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Hi.
 
I have never been medically diagnosed with Celiac's disease, although I am
certain that I am a celiac.  My grandmother was diagnosed with celiac's
disease at least twenty years ago, and my cousin was diagnosed about
fifteen years ago.  I began suffering symptoms (diarrhea, intestinal
pains, etc.) about thirteen years ago (I was nine when it started), and as
I got older my bouts became more and more frequent, until I suffered three
of four times a week. In a period of relitive wellness I went to my family
doctor and explained my symptoms and my history. He took a stool sample,
and based on this sample, told me that I was not a celiac; celiacs
had "floaty" stool specimens, and mine was not "floaty" enough; and he
explained my pain and diarreha by telling me that it was caused by
puberty and I should get over it.
 
Needless to say, my mother was very angry with his diagnosis, and under my
grandmother's advice I began a gluten-free diet when I was twelve.  My
symptoms ceased altogether, and by the time I was fifteen I learned that I
could cheat without suffering the consequences.  Eventually I began thinking
that I had restricted my diet for nothing and that I was not a true celiac.
However, after eating lots of pasta freely for many years, I began responding
to gluten again two years ago when I was twenty.
 
I've been on a supposidly gluten-free diet for two years, and
although I do not suffer intense symptoms unless I know I've eaten gluten,
I very frequently feel bloated and constipated. My questions are these: is
there any way of diagnosing celiacs disease when on a gluten-free diet?  I
would like to make sure that I am not damaging my intestines, but I
cannot really check-up on this unless I'm diagnosed in the first place.
And secondly, is it possible that my constipation is a symptom that I am
recieving gluten contaminants in my diet?  And lastly, was mis-diagnosis a
really big problem in the eighties?
 
Are there any recommendations for a really good physician for celiacs that
practices in Calgary?
 
Thanx
M.Fisher (I'm using my boyfriend's account)
Calgary Alberta
Canada