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Dear friends,

I was diagnosed with CD several months ago.  I really began my search because
of my mother and aunt and their abdominal distress.  I began to suspect they
had it and just ended up with the diagnosis myself.

My mother, nearing 80, listened to me and went to see a GI dr. to be
evaluated.  His comments were  to the effect that CD is not genetic and those
with it have diarrhea.  He also questioned her about where and how I was
diagnosed which she did not have all of the details.  She did tell him I had
the blood tests but the anti-gliadin IgG was the only positive ("weakly
positive at 1.2").  I was diagnosed by biopsy.  We live in different states
but he was interested in who diagnosed me.  He didn't think much of my blood
test but did perform some kind of blood test on her which I am not holding
out much hope on.

She went to this g.i. dr.  because she knew him from her active nursing days
and respected him.  My mother has had many health problems and a couple of
years ago found an M.D. who incorporates some alternative treatments and
sells some supplements in his office.  The g.i. evidently does not like the
alternative style of her other doctor and made his disapproval very apparent.
 Part of my problem with all of this is that she found tremendous support
from the alternative doctor.  He listened, gave her new ideas, explored
emotions which might be complicating her situation, looked at things with a
fresh approach, etc.  She listened to him and I was amazed at the things she
was willing to try in her late 70's in hopes of feeling better - an example
is just expressing her feelings so that they are not bottled up.  This
included positive comments as well as the negative that she felt she needed
to express.

I am most angry that she was not treated with respect - he told her he felt
most of her problems were due to depression.  Yes, she has had problems with
depression, but if you have nutrient shortages wouldn't the whole system be
missing on a few cylinders?  She has been treated medically for the
depression over and over.  He felt the number of med's she was on would
account for the fatigue - well, she's been this way as long as I can remember
and she wasn't taking those med's then.

Yes, I am venting.  Thanks, I needed that.  I did send her with information I
printed off from the celiac archives and some other places.  The doctor
briefly looked at them and set them aside.  I would love to send him a letter
explaining how I do not fit the typical CD picture and how I was diagnosed
and by whom and send him copies of all the information he can keep.  My
mother just wants to drop it.  Maybe she is afraid I'll be nasty - that is
not my intent but I certainly am irritated with the man.

I would love to see my mother feel better.  It would be hard if she were
diagnosed (she does not believe she has it) because I believe that if this is
the case she has had it most of her life and it has placed big limits on her
activity level.  I would appreciate your kind words to give me a new
perspective on this situation.

Yvonne Bruesch, Spokane, WA, ([log in to unmask])