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I've been asking a lot of questions lately, so forgive me for the
intrusion.  Also, please no hate mail about my wacky title.

I've been trying for over a year to get my father tested for celiac.
First, his doctor said he wouldn't do the test because he didn't look
like he had it.  Finally he did the blood test and my father wrote to me
that he (my father) didn't know how to read it.  (You can imagine what I
wrote to him about his doctor) Finally, he told me that the doc told him
that he had a mild form of celiac.  You can imagine my reaction.

However, I wanted to send my dad proof that you can't just have "a mild
form of celiac".  That you either have it or you don't, but that you can
have mild symptoms.  I can't find anything saying this.  I went to the
celiac.automated-shops.com site and the Mayo clinic site.  While they do
give much information about celiac, they don't say whether you can have
a mild form of it or not.  So, he is only somewhat going to watch what
he eats.

I don't have celiac, but my son does.  My cousin on my dad's side of the
family (you may remember this story) was diagnosed with celiac but never
followed the diet.  She died about 7-8 years after being diagnosed.  I'm
not saying at all that she died of celiac.  They chose not to do an
autopsy, but only said she had a lot of intestinal problems.  Given this
info and the fact that my dad has several symptoms (including being
lactose intolerant), I think he could have it.  I'm not certain, but I
don't like the doctors response of "mild form".  UGH!!!!! When will they
ever learn.

My question, (sorry for taking so long) is does anyone know where it is
written that you have it or you don't, there's no in between?   Or, is
it possible (and this will blow me away) that you CAN have a mild form
of it.

Thank you again for your help.  This list has been to me what 4 years at
college could've been.  I've learned so much from so many people here
and am very thankful.

Sidona/San Diego