Going To A Gi Doc And Have Some Questions

[blondebombshell]

my regular doc diagnosed me as having a gluten intolerance. i am now going to a GI doc to talk and i imagine have some tests done. my appointment isnt for another week. what should i expect?

[ravenwoodglass]

my regular doc diagnosed me as having a gluten intolerance. i am now going to a GI doc to talk and i imagine have some tests done. my appointment isnt for another week. what should i expect?

The GI will want to do a endoscopic exam to see if your villi are destroyed yet. Be aware that not all GI doctors are as knowledgeable about celiac as we would like. You will need to get on the diet as soon as you are done with any testing YOU decide you need. There are many instances of false negatives on the biopsy so even if the GI says you are fine you still need to get on the diet. Whether you choose to have more testing done is entirely up to you. If you have a positive on a blood test you have been diagnosed and for many of us that is enough. Do not get on the diet if you plan on being scoped but if you decide you don't want the expense and the risks with the chance of a false negative that come with the scope then dietary response is also a very valid form of diagnosis. You don't need your doctors permission to stop poisoning yourself.

[LoriC]

I was diagnosed with DH first, then i went to a GI doctor AFTER being on the diet for 2 1/2 months..my blood tests were negative, but my GI doctor said that just the positive results with the diet alone was good enough for him to say i have some kind of gluten intollerence or sensitivity, since my GI problems had disappeared almost immediatly with the diet and my rash almost went away or was way better than the last year. He didn't feel any further testing was needed unless my GI problems came back. So far so good on the diet, the DH appears every now and then, but i'm trying to watch my diet really good. Goodluck and like the Above poster said..don't start the diet before testing. Lori

[blondebombshell]

ok so my appointment next week i think is just a 'meeting.' i've been pretty good and somewhat (i think) on the diet for about 3 weeks now. how long should i start eating before the testing done?

also if i have a gluten tolerance, would that mean that i have celiac's disease?

also can you explain what celiacs can do long term if left untreated?