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Hello, I am Nancy McPherson in Ashland, Oregon.  After a year of tests
and referrals, I have an appointment with a GI specialist on November
18th.  I am told that is for a consultation, and that scheduling a
procedure might take another 3 weeks.  I had an antigliadin blood test
done in July, and eventually was told in September that the level was "3
times normal".  I have had a wide range of digestive complaints for 30
years, for which no abnormality was found.  I have had the itchy skin
off and on for 15 years, and chronic constipation, alternating with
diarrhea, for at least that long, and suffer from insomnia/depression
for which I take an antidepressant. For the last 5 years, I have been
treated for osteoporosis unsuccessfully because it was thought to be
postmenopausal-related, and I had gone through early menopause( my last
period was at age 48 ).  Because there have been a number of stressful
events in my family during the last 10-15 years, it was thought that my
symptoms were stress-related. Anyway,( this is my third attempt to
condense this story), since July, when I asked my sister, who is a
Medical technologist, what the antigliadin tests were for,  I have been
researching CD on the internet, and checking out GF foods.  After being
told the blood test results in September, I began trying to follow a GF
diet, and I think I have been GF for the last two weeks.  The two weeks
previous, I had a couple of slips.  It worries me that I may already
have suffered permanent damage, so I am anxious to be as GF as possible,
but I have not had an "official diagnosis", and from what I have read,
if I follow a GF diet until my November appointment, it may appear that
I do not have CD.  Or would my symptom-history, osteoporosis, and
antigliadin levels be sufficient indication?  What is the recommendation
of this group?  I would very much appreciate your response.  I'm new at
this:  should I summarize?