<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Hello all, I'm new to this list but have read hundreds of messages in the
archives and as many celiac websites as I could find.  I'm very impressed by
all the help and information that's posted in this mailing list & am seeking
some advice from you.

For the past year I've experienced increasing gastrointestinal problems
coupled with other symptoms & long-term health issues that, taken all
together, are suggestive of CD.  None of this was new, I've had problems off
& on for years but the intestinal symptoms worsened, eventually becoming
continuous & intolerable, and my fear of an endoscope was finally being
overcome.  I've lost too much weight for my size and had just gotten to a
point where I was going to make an appt for a full checkup with the internist
& ask for a GI referral when ten days ago an unrelated problem suddenly
happened requiring minor surgery which is scheduled for next week.  If the
surgery isn't done within the next 2-3 weeks it'll become a larger issue so
should be done now.  I didn't want surgery in the condition I was in and
couldn't get in to see either the internist or the endocrinologist (for
thyroid disease) until the end of this week.

In desperation I decided to try going GF before the surgery thinking it
couldn't hurt, I gave up dairy foods several weeks ago with only a small
improvement.  To my surprise, the GF effects were almost immediate--
after only a week the intestinal problems have improved dramatically--
they're not completely gone, but are definitely much better.  If I
mention celiac disease I don't expect that either doctor I'm seeing this
week will be interested in or willing to do anything other than to
suggest a gast ro doctor in their practice. I'm assuming it'll take a
while to find and then get in to see a GI specialist who's familiar with
CD, but since the effects of the gluten free diet have been successful
so far, I have no intention of knowingly eating gluten again until I'm
sure that the problem isn't CD.

Here are my questions;

1.  If I ask for CD blood tests to be done now, would the results likely be
skewed after being off gluten for only about 10 days?

2. Should I ask that the blood be drawn and sent to a lab that specializes in
CD work?

3.  I live in the Twin Cities area so am not far from Rochester.  How does
one go about getting an appointment at the Mayo and how long does it
typically take to get in?

Thanks for any advice anyone can give,

Marcia Bignall
[log in to unmask]