Primary Care Physician

[nothing but nicole]

I dont have a primary care, I just have an OBGYN and a GI doctor, is it important that I find one that is knowlegable in Celiac or should I not bother and just continue to go to my GI doctor and other doctors as needed?

When I started having problems I called my sister's primary care, who is also the physician who visits my job on a weekly basis, and they told me that I needed to go to a doctor that knew my history. The same doctor laughed at my sister when she asked to be tested for the gene since me and another sister have Celiac. I just moved to florida a year ago and havent bothered to go to a primary care. So obviously I dont want to go to that doc, anyone know of any good docs in northern florida (Jacksonville area) if I even need one?

[lorka150]

I don't have a Primary Care... Just an internist I see every 3 months, and a GI when needed. If I ever need to see anyone else, my internist refers me. I can't give you a recommendation, but honestly, I don't think that you're in need of a huge hurry if you are under care already.

[sherylj]

I dont have a primary care, I just have an OBGYN and a GI doctor, is it important that I find one that is knowlegable in Celiac or should I not bother and just continue to go to my GI doctor and other doctors as needed?

When I started having problems I called my sister's primary care, who is also the physician who visits my job on a weekly basis, and they told me that I needed to go to a doctor that knew my history. The same doctor laughed at my sister when she asked to be tested for the gene since me and another sister have Celiac. I just moved to florida a year ago and havent bothered to go to a primary care. So obviously I dont want to go to that doc, anyone know of any good docs in northern florida (Jacksonville area) if I even need one?

Hello,,Your gastro dr. will be the most helpful I think..I am new so I think you will get some more knowledgeable sources. My insurance co. requires me to go through a primary care physician,,if your insurance co. doesn't you are lucky cause my primary care listened for 10 years about my symptoms,,was sympathic but didn't recommended the test. I wish I had been more assertive. The last 10 years of my life might have been very different!

So,,,get a dr. that KNOWS about celiac. A dr. who laughs when questioned about celiac is not the person you want treating you.

From reading other posts it seems some have been diagnosed with allergist and others have the small intestine biopsy which I think is the best source. I had my biopsy a few weeks ago and it confirmed celiac. I feel like giving my Primary Care a boot in the !!!!! If you want to go for the biopsy then you need to continue to eat wheat,,,I have read that your villi begin to heal within 3 days and if the villi are not damaged what good is the test. I ate wheat heavily for a week before my biopsy but I have read othr post that indicate you have to eat wheat for two months!!

You didn't say how severe your symptoms are? And are there mental/emotional as well as digestive/skin problems? Sherylj

[Guest cassidy]

I am a drug rep who works with primary care doctors. I bring them lunch and most ask why I'm eating something different, so I explain that I have celiac. Out of the 100+ doctors I have brought lunch to, I would say that 50% have heard of it but are not sure exactly what it is, 25% know that you can't have gluten but are not sure what that is in and 25% have never had a patient with celiac in their 20 or 30 years of practicing. So, just based on what I have seen it is tough to find a doctor who has dealt with celiac.

I chose a different route and found a doctor who doesn't argue with me. He had one patient with celiac but he is one of these doctors that will give me a script if I request one or order a test if I ask for one. I wouldn't trust him if I had a serious problem that I couldn't identify, but he works out fine for normal issues. Once my diet has been under control I haven't needed to go to a doctor at all and since celiac isn't something that needs to be monitored (as long as you are doing well), I think if you have a gi that understands it you are in good shape.

Some people do have good doctors, so there is hope, but it may take a bit of digging to find one.

[debmidge]

I suggest that you ask your GI for a recommendation for a General Practioner; remind him/her that you need someone who is at least eager to learn about celiac disease if they don't know too much about it in first place; but you'd prefer someone who knows what celiac disease is.

[darlindeb25]

I finally have found a primary care physician that I really like. He admits to not knowing much about celiac disease and what he knows now is from info I have given him, yet he is always willing to listen and learn. He offers advice and is always ready to find me a good specialist, if needed. My insurance does require referrals, so I do need a PCP. I do trust him with me, that's wonderful.