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

I've been answering the same three or four questions over & over again in
private e-mail, so I decided to answer them for everyone!  Hopefully my
answers will help someone else who may be having similar problems.

Q: What is an ND?

A: An ND is a naturopathic physician.  They are doctors who use
non-medical, holistic approaches to healing.  They use a variety of
treatments such a diet, nutrition, supplements, homeopathic preparations,
herbal medicinals, etc.

Q: What does GFCF mean?

A:  Gluten free casein free.  Casien is milk protein.  Some celiacs have
severe reactions to casien that are similar to a gluten reaction. The
GFCF diet is often used to treat behavior disorders such as
schizophrenia, ADD, autism, etc. For more information, search the web.
There's tons of information about it on line.

Q: Didn't the GF diet help me? Do I think I'm not celiac or do I have
something else? What is the ND doing to help?

A: I'll try to explain as best as I understand.  I don't have all the
answers, yet.

        For a year before being diagnosed with gluten intolernace by my GI
specialist, I had been on a low carb diet.  About the same time, I found
myself feeling tons better if I abstained from milk & eggs as well as
gluten & high carbs.  When I totally went GFCF, I initially felt
tremendous relief from most, but not all of my GI distress.  But, because
my diet choices were very limited & I wanted to gain some weight, and I'm
human, I started adding more & more carbs into my diet.  After a few
months I found myself lured into GF baking with all it's refined carbs,
sugar, yeast, xanthan gum, eggs, etc.  I really binged on cookies & other
GFCF treats and it was grand .... for a while.  Gradually, I began to
have more & more GI pain, muscle pain, profound fatigue & severe
headaches as the months went by until -- BAM -- about 4 weeks ago I found
myself totally miserable, unable to tolerate anything but chicken broth,
unflavored gelatin & a few other clear liquids.  All the weight I had
initially gained after going GFCF dropped off.  I made an appointment to
see my GI specialist.  While I was waiting to see him, someone suggested
I try the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD).  I was so desparate, I
figured what have I got to lose.  I started on the diet & began to feel a
little better after a few days.  When I saw my GI doc, he suggested that
I may have colitis or Crohn's as well as gluten intolerance & scheduled
me for tests (oh joy).  He gave me a referral to the ND in Seattle.   A
couple weeks later when I finally saw the ND, I was tolerating 4 small
meals a day on the SCD & my wieght had stabalized.  To my delight the ND
recommended the SCD.  I was happy to comply since I had already begun the
diet & was responding favorably.

        My GI specialist found some abnormalities in my uterus in one of the
tests performed & he recommended I get a full gyn work up.  While I'm
waiting for the gyn appointment, the ND is treating me for that problem
with a homeopathic preparation (sepia) & believe it or not, I'm already
beginning to see an improvement in that area.

        Both my GI specialist & my ND agree that my GI problems could be
related
to the gyn problem in an indirect way.  I've been on doxycycline for 2
1/2 years for the gyn problems & as many of you know long term use of
antibiotics takes a toll on any gut & especially on the tender tummy of a
celiac.

        I have many food intolerances & the ND believes I may have
eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EG) which is a condition related to food
allergies.  At my ND's recommendation, my GI doc prescribed GastroCrom
to arrest the harmful effects of allergic reactions in my gut. I've been
on the GastroCrom for five days and I'm a lot more comfortable that I
was before.  This ND is planning extensive allergy screening for foods.
He says that he's aware that food allergy testing is often unreliable,
but that it can be a useful tool in identifying the possible sources of
EG.  EG is one of the known causes of leaky gut.  GastroCrom & diet
changes have helped many people recover from it.

        Before you ask your GI specialist for an Rx to GastroCrom, let me
acquaint you with what I have learned about it.  It's cheaper to have it
compounded by a compounding pharmacist than to use the 200mg GastroCrom
capsules.  It takes 400 mg four times a day to help a adult with EG.  It
must be dissolved in hot water then diluted with cool water before
drinking.  Then it must be swallowed on an empty stomach 20 to 30 minutes
before meals.  Swallowing the capsules doesn't work.  It sounds
complicated but it's really not.  I simply dissolve a whole day's worth
(1/2 teaspoon) in one cup hot water, then dilute to make a quart.  I
drink one cup 20 minutes before each meal.  It's not nasty to drink as
it's tastless & odorless.

        I hope something I've written may help someone who may not be
responding
to the traditional approach to the GF diet.  Feel free to contact me
privately if you have any more questions.  ~Valerie in Tacoma, WA