<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

A good friend of mine started seeing a doctor nearly fifteen years ago
about what the doctor originally diagnosed as an irritable bowl. After a
few years of being unable to diagnose a specific disorder or treat the
symptoms, the doctor told her that the problem was entirely
psychological. He basically told her that she was making up the problem.
This caused her to quit seeing that specific doctors and, in many ways,
lose confidence in the medical community's ability to help with her
problem. She never again saw another doctor about the problem.

Ten years ago a nutritionist who has Celiac Disease suggested that she
might have Celiac Disease, too. My friend tried a Gluton-free diet which
eliminated her health problems. However, she later experimented with
eating different foods containing Gluton and found that her allergy is
*only* triggered by foods that contain wheat. She very, very rarely eats
anything with wheat. However, once or twice a year she either eats
something with wheat intentionally or accidently and has an allergic
reaction that consists of extreme dizziness, an incredibly bloated
stomach, and severe abdominal pain.

Since she does not react negatively to foods containing Gluton -- other
than wheat -- does this mean that she doesn't have Celiac disease? If
so, what would be the technical name for a wheat-only allergy? I know
she should be asking these questions herself directly to a doctor, but
that isn't likely going to happen anytime soon in light of her past
experience. The reason I'm asking these questions myself, besides
the fact that I recently saw her have an allergic reaction which I felt
helpless during to do anything to relive the discomfort, is that her
teenage daughter has begun to show similar symptoms. If there is a
genuine danger to the health of the daughter I don't want my friend's
past bad experience with the doctor to prevent her from going in to get
them both checked out. That's why I'm online researching about
Celiac Disease.

Any advice would be most welcomed.

Thanks,

Mike