I remember speaking with a forum member from Evansville a long time ago but now cannot remember her name. I highly suspect my son is celiac and he attends colllege there and he may soon be in need. I took him to my hospital lab about a year ago and was adamant about them running the full panel. They made note of it and sent it off to a bigger lab at another hospital. When the results returned, the nurse called me and said the lab refused to do all 5 tests because the ones they did do did not indicate celiac. I was furious and am not convinced.

Dear cmom,
I am gluten intolerant individual from Evansville, Indiana! Your son sounds like he is close to my age. I am 23. I was told I did not have Celiac disease in 2000. It turns out my new doctor said I could still be gluten intolerant, and have just as severe symptoms as if I had Celiac! No doctor ever told me that before. Personally, I think going to specialists on this matter is a waste of time. They do not know enough about it, and they charge up the wazoo! Go to a holistic physician like I am going to. All it took was experimentation. Blood tests really do no good for the gluten intolerance. Also, if he is gluten intolerant, your son may also be sensitive to casien in dairy. Avoiding it for a while would be useful, too. Then, add the dairy back and see what happens. It may take up to three days after an allergen is eaten to react, so keep that in mind. Only introduce them one at a time, so you know what caused the reaction. I was getting reflux to the point I had to sleep practically sitting up, despite taking twice the dosage daily of Prilosec. Now it is better. I am still suffering with other problems because I may have yeast candida, but I am open for any kind of improvement! In case you were wondering, I am seeing Dr. Theresa Beckman.
Sincerely,
NoGluGirl

NoGluGirl,
I did get your email and replied but not sure if you got it. I haven't been on the computer for a couple of weeks. Is Dr. Beckman in with the St. Mary's group? My son made an emergency room visit this past week b/c of being awakened by severe stomach pain and spitting up blood. This is his second ER visit in the past 8-9 months. There is definitely something going on. My gastro in Vincennes recommended I take him to the Gastroenterology Associates on the St. Mary's campus. I have been researching them on the internet. Thanks for your response..BTW, the ER nurse told him he had a bad case of acid reflux but I have never heard of anyone spitting up blood from it.

Dear cmom,
I have not received your e-mail yet. You are right, your son probably does not have reflux causing him to spit up blood. If he has an ulcer, that would be a possibility. You know, my cousin had that happen, and it was his gallbladder. I had mine removed as well. Mine almost ruptured before they got it out. Your son may want to get an ultrasound done on that gallbladder. Was the abdominal pain in the upper right quadrant of his stomach? Dr. Beckman is close to Deaconess, actually. The St. Mary's doc I went to years back accused me of having an eating disorder and being crazy. Then, when I started crying asked my mother what I was crying about! Dr. Guletz was quite rude! Do not go to him! Dr. Beckman is in the Doctor's Plaza Professional Building. She is very selective about her patients. She also does not accept United Healthcare insurance anymore. I do not have any, so no problem there! Your son needs help immediately!
Sincerely,
NoGluGirl

Did Dr. Beckman to the celiac panel and/or biopsy to diagnose you? Dr. Guletz was one of the names I was given by me GI! I'm not too familiar with holistic doctors. What approach does she use? Thanks for all your help.

Gee, NoGluGirl!!! Sorry for all the typos!!!!

Dear cmom,
Dr. Beckman is also a regular M.D. on top of being a holistic physician. She actually did not do any of that. I told her I did an experiment and went without gluten and it seemed to help. She said to stick with it since that was the case, and that I was likely gluten intolerant. Dr. Beckman also recommended I avoid dairy. I have been gluten-free for five weeks, and actually was able to go out without taking my Phenergan for the severe nausea I am often wracked with. The reflux was so severe, sleeping practically sitting up was the only option, despite taking two Prilosecs. Though I still need the Prilosec, I do not get so ill when I am late with it (I took it nearly twelve hours late yesturday, and surprisingly did not feel like I swallowed Hades) which is an amazing improvement! I am even able to lie flat to sleep some now! There are still a lot of digestive problems, but the severity has decreased. Another thing is I was having a terrible time losing an ounce, where I worked out five days a week, ate less than 1,200 calories a day, and only 30 grams or less of fat. Having my gallbladder out makes watching my fat-intake necessary. I began doing Pilates after going gluten-free, and amazingly, have lost four inches in my hips and my waist! My cousin was spitting up blood like your son, and the idiots in the ER told him it was just stress! That is the dumbest thing I ever heard! Ask him about the abdominal pain. If it is in the upper-right quadrant, the gallbladder is a very likely suspect. It took years to find mine. Gallbladder disease is elusive. It mimics IBS, Acid Reflux, GERD, and other problems. I see Dr. Beckman this week, so if you like, I can ask her what she recommends to diagnose gluten intolerance, as well as see about a GI doc for your son. One thing is for sure, I know all the doctors he should not go to. I have been to IU Med and they nearly killed me five years ago, not to mention a number of docs here. I am sure there are some good ones around here somewhere, I just have not had contact with many! LOL! Guletz, Hasseman, and McCord are all bad ideas. Trust me.
I hope this helped.
Sincerely,
NoGluGirl

