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Hi everybody,
 
I just found the following post and I'm in a rotten mood. Livid actually. I
spend a lot of time in the newsgroups trying to convince people to get
tested for celiac disease. But then I come across this!! I don't know how I
should answer this. At this point I think the medical profession needs to be
lined up and shot. We'd do better without them. Don Wiss.
 
 
From: [log in to unmask] (John Rice Cole)
Newsgroups: alt.support.crohns-colitis
Subject: celiac disease
Date: 5 Feb 1996 18:57:53 GMT
 
If celiac disease is common, why does no one know it?? At suggestion of this
group I asked my internal med Dr and gastroenterologist. Both told me it was
extremely rare. A second gastroenterologist--head of research at a major
research hospital--told me the same thing. I asked about being tested, and
all 3 doctors refused and noted that their HMO groups would not pay for such
tests. My own, non-HMO ins co also tells me it is medically unjustified. (My
gastoenterologist also noted "I'll bet they don't pay for leeching, either.")
 
Something thus seems fishy. I assume the good faith of all of the advocates
online here, but I also have to accept that my doctors are not quacks. And
the fact that this testing does not seem to be covered by HMOs and a major
indemnity ins co.  Can they ALL be wrong? I also asked a 4th doctor,
actually--a friend who is state medical director of a chain of HMOs. He said
he was getting more and more requests for such tests and his board had met
and voted unanimously (I gather) not to allow them. He said they considered
this to be a fad like vitamin megadoses. Last and not least, a relative who
is a nurse-practitioner and diet and nutrition specialist tells me the
condition is very rare and not known to appear first in adulthood after
20-some years of no symptoms.
 
So I am a bit skeptical, at this point!
 
--John