News and information from the eClinic Team
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I have been helping one of my patients dads. His name is Chris and he is 31 years old. I have been investigating his son - who was sick, tired and grumpy. It turns out that his son is gluten sensitive.
But Dad also had the same symptoms! He said:
“I’ve been tired all my life - constantly tired and moody. I can't think or concentrate properly, I was questioning my intelligence level when at school and struggled with concentration.”
“I have done so many things to try and keep up my energy: being fit, drinking lots of water and eating the best I can. However, I was always lacking in energy. I just thought that's who I am. It has been a constant battle for me. I never feel fresh.”
“I thought I was normal. And, yes, my bowel motions always loose, and I do get tummy pain now and then - but I thought this was normal. My sleep is shocking. I wake up lots of times sometimes with nightmares. I hate mornings because when I wake up I do not feel refreshed - I still feel tired.”
Comment
Isn’t this is a sad story. His blood test have shown up celiac disease. He is about to have an endoscopy to prove this. He is desperate to go gluten-free. He feels that most of his life has been spent struggling. If only he had sought help earlier and got the appropriate test for celiac disease. This is such a common story.
The message: anyone who has any ongoing symptoms that have not been appropriately diagnosed should have blood tests for celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 15 March 2012 23:43 |
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Gluten sensitive vs celiac - as serious? |
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Asked: "Would a person with non-celiac-gluten-sensitivity as serious a condition as celiac disease?"
Answered: "Good question. They are both serious diseases. Celiac sufferers get gut damage from gluten that can be seen by a microscope (called villus atrophy) and they are more likely to get mal-absorption of vitamins and minerals. However, gluten-sensitive people can get severe symptoms anywhere, and get extremely sick from gluten - but they do not get the gut tissue damage. As yet there is no single test that is accurate enough to make a diagnosis on all gluten-sensitive people. Often relies on a trial of GF foods." RF |
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Some of you say you are “gluten-free newbies” and asked for advice. I have written several books on this. Hear are my 10 thoughts.
1. Diagnosis: get a clear diagnosis if you can.
2. Mind Set: declare yourself a gluten-free person
3. Accept that your gluten-free journey will have ups and down
4. Aim for a ZERO gluten diet.
5. Find a gluten-free buddy
6. Take care of yourself – vitamin, minerals, probiotics
7. Learn to eat a wide variety of foods (gluten-free).
8. Be proud to be gluten-free.
9. Learn what you can eat.
10. Enjoy the gift of being gluten-free. |
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Last Updated on Monday, 26 September 2011 02:14 |
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Is the IgG food allergy test this better/more accurate than a RAST? |
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IgG and IgE testing are quite different.
IgE: RAST blood tests measure specific-IgE (this is for making the diagnosis of IMMEDIATE food allergy (within a few minutes of having the food). It gives the same information as a skin-prick-test for allergy).
IgG: measuring this antibody looks at the possibility of DELAYED-onset food allergy (few hours or next day). Skin tests and RAST tests will be negative.
Both tests are useful dto work out the problem. We are now offering IgG-food-allergen testing through the US BioTek laboratory. |
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Last Updated on Monday, 15 August 2011 23:37 |
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Is gluten intolerance something that can be outgrown? |
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Interesting question from Sue.
I cover this in my "Gluten Syndrome" book. The answer is "probably no". Gluten can trigger autoimmune disease, and so can cause long-term health problems. The life history of gluten sensitivity has not been studied formally. However, my experience over that last 20 years has seen few people successfully return to eating gluten. RF |
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Anonymous food at conference |
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I was at a gastroenterology conference last week (ESPGHAN). The information was excellent.
But I am very disappointed about the lack of any food descriptions. The food was anonymous. No labels, no description, no allergen declarations.
At a GI/food allergy/nutrition conference, I would have thought that people on special diets would be catered for. For example, I am Gluten Free. Morning & Afternoon teas had no GF option. Boxed breakfasts - no GF option. Lunch boxes - GF option was hard to track down (no info given about how to get this food). There was no indication about dairy/eggs/nuts in any of the food. It was definitely not a food-allergy friendly conference. Very odd. This lack of food action does not give a very good message - we should be taking food allergy/intolerance seriously, at every venue. I say: less talking and more doing.
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