Celiac Sprue Association website (csa.org) and look for local units or use this link Open Original Shared Link

Someone there should be able to point you in the right direction.

I have really bad news for you, though. You are probably going to have to start eating gluten again before you're tested so that they can get a positive diagnosis.

Good luck!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,538
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Josiemc
    Newest Member
    Josiemc
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Unusual bright yellow but odourless discharge

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Yes, I, too, have osteoporosis from years of malabsorption, too.  Thiamine and magnesium are what keep the calcium in place in the bones.  If one is low in magnesium, boron, selenium, zinc, copper, and other trace minerals, ones bone heath can suffer.  We need more than just calcium and Vitamin D for strong bones.  Riboflavin B 2, Folate B 9 and Pyridoxine B 6 also contribute to bone formation and strength.   Have you had your thyroid checked?  The thyroid is important to bone health as well.  The thyroid uses lots of thiamine, so a poorly functioning thyroid will affect bone heath.  
    • Celiac50
      Unusual bright yellow but odourless discharge

      By Celiac50 · Posted

      That sounds so very likely in my case! I will absolutely ask my doctor on my next bone check coming up in March... Thanks a lot! 
    • trents
      Unusual bright yellow but odourless discharge

      By trents · Posted

      Calcium levels as measured in the blood can be quite deceiving as the body will rob calcium from the bones to meet demands for it by other bodily functions. Also, supplementing with calcium can be counterproductive as it tends to raise gut pH and decrease absorption. More often than not, the problem is poor absorption to begin with rather than deficiency of intake amounts in the diet. Calcium needs an acidic environment to be absorbed. This is why so many people on PPIs develop osteoporosis. The PPIs raise gut pH. And some people have high gut PH for other reasons. Low pH equates to a more acidic environment whereas high pH equates to a more basic (less acidic) environment.
    • Celiac50
      Unusual bright yellow but odourless discharge

      By Celiac50 · Posted

      Kind thanks for all this valuable information! Since my Folate was/is low and also my Calcium, there IS a chance I am low in B vitamins... My doctor only measured the first two, oh and Zinc as I has twisted her arm and guess what, that was mega low too. So who knows, until I get myself tested properly, what else I am deficient in... I did a hair mineral test recently and it said to avoid All sources of Calcium. But this is confusing for me as my Ca is so low and I have osteoporosis because of this. It is my Adjusted Ca that is on the higher side and shouldn't be. So am not sure why the mineral test showed high Ca (well, it was medium in the test but relative to my lowish Magnesium, also via hair sample, it was high I was told). But anyway, thanks again for the VitB download, I will look into this most certainly!
    • ElisaAllergiesgluten
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By ElisaAllergiesgluten · Posted

      Hello good afternoon, I was wondering if anyone has ever brought their anti-allergy pills? I have been wanting to use their Cetirizine HCI 10mg. They are called HealthA2Z and distributed by Allegiant Health.I’m also Asthmatic and these allergies are terrible for me but I also want to be sure they don’t have any sort of gluten compound.    I have tried calling them but to no avail. Has anyone ever used them? If so, did you had any problems or no problems at all?    thank you
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.