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Larry P. Price in Mt. Prospect, IL writes:

> For starters, I'd like to comment to the persons who are suspicious about
> possible celiac disease in themselves or their loved ones:  There is NO
> harm in responsibly going on a gluten-free diet until you have a firm
> diagnosis or compelling evidence that gluten is contributing to health
> problems.

I beg to differ.  There is harm in self diagnosis.  If you do not have
CD or DH there is no need to be on a gluten free diet.  Every book I
have read about CD says that there is no benefit for a normal person
to be on the diet.  The danger of self diagnosis is that there may be
something else wrong with you that you will not find out about.  If
you have CD there is a simple test to prove it, a biopsy.  A biopsy
after you you have been on the diet for a while is also the best way
to prove if you are responding to the diet.  But you need the
benchmark of the first biopsy to see if there is any change.

As far as I'm concerned you can go on a gluten free diet if you want.
If it makes you feel better that's great.  But please don't advise
other people to do the same until they know they have CD.  If you
suspect you have CD, go see a gastro-entorologist.  Insist that the
Dr. take a biopsy of your stomach so you can know for sure.

Mitchell Bellman ([log in to unmask])