How Do I Start?

[lushgreen]

I have just begun suspecting gluten insensitivity/celiac disease for myriad health-related problems. I was wondering what sort of a doctor I should look for to help with the diagnosis. I live in NYC and will call the center at Columbia next week when they re-open. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[jriegel]

i am also beginning to suspect. i cut wheats out of my diet for a few days and now every time i eat them i get a horrible pain in my stomach and within an hour "indigestion" and by morning i wake up and my gut feels like there's a rock in it.

anyway, i am wondering what kind of doctor do i need to go for questions and testing? i am in a new city and just started new health insurance, so i really don't know where to begin. suggestions, please.

[watkinson]

Hello to both of you,

It depends on your insurance. I had to see my primary doctor first and get a refferal. Then I went to see an endocrinologist and an allergist. The endo. did the blood work and the biopsy, the allergist tested me to see if I aslo had any food allergies. Turns out corn and pecans get me.

Make sure you don't give up eating gluten until after your blood test. You have to have the antibodies in the blood for a positive test. If there is no gluten there will be no antibodies.

The other way to do this is to do your own test. Stop eating gluten and see if you feel better. If so...who cares what the blood test says, you know you feel better. I do however recommend that you go the traditional route and find out through your doctors.

Good luck with the testing, hope you feel better soon, Wendy

[jenvan]

I choose a GI doc, who did my endoscopy. However, most docs can give you the blood test. My hematologist did that. If those tests come out negative, and you are confident of a gluten intolerance, then I'd try an intolerance food test, which you can do via mail as well...

[jriegel]

thank you, both. that is very helpful

[Carriefaith]

When I got sick my general practitionar referred me to a GI specalist. If you want an official diagnosis make sure that you stay on the diet until after the bloodwork or biopsy or you may get false negative results.