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

Boy did I hit a nerve !!!

I got over 60 replies to my post in less than 5 hours;
30 in the first 2 hours alone! All positive, most
related their own experience with a
'reluctance-to-diagnose'.

So a summary is in order.

Point #1 - It would appear that for every
    diagnosed celiac out there there are 4-5 GPs and
    1-2 GI specialists that do not understand celiac,
    the seriousness of the disease, its prevalance or
    are simply entirely IGNORANT of the disease! Which
    leads to ...

Point #2 - Until things change, celiacs already have
    one strike against them being diagnosed: a
    preponderance of missinformed or completelly
    uninformed GPs and specialists. So, if you have
    sufficient reason to believe you have celiac, be
    prepared to DEMAND to be tested. Stand your ground
    and take no BS from your GP or specialist. It is
    a simple blood test ( with optional biopsy ) that
    costs less, physically, emotionally and
    financially, than life as an undiagnosed celiac!
    Which leads to ...

Point #3 One person sent me what is possibly the best
    suggestion for putting an end to this 'reluctance-
    to-diagnose' mentality in the medical community.
    The idea: If your doctor refuses to run the test,
    on your next visit request the test again and if
he
    refuses, again, demand that he put it in writing
    and sign it; two copies - one for your records,
    one for you to keep! That should shake up some of
    his pre-conceived notions and help him get over
his
    'reluctance-to-diagnose'!

Point #4 - As upset as we were that it took doctors
    over a year to diagnose our son, we are in a LUCKY
    minority! Many people have suffered 5-10 years or
    more before they found a doctor or were able to
    convince their own poor-excuse-for-a-doctor to
    test for and diagnose their celiac disease.


Regards ...




__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now
http://companion.yahoo.com/

*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the CELIAC List*