yesterdays visit with Dr. Lewey

[kscolorado]

Yesterday went well. First off the nurse warned me that he had two medical students with him. I heard him outside the door discussing me...."celiac patient who did not follow protocol...did gluten free diet for over a year before seeking diagnoses....used enterolab....not published....and other things that I could pick up....kind a weird hearing someone talking about me when I'm not in room.

Anyway, he came in the room with his possy and told me all looked good with my colon, no chrohns, colitis ect but he did find 16 mast cells. He said thats more than the normal population but not in the category where you would do the expensive treatment unless I had symptoms. He said the best way to contain them for now is with claratin, zirtec, ect.....he kinda lost me on the fact that histamine is a cause of these little monsters.

He talked about my upper endo being okay but I have reflux esophagitis and reactive gastropathy. He first wanted me on prilosec then changed his mind to zantac because of the mast cells and prilosec could cause stomach discomfort for me.

We talked about my daughter possibly having celiac and she wants a blood test but does not want him up her rear and down her throat (remember she's 21). He said he wouldn't have to do that if the test is positive and with first a degree relative having celiac. he would of course feel better doing so but if she will follow the diet if positive, then they could go from there. He did say the once nice thing about how I did the diet first ect, is although I am celiac he could hide it on insurance policies for me since I don't have the gold standard, so that is a plus on my side. He also can't officially use me his researches that need gold standard celiacs but can on other gluten sensitivities ect. Over all though he said it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck so to never stray from diet to keep me from getting celiac complications.

So basically he said to take the zantac, stay gluten and soy free, and that he likes to see celiac patients once a year or to call if anything should pop up.

So thats in in a nutshell. I'm glad he didn't find anything serious and he does believe soy was the missing link into my healing, so there ya go! Thanks for reading.

[starfire]

Well, all in all, I suppose that could be considered a pretty good visit with a GI.
I'll be it was wierd hearing what he had to say about you. I wouldn't have liked it either.

Love, Shirley

[tex]

Kathy,

I agree with Shirley - as appointments with GI docs go, it doesn't get much better than that.

I never even thought of the insurance angle, as a reason to keep celiac disease unofficial, (and undeclared), but that may save a lot of money for you, in the long run. The main thing is that he acknowledges NCGS, which is all you need, for properly maintaining your health. Being willing to treat your daughter, without insisting on an invasive test, is also a huge plus. Kudos to him.

Thanks for the update,
Tex

[MaggieRedwings]

Great visit with a GI - sure wish we could all have that kind of a visit. Continued success to you.

Maggie