<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Thank you all so much for the response to my post re Rheumotiod arthritis. I will try and summarize. Many people emailed of the connection between autoimmune diseases, RA and Celiac (among others).I can not stress enough that it is not the direct cause. If you have one you will not generally have the other. Your risk is higher because of the genetic markers that are affected. The "Leaky Gut" syndrome also increase the chances or a large protien getting past your intestine and activating your immune system = Arhtritis. The best advice was to find a good doctor, follow up, and be on the look out for other autoimmune problems. I have been doing much research on my own and have been to all but a few of the web sites recommended. I am a nurse and know first hand that doctors do not know everything, nor are they trained to find out. They are trained to treat symptoms and diagnose illness based on memorized criteria. Anything that doesnt fit, doesnt matter, if the pill they give the patient relieves the symptom. (not all of them, just generally). Many of you have arthritis and had relief of symptoms after following the gluten free diet or excluding another food. I have been gluten free for 5 years. The notion that I may be sensitive to something else, eggs, milk, corn, soy, yeast, meat, is a good one. I am going to be tested. Many others had dietary supplement advice,like black cherry juice and glucosamine. I also found that eve primrose oil and flax seed oil may help. The arthritis foundation states that no dietary changes have been proven improve arthritis. I guess if it works for you it works. Since I posted things are worse, I've inceased and changed meds and am only working part time. Many of you also included encouraging words, thank you. A few of you recommended the following book. "Live Right for Your Blood type" by Peter D'Adamo A list of recommended web sites. There are more. Don Wiss http://www.PaleoDiet.com/ra/ Ron Hoggans pages www.gluten-free.org/hoggan/ www.celiac.com/=20 www.enabling.org/ia/celiac/diagtst.html#US about diagnostic testing www.healthy.net/library/articles/galland/Leakygut.htm About leaky gut www.nutramed.com/digestion/celiac.htm www.aarda.org Arthritis fondation www.ozemail.com.au/~sdengate/=20