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> Anyway, I started eliminating foods that I thought were irritating me, so I
> was left with bread, pasta, etc.  I've been lactose intolerant for years so
> I was already avoiding all products containing any milk and milk
> derivatives.

Lactaid, available at drug stores and many supermarkets, should help you  with
dairy.    I  once  read  that  people who have problems with gluten often have
problems with dairy also.

> Ultimately, I got worse so I tried eliminating wheat/gluten products.  I got
> better overnight.  I still have problems, but not as constant and severe as B4
> BUT, I have a question.  Is there a definitive test to determine whether a
> person has "Celiac Sprue" or not?  And, is it gluten or
> wheat that I am sensitive to.  I know that barley and oats do not sit well
> with me and I've never cared for rye, but does this mean anything?

I went the same route.  You can have a biopsy done, but since there is a clear
difference  for  me when I avoid those foods vs. when I don't, I decided there
was no reason for the biopsy for myself, as I'm wary of any medical  procedure
that is not really needed.  (The strange thing is my intolerance came to light
after I had switched to a "healthy" diet and was eating  a  lot  more  grains,
including barley and oats.)

My personal physician is a GI specialist.    He's  in  Newton  at  the  Newton
Wellsley  hospital,  Dr. Alan McCartney.  I really like him, so unless someone
recommends a gluten expert in the area (is  there  such  a  thing?),  I  would
highly recommend him.

Mark