<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Well hush my mouth and call me Slappy! I feel like a total doofus! According to about 75% of the people who responded to my recent post, gluten-sensitive enteropathy (which is what my internist says I have) and celiac disease are the same thing. DUH! I haven't had a formal diagnosis and probably won't go to the trouble of getting one unless I start feeling bad again. In early 1997, after several months of stomach distress, the internist referred me to a gastroenterologist who had me try various meds that didn't work. My symptoms included a rolling, acidic, gassy stomach and bowels, bloating, discomfort, plus occasional foul-smelling stool (sorry, gross). In Feb 1997 he did an EGD to check for ulcers/cancer and found only a few "red streaks" in my stomach. We tried more meds but he never suggested CD. I might mention that I'm also obese and did not have chronic diarrhea, which I gather is atypical of a person with celiac. I was dealing with another medical problem at the time (severe plantar fasciitis in both of my feet) and ended up having surgery for that in June 1997, so I just gave up on doctoring the stomach problem for a while. In July 1997 I noticed a connection to wheat and thought I might have an allergy--my dad is allergic to wheat, among other things--and so I tried to avoid all obvious wheat products. I called the gastro's office but they said I wouldn't be able to get in for a month and that I should see my internist instead. I saw the internist and gave him all the details and that's when he "diagnosed" me with GSE. He immediately referred me to a dietitian who explained the gluten-free diet and I've been on it ever since. I did make an appointment with the gastro to make sure everything was being done as it should be, and he got rather snippy (I think because another doctor had been involved, and because I had a lot of information that I'd gotten from this list) and, in a nut shell, he dismissed me rather curtly. Jerk! Informed patients can be so threatening! 8-) Anyway, I've been observing a gluten-free diet since August 1997 and feel much better. I haven't had a full-blown "squid" (my affectionate term for a gluten reaction) for some time. I have to say, though, that it feels different, somehow, thinking that I have something referred to as a "disease" vs. a simple "condition." I think you probably know what I mean. Best wishes to all. Sorry this is so long and rambly. Vickie P in SW Indiana [log in to unmask]