<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> J. Murray writes > I feel I should comment on the rationale that suggests that it is > acceptable practice not to investigate a patient for suspected CD when > the patient has already commenced the treatment .e. the GFD. > Certainly it is cheaper for the HMO and probably the patient in the short > term. > I feel that proper confirmation of the diagnosis is necessary and should > remain the "standard of care" with few exceptions such as a history of > life-threatening eactions to gluten challenge. > 1. Lack of a firm diagnosis can leave some patients with an uncertainity > that can undermine thier motivation to remain on the diet. > 2. There may be another diagnosis instead of celiac disease. One can > occassionally see patients with crohn's disease respond to dietary > manipulation. That's interesting. I've been diagnosed as having Crohn's disease for several years (a little tentatively---it took the doctors a long time to make up their mind). A couple of years ago I started experimenting with diet. I noticed that cutting down bread consumption seemed to improve my health. That was before I knew anything about gluten-free diets or Celiac disease, and it seemed strange and unlikely at the time. At some stage I found out about Celiac diets, and cut out wheat. This *seemed* to eliminate most of the Crohn's symptoms. Is it possible for Crohn's sufferers to be gluten sensitive? Bryan