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

Anyone In The Lehigh Valley, Pa?

Guest DanceswithWolves

By Guest DanceswithWolves
in Doctors

Recommended Posts

Guest DanceswithWolves
Guest DanceswithWolves
Posted

Hello.

I'm new here and I am wondering if there is anyone currently residing in the Lehigh Valley, PA that can recommend a new doctor for me that specializes in Celiac Disease or Crohn's. My old doc just isn't helping me enough and I need help NOW.

I cannot seem to gain any weight, I have diarehea, chills in my hands/feet, sinus congestion (which is probably just my allergies) dry skin, hair is brittle and falls out, and sometimes pain in my sides.

I am on Clidinium right now for IBS/anxiety but I think I am having major malabsorbtion problems.

I eat fish, broccoli, meat, but I try to go light on breads but it's hard.

Any helpful advice would be grand!

thanks!

Erik

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


KaitiUSA Enthusiast
KaitiUSA
Posted

I live in MD so my recommendations would probably be too far for you. However, if you go to this home page and scroll down there is a link to recommended doctors by other celiacs and look in your area. Hope that helps a bit.

Guest DanceswithWolves
Guest DanceswithWolves
Posted

Yes...Thank you..saw the link, but most are in Philly or just outside. I'll look thru the phone book and make some calls. Right now I have no medical benefits anyway. I'm waiting for mine to kick in. I just started a new part-time job...so I have to wait.

I also wanted to mention that this morning I had a soft-boiled egg a banana and a piece of yeast-free toast and (just like clockwork) about 30 minutes after I eat I start to yawn, nasal congestion and my eyes water. It's like my body is having a reaction to anything that goes into me. I've had these symptoms for awhile. At least a year, now.

Is my body "attacking" the food like an outside enemy?

I just don't get it. :unsure:

I have some phone numbers for couseling too. This whole thing has really been upsetting me and my family. I don't know if it's wise to go to a therapist right now, unless I can receive free care or a sliding pay scale. Worth a shot, huh? By the way, are you the woman on the left or the right?

Jnkmnky Collaborator
Jnkmnky
Posted

Ok... You need help..fast. :( Going light on the breads means you're still eating gluten. Yeast free doesn't mean gluten free. You have to eliminate gluten if you want to try the gluten free diet to see if you feel better. Most celiacs will tell you they have their own butter stick, peanut butter jar, cream cheese, jelly, mayo, etc....the reason is that a SINGLE CRUMB of gluten will bring a celiac to his or her knees.......for days. Now, don't panic.. You can do this diet. You only have to understand what it is you're needing to eliminate. Remember, if you have Celiac Disease, your gluten free diet isn't equivalent to any other diet you've ever heard of. This is not the atkins or south beach diet and cheating happens and we move on. If you have Celiac Disease, you have an auto-immune disease which will win every time you challange it. You must understand you have to be 100% gluten free in order for your body to regain it's normally happy disposition. Please ask as many questions as you feel you need answers to. People here want nothing more than to hear you tell them you're feeling better. :)

Carriefaith Enthusiast
Carriefaith
Posted
I cannot seem to gain any weight, I have diarehea, chills in my hands/feet, sinus congestion (which is probably just my allergies) dry skin, hair is brittle and falls out, and sometimes pain in my sides.
Based on these symptoms you could definately be suffering from celiac diease. Once you find a doctor, you should request a celiac blood test, preferably the tissue transglutamase test or the celiac blood panel. Don't go gluten free before the tests or you may get false negative results.
Canadian Karen Community Regular
Canadian Karen
Posted

You definitely need to get tested for celiac, but I want to also suggest maybe getting your thyroid checked. Both conditions can bring on your symptoms.....

Welcome to the board!!!

Karen

shimma Apprentice
shimma
Posted

I'm not sure how far you're willing to drive, but I went to a GI specialist in Paoli, PA. I got his name off this website. His name is Dr. Keith Laskin. That may be too far of a drive for you, but here's his info:

Keith Laskin, M.D.

Main Line Gastroenterology

Paoli Memorial Medical Building 3

Suite 333

255 West Lancaster Ave

Paoli, PA 19301

Tel: (610) 644-6755

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Guest DanceswithWolves
Guest DanceswithWolves
Posted
I'm not sure how far you're willing to drive, but I went to a GI specialist in Paoli, PA.  I got his name off this website.  His name is Dr. Keith Laskin.  That may be too far of a drive for you, but here's his info: 

Keith Laskin, M.D.

