Am I Doing The Right Thing?

[Cogniton]

I had been having all of the typical symptoms since 2006 (diarrhea, abdominal pain, gas, bloating, weight loss, fatigue, muscle aches, anemia, red sores on my underarm, etc.), and it seemed like they were getting worse. In February, my wife suggested that it could be Celiac Disease and had me try a gluten-free diet for a month; by the end of the month, my symptoms had nearly completely subsided. I continued trying to eat gluten free, but it was hard because we were in South Korea and there wasn't reliable/detailed product labeling (as well as the occasional communication barrier).

When I came back to the US in July, I was on an absolutely gluten-free diet. I went to my General Practitioner in August, and, based on my symptoms, she agreed that Celiac was the likeliest cause. I came up negative on the blood test, though I think that was because I was eating a gluten-free diet. She referred me to a gastroenterologist who told me to eat a gluten-filled diet for two weeks and then he would perform an EGD(upper endoscopy) and colonoscopy.

This was scheduled for tomorrow, but today I got a call from the hospital asking me how I was going to pay the hospital's fee, on top of the doctor's fee; the hospital's fee, even with insurance, is over double what the doctor's fee is for both procedures, and it doesn't include the anesthesiology or pathology costs.

My wife is having trouble finding a job and mine fortunately manages to cover our bills and life expenses, and we had even budgeted for the doctor's fee (and were told that the other fees wouldn't be way too much more). Since I hadn't yet received a diagnosis, the procedure wasn't considered "medically necessary" and I could cancel it without having trouble with my insurance (though I may have to pay a small cancellation fee to the doctor). So that's what I did; I canceled it. I think if I continue to eat gluten-free that my symptoms will continue to subside.

I feel really uncertain about this, but it would have been more debt that we could handle for a diagnosis we were confident about.

[Cypressmyst]

You did the right thing. Your GI and GP doctors did not. The test is completely unnecessary. You have found the cause and solution to your problem and charging you for an invasive procedure with dubious results AND putting you on a gluten diet again, is really malpractice in my opinion.

The call from the hospital about payment tells you all you need to know about their true motivation for doing the procedure.

Unfortunately doctors are no more than over priced drug dealers for the most part. It is up to us to do the research and understand our own health, like your wife has done for you.

Congrats on finding what was ailing you and being able to do something so simple to fix it.

[jerseyangel]

eat a gluten-filled diet for two weeks and then he would perform an EGD(upper endoscopy) and colonoscopy.

Good thing you canceled--after being gluten-free for as long as you were, 2 weeks back on gluten most likely would not have been enough time to cause damage. The rule of thumb for a gluten challenge is at least 3-4 months eating 3-4 slices of bread per day.

I think your body has told you what you need to know--stay gluten-free and be healthy

[txplowgirl]

Hi Cognition, welcome to the forum.

There are a lot of us on this board who do not have a formal diagnosis due to one reason or another. I didn't have insurance at the time and I didn't want to wait for a couple of weeks even waiting on a blood test that could possibly come back negative anyway. I am to the point now, unless i'm bleeding uncontrollably or i'm in a coma I do not intend on going back to a dr. Most are idiots and just want your money. That's just my opinion.

So, I went gluten free and here it is a year and a half later and I have never regretted it. Keep in mind that if you don't have an endoscopy you do not know if you have any damage to your intestines. So, do you know whether or not you can tolerate dairy? If your villi in your intestines are damaged then you will not be able to handle it well. The advise given around here is to cut the dairy for at least 6 months. Also, don't be surprised if you find after a while you find you might have other food intolerances.

Be carefull of cross contamination. Since you will probably be sharing a gluten household with your wife know you will need your own pans, wooden utensils, new toaster, and new colander.

There is a lot more but just read the past posts here and ask a lot of questions and again welcome to the forum.

Vicky

[Cogniton]

Unfortunately, since I was willing to go along with the procedure until today, I have been eating gluten for the past two weeks - and it has been pretty miserable. But now I can return to my pleasant gluten-free existence.

Thanks for the comments and feedback. It has really helped put me at ease about my last-minute cancellation.

[txplowgirl]

Unfortunately, since I was willing to go along with the procedure until today, I have been eating gluten for the past two weeks - and it has been pretty miserable. But now I can return to my pleasant gluten-free existence.

Thanks for the comments and feedback. It has really helped put me at ease about my last-minute cancellation.

To help with getting gluten out of your system faster try to drink a lot of water to flush it. Hang in there and good luck

Vicky

[ravenwoodglass]

Unfortunately, since I was willing to go along with the procedure until today, I have been eating gluten for the past two weeks - and it has been pretty miserable. But now I can return to my pleasant gluten-free existence.

Thanks for the comments and feedback. It has really helped put me at ease about my last-minute cancellation.

You did the right thing. Get back on the diet and heal. Your reaction to reintroducing gluten has given you the answer.