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

Frustrated! How Do I Find A Doctor Who Can Work With Me On This Issue?


Threebrainedbeing

Recommended Posts

Threebrainedbeing Rookie

I live in NYC, am frustrated as hell with all my symptoms, feel like a hypochondriac, and my doctor isn't really very supportive or aggressive with investigating what is going on with my system. When I had a different doctor no longer with the practice, she sent me to a nutritionist who put me on an elimination diet which seemed to indicate I was having a reaction to gluten.

There is obviously something systemic going on because I get blepharitus or severe puffy eyelids periodically that are itchy and look like I've aged 20 years, wheeziness which seems to have finally gone away after eliminating gluten, and when I cheated recently I got a horrible irritable bowel syndrome with severe constipation gas pain and mucus that was so bad that I went to a gastroentronologist who performed a colonoscopy which revealed nothing. It is finally calming down but it is still not totally back to normal, and it's been months. My doctor has done a celiac blood test which came up negative and nobody, not even the gastroentronologist seems to have heard of the enterolab.

I am frustrated and feel as though there is no support in the medical field. It is obvious to me I have a gluten issue and I suspect I also have a candida issue, because many of the symptoms seem to fit. I am wondering if anyone out there has a more supportive doctor who does more thorough testing, or knows how to find one. The practice I am going to is supposed to have a holistic bent, but I am left unsatisfied.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Nancym Enthusiast

You might want to reevaluate if you really need a doctor for this. A doctor can't cure you, they know nothing about nutrition, there's no prescription that can help you with gluten sensitivity. I think what you have to do, what most of us did, was educate ourselves on the Internet, get our own testing or do dietary trials and figure it out on our own. The vast majority of MDs just aren't capable of dealing with this issue and it is a waste of time and money looking for one, IMHO.

kbtoyssni Contributor

It takes time to find a good doctor. I'd call around some of the doctors in your area and ask if they deal with celiac patients. Their response should give you a good indication of how open they will be to the disease. In my experience, younger doctors have been better. They're not set in their ways yet and tend to be open to alternative diagnoses. While you may not need a doctor to officially diagnose celiac, I prefer to have a doc who is aware of it since I will be seeing her at least once a year. I do not want to have a fight about celiac every time I go in and there are some conditions that are more common in celiacs that I'd like for her to be aware of.

Corsicana Grandma Rookie
I live in NYC, am frustrated as hell with all my symptoms, feel like a hypochondriac, and my doctor isn't really very supportive or aggressive with investigating what is going on with my system. When I had a different doctor no longer with the practice, she sent me to a nutritionist who put me on an elimination diet which seemed to indicate I was having a reaction to gluten.

There is obviously something systemic going on because I get blepharitus or severe puffy eyelids periodically that are itchy and look like I've aged 20 years, wheeziness which seems to have finally gone away after eliminating gluten, and when I cheated recently I got a horrible irritable bowel syndrome with severe constipation gas pain and mucus that was so bad that I went to a gastroentronologist who performed a colonoscopy which revealed nothing. It is finally calming down but it is still not totally back to normal, and it's been months. My doctor has done a celiac blood test which came up negative and nobody, not even the gastroentronologist seems to have heard of the enterolab.

I am frustrated and feel as though there is no support in the medical field. It is obvious to me I have a gluten issue and I suspect I also have a candida issue, because many of the symptoms seem to fit. I am wondering if anyone out there has a more supportive doctor who does more t

thorough testing, or knows how to find one. The practice I am going to is supposed to have a holistic bent, but I am left unsatisfied.

The doctor that I confer with is Carol Dalton, RN, NP. She works from the Helios Health Clinic in Boulder, Co. She is the one who cured the candida that I had for a dozen years - no other doctor could discover the problem. She discovered my gluten intolerance and casein allergy. She had me do the tests thru the EnterLab. She charges $120. a 30 minute session. Some of the best money I've ever spent.

Corsicana Grandma

Threebrainedbeing Rookie
I prefer to have a doc who is aware of it since I will be seeing her at least once a year. I do not want to have a fight about celiac every time I go in and there are some conditions that are more common in celiacs that I'd like for her to be aware of.

