Referral Needed For Doc In Portland, Or

[jlinc]

Hi,

Has someone out there has had experience with a celiac specialist in Portland? I think there must be someone good up at OHSU, but given some of my previous experiences, I would like to get a referral before I plunk down my (all my?) money.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much!

Josh.

[kristi]

Josh I want to know too, you are not alone. I'm currently in Portland as well. At this point I'd travel anywhere and relocate for awhile to get this figured out. Here's my story already posted...My original diagnosis showed up with high IgG and low levels of adrenal antibodies in my blood work from a gland specialist in a hospital. I was so sick back then and was seeing a zillion doctors in the Seattle area. I felt like I was dieing and all of them weren't coming up with anything. I kept asking where I could go for more tests and a different kind of specialist with what they found in the bloodwork but they just said no more tests, just don't eat wheat and see your GP. My general practioner said she had never heard of such a thing, she had no idea how to read the test results and ran to her computer in the hall shortly followed by bringing in a nurse for "dietary advice". The nurse said, "Now it's important not to eat flour." That was it! I think you got a longer sentance out of them. That is just scary. Oh my gosh there is so much more to it. I had learned more than that the evening before on the very first hit on the internet. They sent me out the door. I went back to the hospital pleading for direction and they aimed me to an allergy clinic were I spent hundreds and hundreds $$$ (on top of the thousands already spent) just for me to finally learn there is a difference between intolerances and allergies as this was showing nothing. They only tested for allergies not intollerances at that clinic. Nobody seems to be very educated in this. I sure we are not a unique experience. I'm afraid to experient and go backwards without a good doctor in the wings while I do home tests if that involves eating more wheat to get correct results. I'm up for a trip to the east coast, lower west coast, Europe??? Keep in touch if you get any direction, especially local ! Thanks

Kristi

[burdee]

Kristi: I'm sorry you had such a frustrating experience with Seattle area docs. I was misdiagnosed for over 10 years by Group Health docs in the Seattle area. However I FINALLY found a fantastic celiac naturopath who founded the Seattle IBS Treatment Center. He doesn't just give that IBS diagnosis and say 'good luck', like most docs. He believes IBS is caused by (1) celiac disease; (2) other food allergies; (3) bacterial dysbiosis (too much bad bacteria and too little good bacteria); (4) yeast and/or (5) parasites. He uses specific tests to determine the cause of IBS symptoms. Then he treats the CAUSES of the symptoms, rather than just medicating or dismissing the symptoms.

I've seen him since last August and discovered through blood tests 2 more food allergies and a nasty bacterial infection, which I treated with an herbal med and probiotics. (I already had diagnosed celiac disease, dairy and soy allergies before I say him.) He sees out of town patients initially at his Seattle office, but can consult by phone and email thereafter, if travel is too expensive or difficult for follow-up visits. His name is Dr. Stephan Wangen, ND, at the IBS Treatment Center in Seattle, 206-264-1111. You can also read his website at Open Original Shared Link where he explains his approach.

BURDEE