Japan: Celiac Gi Doctors & Food

[Issamela]

Hey everyone!

I'm new to the forum. I currently live in Mie-ken, Japan. The nearest big cities are Osaka and Nagoya. I've been sick for about 3 months now, and my doctor (who speaks excellent English and comes from a larger hospital every Thursday to my small inaka town!) can't figure out what's wrong. I've had all sorts of blood tests...and even went for the dreaded colonoscopy to find out if my abdominal pain was something more sinister in nature. It came as a unwelcome surprise to find that they don't really sedate you for that procedure in Japan. >_< So far, since all the tests are normal, the doctor has diagnosed me with IBS.

I have a history of food allergies, environmental allergies, and skin problems. Also, my family has a history of gastrointestinal problems (though, with the colonoscopy, my doctor has ruled out crohn's, ulcerative colitis, and diverticulitis). I mentioned celiac's to my doctor, and after researching a little bit to find out what exactly what I was talking about, she informed me there is no lab in existence that tests for celiac's in Japan. *smacks head against a wall*

My doctor suggested trying to cut out wheat on my own. She said that while they can't test specifically for celiac's here, wheat/gluten has a known habit of irritating the already irritated bowel. So, my question for all you Japan people...Are there any doctors that DO test for celiac disease in Japan?

Also, where would I go about finding wheat/gluten free food in an inaka town? The nearest combini from me in Circle K. Does anyone know if they sell gluten free onigiri? It's my lunchtime staple.

Thanks!

[kenlove]

I think you'll have to make your own onigiri from now on! Circle K, Family Mart, 7-11, Daily Yamazaki all have lots of onigiri with lots of ko-mugi or o-mugi. Jikei medical Univ. in Tokyo ( Daimon) was doing some testing but I'm not sure if they still do. You have to stay away from shoyu too unless you can find the wheat-free type. Being inaka mono it won't be easy but the health food section at Matsuzakaya or Mitsukoshi at Nagoya eki you can find shoyu, crackers and breads made with kibi, awa or hie, all types of millet. Mie-ken is the home of San-Jirushi which makes San-j Wheat free soy sauce. it's made in the US but they also make other wheat free items. My riends company in Nagoya, Sujata makes thousands of items but not many are wheat/ gluten free. I'll ask him for a list of what they make which can be found more in Nagoya than Tokyo.

Here is a list I made with my Doctor in Tokyo of what I can't eat. HOpe this helps

Ken

私 は 病 気 で す

私の病気はセリアック病といいます．日本ではまれな病気です．小麦などの穀物に含まれる，グルテンというたんぱく質に対するアレルギーです．

普段私は特別食を食べてます．だから日本でも食べられないものが多いです．以下のものは食べられませんので，私に勧めないでください．無理して食べると腸がおかしくなり，ひどい下痢を起こして栄養失調になって困ります．

食べられないもの：

パン 唐ガラシ

甘みのついたパン ミートローフ

クラッカー グレイビーソース

グラハムクラッカー クリームソース

ビスケット パン粉をまぶした食品 （とんかつ，コロッケ等）

ウェファース マカロニ

パンケーキ ラザーニャ

アイスクリーム用のコーン スパゲッティ

パン種なしの平たいパン バーミセリ

マカロン ラビオリ

ケーキ うどん

クッキー そば <---juwari 100% soba is ok

リンゴ入り蒸し団子 七面鳥や鳥の詰め物料理の中身

ドーナッツ

プレッツェル

パイ皮

ロールケーキ

小麦麦芽

シリアル

オートミール

Hey everyone!

I'm new to the forum. I currently live in Mie-ken, Japan. The nearest big cities are Osaka and Nagoya. I've been sick for about 3 months now, and my doctor (who speaks excellent English and comes from a larger hospital every Thursday to my small inaka town!) can't figure out what's wrong. I've had all sorts of blood tests...and even went for the dreaded colonoscopy to find out if my abdominal pain was something more sinister in nature. It came as a unwelcome surprise to find that they don't really sedate you for that procedure in Japan. >_< So far, since all the tests are normal, the doctor has diagnosed me with IBS.

I have a history of food allergies, environmental allergies, and skin problems. Also, my family has a history of gastrointestinal problems (though, with the colonoscopy, my doctor has ruled out crohn's, ulcerative colitis, and diverticulitis). I mentioned celiac's to my doctor, and after researching a little bit to find out what exactly what I was talking about, she informed me there is no lab in existence that tests for celiac's in Japan. *smacks head against a wall*

My doctor suggested trying to cut out wheat on my own. She said that while they can't test specifically for celiac's here, wheat/gluten has a known habit of irritating the already irritated bowel. So, my question for all you Japan people...Are there any doctors that DO test for celiac disease in Japan?

Also, where would I go about finding wheat/gluten free food in an inaka town? The nearest combini from me in Circle K. Does anyone know if they sell gluten free onigiri? It's my lunchtime staple.

Thanks!

[missy'smom]

If you were in LA I could hook you up with a Japanese GI. He told me he thought I had celiac disease but I moved before we could talk about testing and I went gluten-free and difference was night and day and very clear that this is what I have. Will never have an official diagnosis but that's OK with me.

For food check out Open Original Shared Link We purchased food from them when we visited Japan and had it shipped to the place where we would be staying.

and Foreign Buyers Club

Open Original Shared Link

Hope that helps.