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First, I would like to thank everyone for responding to my questions.  This
is such a wonderful group!!!  Everyone was very supportive and helpful.
Here are my questions with a summary of responses:

1.  For those of you who are (or were) lactose intolerant, did you test
positive for it or did you just know that you were?  Which test did they
give you - breath or blood?

About 50% of the people who answered this question had been tested and
about 50% of the people tested had tested positive.  Most people were given
a breath test.  One woman got very sick from the test and still tested
negative.  A couple of people thought I should be checked for an allergy to
casein (milk protein?).  I will look into that.

2.  How important is a firm diagnosis?  If I am staying GF, aren't I doing
everything I would do if diagnosed?

Most people felt that a firm diagnosis wasn't that important.  They said
that if I was happy on the diet and felt better then stick with it and
don't worry about a firm diagnosis.  The people that felt that a official
celiac diagnosis was important gave the following reasons:
        1- encourages you to stay on the diet
        2- might convince other family members to be tested and go gf
        3- in case you end up in an institution that is in control of what you
eat (hospital, military, nursing home, prison(eek!)) it might be important to
be able to prove you needed special food
        4- easier to get gf medication
        5- traveling to other countries it would be easier to get gf foods

3.  Is it possible for the blood test to be negative and still be celiac?
or am I probably gluten intolerant?

All of the people who answered this question felt it was possible to get a
negative result (especially if one had been eating gf for awhile).  One
person's allergist told her that if the blood tests are negative when the
gf diet caused her to feel better then this is a sign that the blood tests
aren't effective.

4.  Has anyone else been having trouble with Corn Pops lately?  My
intestines and my skin are acting like I am getting a little (very small)
amount of gluten and the only thing that I can trace it to is Corn Pops.
They haven't bothered me before now.

Corn Pops are not GF because they are made on the same line as some wheat
based cereals.  A couple of people suggested I replace them with Malt o
Meal's Corn Bursts (I have not checked with that company to confirm GF
status).  Several people asked if I might be allergic to corn.  I eat corn
in many forms and it never causes me any distress, so I think not.  A
couple of people said that the problem with Corn Pops was annato.  If that
is the case then the Corn Bursts are also a problem.  I have been eating
the Corn Bursts for a couple of days and I haven't had any problems.  This
does bring up another question - is annato a celiac no-no?

I have decided to live with my self diagnosis for now.  I am feeling so
much better without dairy and gluten and I am not ready to go through a
challenge.  Many people felt the same way I do - especially parents with
children who might be celiacs.  It is such an invasive test to do and the
challenge is very hard on some people.

Thanks again for all the support and suggestions!

Colby Ray
Bellevue, WA