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Hi, this is Patrick and I am overwhelmed by all the responses I have recieved
regarding Chronic Fatigue, my symptoms, and possible Celiac. This list is
full of really incredible, knowledgable, and kind people!

By and large the responses encouraged me to get the biopsy. But quite a few
people suggested that I just try the GF diet. While I understand the position
("don't worry about the test, do what you have to do to get healthy"), I'm
*pretty* sure (I say pretty because I'm still a little , ok ALOT, bewildered
by the entire idea of Celiac/gluten/diagnosis/biopsy/diet/etc.) that I would
prefer to get the biopsy done. I have a large family and *if* Celiac turns
out to be the case, I'd like to inform my brothers and sisters and cousins
about it - boy won't THEY be happy to hear that! Not!

Ok, well, today I made some phone calls to a few of the Celiac organizations
and got  a couple of doctors names. I spoke with Dr. Gary Gray, I think thats
it, at Stanford Medical Center. He was very nice and seemingly knowledgable.
He offered to read my biopsy results if I get a doctor here in San Francisco
to do the test. I was also told to contact another doctor at UCSF. I'm going
to call him tomorrow.

The thing that I find so overwhelming about all this is the nature of Celiac
in the medical community. I feel like I am up against the world on this. Ok,
once more time I am going to list most of the things I can think of that lead
me to conclude that Celiac may be my problem. If you don't want to read this
because you've already read about me enough, I totally understand.

Patrick Meyers, age 29, Male
*Irish decent
*G.I. problems since childhood (gas, bloating, explosive b.m.'s,
constipation, ab pain)
*new G.I. problems within the last 6 mo's (intensely malodorous
flatulence/bowel movements)
*general symptoms for 2 1/2 years (extreme fatigue, malaise, exhaustion,
dizziness, brain fog, fluish feeling, headaches, sore throats, neurological
complaints, blurry vision)
*All medical blood-work, MRI, cat-scan tests up to this point are normal
*Small bowel xray shows some thickening of tissue, G.I. doc says its not
significant
*Unexplained elavated liver enzymes, G.I. doc says it's not Hepatitis and
it's not significant
*HORRID dry scalp/dandruff since adolescents. Acne as well.
*Receding gumlines (not too unusual in the last 20's, but...), frequent
bleeding gums despite flossing, dry mouth/breath
*Family history of intestinal cancer
*Personal history of depression/anxiety
*In childhood, was considered "short" for my age. I seemed to catch up, now
closer to normal height, but still shorter and smaller than father &
brothers. Small-framed, always had trouble gaining muscle mass when working
out (which I can't do anymore because I'm too ill).

Am I crazy? When I look at the individual things, they seem insignificant,
but put them all together and they seem to spell C-E-L-I-A-C. Either that or
hypochondriac, which believe me I've considered. The doctors make you feel
that way when you are still complaining of feeling poorly and they insist you
are fine. All of this is very confusing, but it seems to me that Celiac
testing is in order, despite the doctors that have said that since I'm not
anemic or emaciated that I dont have Celiac.

I think the thing that concerns me is going for all the tests and having them
turn up negative because some people have told me that even then I should
consider going GF. OYE! What's a guy to do?

Incidentally, I JUST NOW remembered that when I was talking to Dr. Gray on
the phone he mentioned something about stools that don't flush. I am OFTEN
having to flush twice to get everything to go down. What is the significance
to that? (aside from the fact that I may use too much t.p.!)

Thanks all you great people. More phone calls tomorrow. I'm afraid one day
the medical center is going to either lock me out or lock me away. It's such
a struggle getting anything rolling.

Patrick