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

I rejoined the list recently, and Yehudit Massouda's post about a friend's gluten challenge has prompted me to share this experience. 

 In 1999,  bolstered by advice from this list, I added gluten back into my diet in preparation for endoscopy.  I had  been  GF by  my own decision for a couple months.   I became so ill during the challenge that even though the biopsies were reported as "within normal parameters" ,I decided to remain GF, and continued to gather information with the help of this listserv.  In Sept.2000, I attended a GIG conference at Stanford that I heard about from this list.  I  participated in a  blood draw for the Center for Celiac Research, listing myself as undiagnosed.     Early in 200l,  their report recommended that I have a biopsy. When I called them, the CFCR recommended that I have the biopsies sent to them, but I put off doing that,  because I had to go through the GI's office, and he had been very disparaging about the many people in our town who had "convinced themselves that they have a wheat allergy".  

 This spring the CFCR sent me an invitation to participate in a follow-up study.   They again recommended that my biopsies be sent to them, and my family doctor also encouraged me to do that .  A month ago, The CFCR sent a report to the pathologist and the GI that my biopsies were highly suggestive of celiac disease.  I then had a phone call from the GI, who told me that he was discouraged by the report, because he realized that he would not be able to use the local lab (the pathologist had reread the slides and still found "nothing remarkable").  He said that he would be in touch with the doctors at the CFCR, and thanked me for my persistence since my efforts  would "undoubtedly help a lot of other people".    

This list has been an absolutely invaluable source of information and encouragement to me these last 3 years, and I want to thank the listowners for all the good work that they do.  
Nancy in Southern Oregon.  

*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the CELIAC List*