Thank you for understanding. This is exactlty why I'd like to have a doctor who is on board about this, and other holistic and preventative issues. I have been self-diagnosing for so long that it would be nice to have a doctor who can work with me on the issues to help me find the data I need, and there are certain conditions that can be actually worsened by being prescribed certain medications. I'd like to be treated holistically rather than piecemeal.

happygirl Collaborator

I don't have any personal experience with him, but have heard of Dr. Leo Galland in NYC, who deals with food issues and other more 'holistic' realms.

We have some NYC'ers on this board...maybe they will have some ideas?

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,912
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    westman3d
    Newest Member
    westman3d
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Rogol72
      @klmgarland, My dermatitis herpetiformis didn't clear up until I became meticulous about cross contamination. I cut out gluten-free oats and all gluten-free foods, dairy and gluten-free rice. Additionally, getting the right amount of protein for my body weight helped significantly in my body's healing process ... along with supplementing with enough of all the vitamins and minerals ... especially Zinc and Magnesium. I went from 70kg to 82kg in a year. Protein with each meal 3 times daily, especially eggs at breakfast made the difference. I'm not sure whether iodine was a problem for me, but I can tolerate iodine no problem now. I'm off Dapsone and feel great. Not a sign of an itch. So there is hope. I'm not advocating for the use of Dapsone, but it can bring a huge amount of relief despite it's effect on red blood cells. The itch is so distracting and debilitating. I tried many times to get off it, it wasn't until I implemented the changes above and was consistent that I got off it. Dermatitis Herpetiformis is horrible, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  
    • klmgarland
      Thank you so very much Scott.  Just having someone understand my situation is so very helpful.  If I have one more family member ask me how my little itchy skin thing is going and can't you just take a pill and it will go away and just a little bit of gluten can't hurt you!!!! I think I will scream!!
    • Scott Adams
      It is difficult to do the detective work of tracking down hidden sources of cross-contamination. The scenarios you described—the kiss, the dish towel, the toaster, the grandbaby's fingers—are all classic ways those with dermatitis herpetiformis might get glutened, and it's a brutal learning curve that the medical world rarely prepares you for. It is difficult to have to deal with such hyper-vigilance. The fact that you have made your entire home environment, from makeup to cleaners, gluten-free is a big achievement, but it's clear the external world and shared spaces remain a minefield. Considering Dapsone is a logical and often necessary step for many with DH to break the cycle of itching and allow the skin to heal while you continue your detective work; it is a powerful tool to give you back your quality of life and sleep. You are not failing; you are fighting an incredibly steep battle. For a more specific direction, connecting with a dedicated celiac support group (online or locally) can be invaluable, as members exchange the most current, real-world tips for avoiding cross-contamination that you simply won't find in a pamphlet. You have already done the hardest part by getting a correct diagnosis. Now, the community can help you navigate the rest. If you have DH you will likely also want to avoid iodine, which is common in seafoods and dairy products, as it can exacerbate symptoms in some people. This article may also be helpful as it offers various ways to relieve the itch:  
    • Scott Adams
      It's very frustrating to be dismissed by medical professionals, especially when you are the one living with the reality of your condition every day. Having to be your own advocate and "fight" for a doctor who will listen is an exhausting burden that no one should have to carry. While that 1998 brochure is a crucial piece of your personal history, it's infuriating that the medical system often requires more contemporary, formal documentation to take a condition seriously. It's a common and deeply unfair situation for those who were diagnosed decades ago, before current record-keeping and testing were standard. You are not alone in this struggle.
    • Scott Adams
      Methylprednisolone is sometimes prescribed for significant inflammation of the stomach and intestines, particularly for conditions like Crohn's disease, certain types of severe colitis, or autoimmune-related gastrointestinal inflammation. As a corticosteroid, it works by powerfully and quickly suppressing the immune system's inflammatory response. For many people, it can be very effective at reducing inflammation and providing rapid relief from symptoms like pain, diarrhea, and bleeding, often serving as a short-term "rescue" treatment to bring a severe flare under control. However, experiences can vary, and its effectiveness depends heavily on the specific cause of the inflammation. It's also important to be aware that while it can work well, it comes with potential side effects, especially with longer-term use, so it's typically used for the shortest duration possible under close medical supervision. It's always best to discuss the potential benefits and risks specific to your situation with your gastroenterologist.
×
×
  • 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.