Main Line Gastroenterology

Paoli Memorial Medical Building 3

Suite 333

255 West Lancaster Ave

Paoli, PA 19301

Tel: (610) 644-6755

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Awesome! I printed it out on Mapquest. Thank you, Thank you!

Now, one more question before I get off of this computer.

Everyone talks about their symptoms. How celiac disease brings them to their knees? What are talking about here as far as symptoms, reactions, or other things to look for?

How about fatigue on the right side hip area? ADD? Yawning? Mood swings? Depression? Anxiety? I mean, I know everyone is different, but where can I get a list of symptoms that are quite common with all of you?

I wish I could hug all of you today!

Thanks!

Erik

KaitiUSA Enthusiast
KaitiUSA
Posted
By the way, are you the woman on the left or the right?

I am the one on the right(the shorter one at 5'4)

Also, to answer your ? about symptoms...they vary person to person and there are over 200 symptoms.

Fatigue is actually the most common symptom.

Anxiety, depression, pain, nausea, mood swings, weight loss, weight gain, etc.you name it, it can come with it. Celiac can cause chaos anywhere in the body.

Some of your symptoms sound like mine...you should for sure get tested. They thought I had Crohns at first because it runs in my dads side of the family but it turned out to be Celiac. Also, getting your thyroid checked was a good suggestion too because some of your symptoms can come with that as well.

Carriefaith Enthusiast
Carriefaith
Posted
where can I get a list of symptoms that are quite common with all of you?
This is my favorite list of symptoms:

Open Original Shared Link

Here are a list of the symtoms that I have had from gluten:

Hair loss

Extreme fatigue

Lack of energy/stamina

Brain Fog - or what I call pure stupidity

Joint pain - mainly in the knees and hips

Chicken pox like dots on the skin

Gas

Bloating

Diarrhea

Stomach pain (mild to severe)

Weight loss

I also get irritable and get very down about things (minor depression)

Lack of concentration - I get easily distracted and bored with things

Guest ~wAvE WeT sAnD~
Guest ~wAvE WeT sAnD~
Posted

I used to live in Allentown until I was eight years old. I don't know of any gastros, but there is a neurologist who might be able to help you if you have brain fog/severe malnutrition--Dr. Pileggi. He was practicing in the 80's back then (he diagnosed my ADD in 1987), but he was fairly young and I'm sure that he may still be there.

I remember Sacred Heart Hospital---I went there to get an x-ray for a broken toe. I suggest trying them as well.

Where in Lehigh Valley do you live?

If you're willing to drive to Reading (my birthplace), I trust West Reading Hospital. They helped out my paternal grandmother when she was dying of lung cancer.

Dr. Rocco (Rocky) Chireleisen is my cousin. He has a general practice at the same hospital.

Hope this helps!

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. trents
      - trents replied to Atl222's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      1

      Increased intraepithelial lymphocytes after 10 yrs gluten-free

      Welcome to the celiac.com community, @Atl222! Yes, your increased lymphocytes could be in response to oats or it could possibly be cross contamination from gluten that is getting into your diet from some unexpected source but not enough to damage the villi. And I'm certain that increased lymphocytes can be caused by other things besides celiac disease...
    2. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Aretaeus Cappadocia's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      1

      Brown Rice Vinegar (organic) from Eden Foods is likely gluten free

      This is a solid, well-reasoned approach. You’re right that “koji” by itself doesn’t indicate gluten status, and the risk really does come down to which grain is used to culture it. The fact that you directly contacted Eden Foods and received a clear statement that their koji is made from rice only, with no wheat or barley, is meaningful due diligence—especia...
    3. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to wellthatsfun's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      1

      nothing has changed

      Seven months can still be early in celiac healing, especially if you were mostly asymptomatic to begin with—symptoms like low iron, vitamin D deficiency, nail changes, and hair issues often take much longer to improve because the gut needs time to recover before absorption normalizes. A tTG-IgA of 69 is not “low” in terms of immune activity, and it can t...
    4. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams commented on knitty kitty's blog entry in Thiamine Thiamine Thiamine
      1

