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

At a loss of how to explain Celiac/Gluten Sensitivity to friends and family or 
have questions yourself? 

Recommendation - Gluten Reactivity.net Primer  
http://www.glutensensitivity.net/primer.pdf   

I am an unofficial Celiac and have followed a gluten free diet for 26 years.  
Blood tests did not exist then and Celiac was thought to be a rare occurrence. 
My doctor chose not to do the biopsy since the improvements when I elimiated 
wheat/gluten were so dramatic. 

However, not having an official diagnosis meant that for 5 years I thought it 
was ok to have my cheat day and another 10 years of exposure to some 
hidden glutens.  

I've suspected the excema, psoriasis and thyroid problems in my mother and 
siblings were related to gluten intolerance. I have not developed these 
problems. Over the past 26 years my siblings have steadfastly refused to 
acknowledge any possibiliy of their skin or thyroid issues might be related to 
gluten intolerance or celiac (they blamed it on our Mother).  About 4 years 
ago, a 35 year old nephew noticed bloating etc. when he ate wheat. He went 
on a gluten free diet without getting a diagnosis. This past summer my older 
sister, who is now 67, noticed the digestive problems (mainly diahrrea) 
improved when she eliminated all grains. She has just asked me if there were 
any blood tests?  I searched recent postings and sent her a couple of the 
most relevant and concise posts. I did not want to overwhelm her with 
information. 

In my search, I found a link to www.glutensensitivity.net which I followed to 
get information on  gluten sensitivity vs celiac disease. On their website they 
have a "Primer on Gluten Grain Sensitivities'.  From the first pages, this primer 
has clarified and answered many of the questions I have had over the years. 
It includes FAQ's, definitions, a Caution!, symptoms list, different schools of 
thought, resources, etc. It is very comprehensive yet concise and clear for 
the lay person. Yes, I sent the link to my sister! 

Thank you to Olive Jennings Kaiser for preparing this Primer. I highly 
recommend it. Check it out.  
website - http://www.glutensensitivity.net/  
for the primer, click on the box labelled 'Gluten Grain Sensitivities Primer' 
or go to http://www.glutensensitivity.net/primer.pdf 

Barb (BC, Canada)

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