Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Doctor Of Internal Medicine Vs. Gi

salexander421

Recommended Posts

salexander421 Enthusiast
salexander421
Posted

Would seeing a doctor of internal medicine be just as good as seeing a GI? Would an internal medicine doctor possibly be more familiar with celiac disease?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Don't ask me because I'm jaundiced. If the Gi"s don't know much, and they are the ones who do the scopes for it, what will an internist know? :P Hypothetical question :rolleyes:

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Would seeing a doctor of internal medicine be just as good as seeing a GI? Would an internal medicine doctor possibly be more familiar with celiac disease?

There are always exceptions but the Internists I've seen really have no idea about Celiac. They have always suggested that I see a Gastroenterologist when I begin asking questions.

meme2kids Rookie
meme2kids
Posted

My internist is the one who suggested it. I had been to GI's and all they told me was my intestines was inflammed. My interenist ran the blood tests, found me a GI who would listen to me.

The 3 of us worked together to find the answer.

Now I love the both, my GI has been supportive since the test results, found me a support group, is talking to my children peds dr and set me on a direction to find what I can eat, instead of what I can not eat.

BUT it took an internist to put all the pieces together.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

I would ask an internist or your GP to run a full celiac panel. It couldn't hurt and you wouldn't need a referral. Then if you feel that you really need to see a GI for biopsy ask to see one. If your blood tests are positive some doctors now skip the biopsy and just diagnose since the biopsy has a fairly high rate of false negatives. Be aware that the blood tests can be a false negative also.

SaraKat Contributor
SaraKat
Posted

A rheumatologist ran my celiac panel which was positive and then referred me to a GI Dr. I have been seeing him since. He did the endoscopy and I have my follow up blood test with him in a few weeks. I was wondering the same thing though- he told me it is just blood tests from now on, so I am thinking I could just go to my regular Dr. My GI seems pretty well versed in celiac though, I guess I will wait to see how my blood test came back. If it is good I won't worry too much, but if it is bad I might need further guidance with the diet.

I guess go to whoever you feel is more up on the disease?

salexander421 Enthusiast
salexander421
Posted
  • Author

Thanks everyone! I was looking at a list of GI's on the website of a local celiac support group and noticed one of them was actually a doctor of internal medicine and that's what got me wondering. I've already seen one GI and it wasn't the best experience so I'm thinking maybe I should try the internist...but it looks like it just depends on the person. Thanks!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


salexander421 Enthusiast
salexander421
Posted
  • Author

A rheumatologist ran my celiac panel which was positive and then referred me to a GI Dr. I have been seeing him since. He did the endoscopy and I have my follow up blood test with him in a few weeks. I was wondering the same thing though- he told me it is just blood tests from now on, so I am thinking I could just go to my regular Dr. My GI seems pretty well versed in celiac though, I guess I will wait to see how my blood test came back. If it is good I won't worry too much, but if it is bad I might need further guidance with the diet.

I guess go to whoever you feel is more up on the disease?

Would a rheumatologist be even better since they deal with the immune system??

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Would a rheumatologist be even better since they deal with the immune system??

It depends on the rheumatologist. My U.S. rheumatologist sees no relationship between arthritis/autoimmune/celiac :o

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

It depends on the rheumatologist. My U.S. rheumatologist sees no relationship between arthritis/autoimmune/celiac :o

Mine didn't either just wanted to give me shots in the joints, send me to a pain clinic to 'learn to live with the pain' and prescribe pill after pill, some of which were later removed from the market. My arthritis has been in remission since a couple months after I started the diet.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,894
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Lostcha
    Newest Member
    Lostcha
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free beer ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
    • trents
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
    • trents
      How Come Gluten Didnt Bother Me In Italy

      By trents · Posted

      You state in an earlier post that you don't have celiac disease. Here in this post you state you will "be doing another test". What will this test be looking for? What kind of celiac disease testing have you had done? If you have used a Entero Labs it sounds like you have had stool testing done for celiac disease which is not widely accepted as a valid celiac disease diagnostic testing method. Have you had blood antibody testing for celiac disease done and do you realize that for antibody testing to be valid you must have been eating generous amounts of gluten for a period of weeks/months? 
    • Gigi2025
      How Come Gluten Didnt Bother Me In Italy

      By Gigi2025 · Posted

      No, I've not been diagnosed as celiac.  Despite Entero Labs being relocated to Switzerland/Greece, I'll be doing another test. After eating wheat products in Greece for 4 weeks, there wasn't any reaction.  However, avoiding it here in the states.   Thanks everyone for your responses.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.