<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Thank you for all the replies I have received over the last week concerning my deliberation over getting a biopsy. I received about 30 replies to my query, all of them were pertinent and interesting, and my only regret is not having the time to reply to you all personally. I will however summarize the results of this unofficial survey (the number of concerned people who took the time to write to me is surprising, so it was almost a survey). Almost all of the information below has been appropriated from the people who sent me mail. I have tried to answer as many questions as possible, while keeping the information topical, and trying not to repeat the FAQ. On the topic of the Biopsy -------------------------- Many people suggested I should probably just continue on a GF diet, since I had already won most of the battle by resigning myself to a gluten free diet for life. Further more, there is nothing that a biopsy can provide me with personally. Since I have the symptoms, and I respond to the treatment, then whatever the result of the biopsy, I would still have to be on a GF diet. However, a few people mentioned that in some countries (NZ, and Great Britain) you can get GF flour on prescription, in addition to certain tax concessions, for being on a GF diet if you have been officially diagnosed by a positive biopsy. Unfortunately for me, Australia does not cater for celiacs that well. We get the tax concessions, but not the prescription flour. This doesn't really worry me, since meat fruit and vegetables are inexpensive, and I don't really like the GF bread. Another thing Australia doesn't do too well is cover the costs of diagnostic techniques. My private health insurance doesn't like paying out money for diagnostic techniques, I expect goldbricking would cost them too much money otherwise. Public health care has the same policy. So unless the disease is life threatening, diagnostic procedures must be paid for entirely out of the patients pocket. I also received a brief account of a person who was written up as "officially" diagnosed as a celiac by their doctor after responding favorably to a GF diet. I expect this was due to more serious symptoms (diabetes) improving while on a GF diet, so this avenue is not likely to be open to me. The greatest concern expressed from the people who have had a biopsy was that I would have to go on a gluten challenge for several months, and that it may not be worthwhile at this point (having been GF for months) getting the diagnosis. As far as the pain involved in the biopsy, I have been assured it is minimal. Many people did not even remember the procedure, even though they were awake for the whole thing. On the flip side. Someone suggested that my doctor felt threatened by my superior knowledge of the disease, and responded by demanding I submit to a biopsy. Quite likely, considering I was on the wrong side of the desk to be doing the lecturing! I have decided not to get the biopsy done, primarily due to the daunting prospect of the gluten challenge, but the cost of the procedure (being in Australia) also worries me, since I will see no returns on this investment. I would be sicker and poorer for the biopsy, and little the wiser. For those who asked about my symptoms ------------------------------------- My symptoms are; immediate severe heartburn and bloating, followed by "fuzzy mindedness" shortly after, then about 12-24 hours later I have gas pains, constipation, then finally diarrhea. I also suffered from sleeping difficulties, and a need for more sleep than normal. I used to have severe joint pain in the knees, and a graininess of the scalp. I also used to suffer from shortness of breath, and I was beginning to have a reaction to milk before I went GF. Most of these symptoms have disappeared entirely, all have improved. About GF bread being made in the same kitchen as Wheat based bread ------------------------------------------------------------------ Most people who responded to my question about GF bread being made in the same oven as regular bread indicated that the greater risk of contamination would be via utensils, surfaces, and even the air inside the bakery area. It can take up to 24 hours for flour dust to settle out of the air. Everybody who wrote about this concern thought the bread would be dangerous to eat. Some respondents enquired about which store to purchase gluten free bread from. The answer to that is Woolworth's, but since I live in Australia that information is of little use to you. Thanks to you all for being part of my support network. Galen Rutledge _________________________________________________ "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man." --- George Bernard Shaw. _________________________________________________