      About Celiac Remission

      This idea comes up often, but it’s important to separate theory from what’s actually supported by evidence. In celiac disease, the immune system does not “forget” gluten in a permanent or reliable way, even after long periods of avoidance, and the celiac genes do not turn off. While antibody levels (like tTG IgA) can normalize on a strict gluten-free diet an...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to TheDHhurts's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      2

      need help understanding testing result for Naked Nutrition Creatine please

      Gluten testing is normally reported in ppm (parts per million), which is equivalent to mg/kg, not micrograms by itself. A result of <0.025 mcg only becomes meaningful if you know the sample size tested (for example, mcg per gram or per kg). If that value represents <0.025 mcg per gram, that would equal <25 ppm, which is above the gluten-free threshold...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,190
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Atl222
    Newest Member
    Atl222
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Increased intraepithelial lymphocytes after 10 yrs gluten-free

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the celiac.com community, @Atl222! Yes, your increased lymphocytes could be in response to oats or it could possibly be cross contamination from gluten that is getting into your diet from some unexpected source but not enough to damage the villi. And I'm certain that increased lymphocytes can be caused by other things besides celiac disease or gluten/oats exposure. See attachment. But you might try eliminating oats to start with and possibly dairy for a few months and then seek another endoscopy/biopsy to see if there was a reduction in lymphocyte counts. 
    • Scott Adams
      Brown Rice Vinegar (organic) from Eden Foods is likely gluten free

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is a solid, well-reasoned approach. You’re right that “koji” by itself doesn’t indicate gluten status, and the risk really does come down to which grain is used to culture it. The fact that you directly contacted Eden Foods and received a clear statement that their koji is made from rice only, with no wheat or barley, is meaningful due diligence—especially since Eden has a long-standing reputation for transparency. While the lack of gluten labeling can understandably give pause, manufacturer confirmation like this is often what people rely on for traditionally fermented products. As always, trusting your body after trying it is reasonable, but based on the information you gathered, your conclusion makes sense.
    • Scott Adams
      nothing has changed

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Seven months can still be early in celiac healing, especially if you were mostly asymptomatic to begin with—symptoms like low iron, vitamin D deficiency, nail changes, and hair issues often take much longer to improve because the gut needs time to recover before absorption normalizes. A tTG-IgA of 69 is not “low” in terms of immune activity, and it can take 12–24 months (sometimes longer) for antibodies and the intestinal lining to fully heal, particularly in teens and young adults. Eating gluten again to “test” things isn’t recommended and won’t give you clear answers—it’s far more likely to cause harm than clarity. Weight not changing is also very common in celiac and doesn’t rule anything out. Please know that your frustration and sadness matter; this adjustment is hard, and feeling stuck can really affect mental health. You deserve support, and if you can, reaching out to a GI dietitian or mental health professional familiar with chronic illness could really help you through this phase. This study indicates that a majority of celiacs don't recover until 5 years after diagnosis and starting a gluten-free diet: Mucosal recovery and mortality in adults with celiac disease after treatment with a gluten-free diet However, it's also possible that what the study really shows is the difficulty in maintaining a 100% gluten-free diet. I suspect that if you looked closely at the diets of those who did not recover within 2 years might be that their diets were not 100% gluten-free. Perhaps they ate out more often, or didn't understand all of the hidden ingredients where gluten can hide. Either way, it shows how difficult recovery from celiac disease can be for most people. According to this study: This article explores other causes of flattened villi:    
    • Scott Adams
      need help understanding testing result for Naked Nutrition Creatine please

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Gluten testing is normally reported in ppm (parts per million), which is equivalent to mg/kg, not micrograms by itself. A result of <0.025 mcg only becomes meaningful if you know the sample size tested (for example, mcg per gram or per kg). If that value represents <0.025 mcg per gram, that would equal <25 ppm, which is above the gluten-free threshold; if it’s <0.025 mcg per kilogram, it would be extremely low and well within GF limits. Without the denominator, the result is incomplete. It’s reasonable to follow up with the company and ask them to confirm the result in ppm using a validated method (like ELISA R5)—that’s the standard used to assess gluten safety.
    • Scott Adams
      Medications

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Medication sensitivity is very real for many people with celiac and other autoimmune conditions, and it’s frustrating when that’s brushed off. Even when a medication is technically gluten-free, fillers, dose changes, or how your nervous system reacts—especially with things like gabapentin—can cause paradoxical effects like feeling wired but exhausted. The fact that it helped bloating suggests it may be affecting gut–nerve signaling, which makes sense in the context of SIBO, but that doesn’t mean the side effects should be ignored. You’re carrying a heavy load right now with ongoing skin, eye, and neurological uncertainty, and living in that kind of limbo is exhausting on its own. It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed and discouraged when systems and providers don’t meet you where you are—your experience is valid, and continuing to advocate for yourself, even when it’s hard, really does matter. You can search this site for prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
×
×
  • 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.