Advice Please!

[ashlee's mom]

Hi, my daughter was diagnosed with celiac disease in March and has been gluten-free since. The results have been remarkable! Due to moving this summer, we were just able to have her first "check up" with a Ped GI specialist on the 3rd. He told me he doesn't regularly do blood tests on patients and since she is growing so well and he said we were being so careful he didn't see any need to test her. I was under the impression regular blood testing was needed to make sure no gluten was getting in undetected. I didn't push the issue on Friday since we have just changed from teflon pans to stainless steel (I was hopeful in beleiving those who told me I didn't need to, but I think you guys are the experts!) I didn't feel the test would tell me much. Her symptoms at first went away, but after we moved here this summer, I accedently used the wrong butter on her pancakes once, but have noticed gluten like reactions off and on for the past few months. They are much more mild than what she had, but it concerns me. The Dr. told me it was most likely IBS, which makes me even more skeptical of him! I think if I insist on testing he will do it, but I don't know how soon to do it, since we have only been rid of teflon pans for a few weeks. Sorry for my rambling, any advice would be helpful though!

Thanks,

Michelle

[Guest PastorDave]

Well, I'm not an expert, but I do know that if your doctor refuses to do any tests that you want (within reason), then he is not the best doctor for you. If you feel that your daughter might be getting some gluten from an unnoticed source, then you should be able to have her tested.

Also remember that doctors get tired of listening to "overprotective" parents (not that I think that you are, you are just being cautious, but he might think otherwise) so don't go in with both guns. Just ask nicely, and if he doesn't ask for a referral for a second opinion. If he won't give you that, then he is not a good doctor at all. Hope this helps.

[ashlee's mom]

Thanks for the quick response Dave! I guess I should clarify. It sounded like he would do the test if I really wanted, I just didn't know what it would tell me since we have just made a change. If it did show gluten, I would have assumed it could still be from using the teflon pans, and since we have already changed, I wouldn't know if she was getting some from somewhere else. Once I feel that enough time has passed since changing pans, I plan on calling him and asking for that blood test, just to ease my mind. I guess what I am wondering is if regular blood testing is the norm, and how long it can take to clear the blood system.

Thanks,

Michelle