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

I want to thank EVERYONE who responded to my question about my son
having to wait a month to be tested for Celiac, but was to remain on a
reg. diet (although he was sick everyday).  It helped me more than you
can ever imagine.  I will try to summarize the advice.


Most thought it was crazy to have to wait so long to be tested, but all
agreed that to get an accurate diagnosis he needed to be on a reg. diet.
Helpful ideas along this line included the following:

1.  Get my pediatrician to call the GI doctor and convince him to see me
earlier.

2.  Don't take no for an answer- the squeaky wheel gets the grease
theory.

3.  Put him on a gluten-free diet, and if he does better, you have your
answer.   (Others, however, thought an official diagnosis was
important.)

4.  Get on a waiting list with the GI doctor and hope there is a
cancelation.

5.  Many highly recommended the Univ. of Md. at Baltimore doctors.


For those of you who are interested - this is what I did:

I called the Univ. of Md. Division of Ped. GI and Nutrition
(410-328-1072), and actually got an appt. with Dr. Fassano last Tues.
(thanks to the incredibly helpful nurse Tina Sewell).  I had to drive
about 2 hrs., but it was worth it.  If anyone lives anywhere near, I
would recommend going this route.  They were the only specialists who
seemed to care my son was so sick.  Also, the testing was free, as they
are doing a Celiac research study.

Dr. Fasanno did not think my son had Celiac after all, but we did have
the blood tests done (the results are not in yet).  He thinks Nathan (my
son) may have a wheat allergy instead.  Since Tues.,  Nathan has been on
the gluten free diet (except he seems to do ok with oatmeal), and has
been doing SO MUCH BETTER.  We are now going to see an allergist to
pinpoint his allergy.  Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Thanks again for all of your help.  You were a great resource in my time
of confusion!

Carol Hall