Help! - Need A Competent Doctor In Nyc

[lucia]

I saw a GI doctor after 3 months of wrenching, unable-to-leave-the-house symptoms. He is a highly-credentialed, university affiliated specialist in NYC. Yet he told me that GI symptoms and peripheral neuropathy do not coexist. I searched online and found out they do - in Celiac! (and a number of other diseases).

After an endoscopy, he diagnosed me with Lymphocytic gastritis. He said I was negative for Celiac since the biopsy did not show damage to the small intestine. For the peripheral neuropathy, he referred me to a neurologist.

Meanwhile I stopped eating gluten. My GI symptoms resolved within 5 days. My symptoms have also come back suddenly, but I could identify accidental "glutenings" when they did. It's been 6 weeks now struggling to stay gluten-free. I'm not all better yet. I'm exhausted. I have debilitating insomnia (a new development). I still have peripheral neuropathy.

I need to talk to a competent doctor. S/he doesn't have to be a GI doctor. I need to make sure that my blood is tested for Celiac, to know if the biopsy of my small intestine included multiple samples, to know if I'm nutritionally-depleted. And, maybe, to see a nutritionist.

I can't go to the Columbia center because I don't have blood work confirming a Celiac diagnosis. I do have excellent insurance, so I can pretty much go anywhere that takes insurance. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Aeva]

Did you ever find someone? I live in Westchester, and am looking for someone too. Please let me know!

[quincy]

I saw a GI doctor after 3 months of wrenching, unable-to-leave-the-house symptoms. He is a highly-credentialed, university affiliated specialist in NYC. Yet he told me that GI symptoms and peripheral neuropathy do not coexist. I searched online and found out they do - in Celiac! (and a number of other diseases).

After an endoscopy, he diagnosed me with Lymphocytic gastritis. He said I was negative for Celiac since the biopsy did not show damage to the small intestine. For the peripheral neuropathy, he referred me to a neurologist.

Meanwhile I stopped eating gluten. My GI symptoms resolved within 5 days. My symptoms have also come back suddenly, but I could identify accidental "glutenings" when they did. It's been 6 weeks now struggling to stay gluten-free. I'm not all better yet. I'm exhausted. I have debilitating insomnia (a new development). I still have peripheral neuropathy.

I need to talk to a competent doctor. S/he doesn't have to be a GI doctor. I need to make sure that my blood is tested for Celiac, to know if the biopsy of my small intestine included multiple samples, to know if I'm nutritionally-depleted. And, maybe, to see a nutritionist.

I can't go to the Columbia center because I don't have blood work confirming a Celiac diagnosis. I do have excellent insurance, so I can pretty much go anywhere that takes insurance. Any advice would be appreciated.

I go to Columbia but I brought with me the blood work confirming. However, you can have your GP write you the script for the Celiac AB panel. You can also call Columbia to ask them what specific tests they prefer to see. I know that some labs are better than others about the correct tests.

[Charlie's Girl]

If I lived in NYC- I would see Dr. Leo Galland- Integrative Medicine MD. Google him-he has written a lot of articles, couple of books, has a website and seems to look at the whole patient.

That being said- I have only read his work and can't recommend him personally. But, I would definitely check him out if I were living in the city. I have considered flying in to see him if I can't get the help I need here.

Good luck. Let us know where you end up.