<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
 
I suspect that an underappreciated problem in celiac disease may be
refractory symptoms caused by intestinal overgrowths that are
misinterpreted as symptoms resulting from the accidental (or otherwise)
ingestion of grains.
 
I would therefore, greatly appreciate hearing from celiacs who have had either
 
1)  episodes of known or suspected intestinal overgrowths (and how or why
they were known or suspected),   how they were treated, what the outcome
was, and what was your exposure to gluten/grains at the time (to the best
of your knowledge, of course - who knows for sure!?)
 
AND / OR
 
2)  episodes of refractory symptoms that ultimately resolved after the
administration of A) antibiotics (and which antibiotics)  OR B) during
another, apparently unrelated infection or illness* (and, if known, which
illness)
 
If it is discovered that some cases of refractory celiac are due to
unrecognized intestinal overgrowths, then steps can be taken to assure that
such cases receive appropriate treatment.
 
Jim Barron
Chapel Hill NC
[log in to unmask]
 
__________________
* It is known that sometimes a refractory existing infection can be cured
when a new infection occurrs - probably because the new infection triggers
defense mechanisms (fever, drop in iron saturation, inteferons, etc.) which
the existing infection was able to avoid triggering.   The existing
infection may then be killed off by the activity of the defense mechanisms.
(Many years ago Dr William S. Cooley was apparently able to cure some
cancers using this technique.   To the discredit of the profession, he was
ridiculed and ignored, but, judging from mechanisms that have recently come
to light, it is quite likely that he was right.)