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From:
David J Walland <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 5 Jun 1998 13:07:31 +0100
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<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Dear All,

I thought a summary might be a good idea as I have had a
number of replies.

My points were:-

1)  That where an adult had a predisposition for coeliac
disease, high levels of stress may trigger off the actual
disease (ie stress is NOT the cause but the trigger factor)

2)  That where a coeliac is fully controlled by diet,
stress can trigger off a coeliac attack even though no
gluten has been eaten.  This is known to be the case in a
number of coeliacs who have had operations, even quite
small ones (NOTE the "operational insult" is the primary
stressor NOT "worrying about the operation").

It has become obvious that many people believe that only
psychological stress is "stress" and have therefore missed
my point entirely, as I was and am thinking in terms of
stressors of all types - physiological, physical and
psychological (I am a trained Safety Adviser even though I
mostly operate in a small subsection of the area).

One or two messages were very worried that I might be
claiming that CS is "all in the mind" - I'm not. I'm not
even claiming that it might be for some coeliacs.  I'm
saying that once you are a coeliac, stress may manifest
itself as an apparent CD attack when you have remained GF.

One particular reply does seem worth quoting to you all in
full, the others either agreed or missed the point.

You are absolutely correct in the link between mind and
body.  As a charter member of the Albany (New York) Society
for the Advancement of Psychosomatic Medicine I can attest
to that. More attention was paid to it 40 years ago than
now.   Your observations about the difference between your
wife's celiac distress and normal passing moroseness  are
also interesting.  Can you put the difference into words?
As for the stress factor,  I am sure you are aware of the
gut connection and emotions.  In all of us.  I will flesh
it out for you if you like but basically it amounts to the
fact that stress can similate almost any intestinal malady.
The variable is that stress differs from one of us to
another. (One man' meat is another's poison).  Therein lies
the "romance" that the psychoanalysts probe.  But that too
is a long story.  I'm thinking of an America fighter pilot
who was caught in the open in London when a buzz bomb hit
200 yards away and knocked him down.  He was a nervous
wreck. It took Joost Meerloo, a Dutch psychoanalyst who was
working in the aid station only a few minutes to point out
to this emotional invalid that he was a hero in his plane
(he had been shot down three times, and yet refused to
accept transfer to the US).  But he was splattered by
the V-2.  Different strokes for different folks as the
saying goes.  But Joost was able in a few minutes to
reassure the fellow sufficiently to discharge him- and
no sedative required.
Jack Maines (the colic and exercise man)

Regards

David

David J Walland
University of Bristol Radiation Protection Adviser
[log in to unmask]
Tel +44 (0)117 928 8323
Fax +44 (0)117 929 1209

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