Thanks, NoGluGirl. If Dr. Beckman knows of a good GI in Evansville, I would be interested. I know my son will not go gluten free without a confirmed diagnosis. He'll have to have proof. Thanks also for giving me the "bad docs."

Dear cmom,
Sorry to say I did not get to see Dr. Beckman the other day. I went to get my Depo-Provera shot, but she was in with another patient. I only saw the nurse. I do not have my physical until the second of October. I really think your son should just try the diet. The diet is the proof. He may not be a celiac, but have gluten intolerance like me. I have been so sick, I will do anything. Still, with the symptoms, other issues could be at work, too. The two like I would recommend are gallbladder disease and an ulcer possibly.
Ulcers are caused by the bacterium Helicobacter Pylori. There are some medications which aid in destroying it, and the symptoms it causes. There is the Helidac therapy consisting of four very potent antibiotics which will kill it. Meanwhile, I will keep attempting to find a good GI doc for your son.
Sincerely,
NoGluGirl

I do appreciate your help. I will definitely mark Guletz and Haseman off the list. I had Dr. Bailey as the number 1 choice only because he graduated from med school the latest and I thought he might be more up to date on celiac. But this is just a shot in the dark. My son asked me if I had found him anyone yet. He says he'll start the diet, then gets so frustrated that he gives up. I finally did advise him, though, not to try it if he has to be tested so the results will be accurate.

Dear cmom,
I will ask my mother's best friend and see if she knows a good one. She has had ulcers, and has been to many doctors. It is difficult for me to recommend one simply due to the fact I have not had any good ones! What concerns me about your son's symptoms is the fact there is an apparent hemmhorage going on somewhere. That abdominal pain is trying to tell him something. If it is an ulcer, it should not be left to chance. The gallbladder should not, either. Perhaps I could speak to him over the phone if he is in town? If I could get a good idea of his symptoms, maybe I could help identify the source of the problem. I am not a doc, but I have had gallbladder disease, so I could see how likely that is. My cousin also had his removed just in time like me. I would be happy to give you the phone number and set up a time for your son to call me. I have a busy schedule, but would be more than happy to try to help. Just say the word!
Sincerely,
NoGluGirl

My son hates to talk on the phone so he uses email as his main form of communication. If you're comfortable with giving your address out, he'd be more likely to communicate that way, and thanks again.

Dear cmom,
Whatever it takes to help him! My e-mail is rainbow_geisha@hotmail.com. Tell him I need to know all of his symptoms so I can try to help. This is especially important in case he has an ulcer or gallbladder disease. Meanwhile, I will keep trying to find out a good GI doc. There has got to be one somewhere around here!
Sincerely,
NoGluGirl

I will pass it on to him. I wish I had checked my email sooner as he was home today. Thanks again. I appreciate it!!!!

Hi! I can't give you the name of a doctor off hand, but I used to live in Eville and was told by family physicians that I was just faking all of my symptoms. At any rate, my mom saw a really good doc in Eville for her ulcerative colitis (though mom probably has celiac disease and wasn't diagnosed then). He was in the Deaconess building downtown (I remember taking Riverside Dr. to get there but can't remember the address exactly...). I'll ask my mom what the name of the doc is... She lives in Ft. Branch now and may still see him.

NoGluGirl, I'm also 23 and originally from Eville/Newburgh. Where did you go to school?

Thanks to you too, Mandy, for jumping on the bandwagon!!! It's great to know what doctors NOT to take my son to. I know that if one doctor minimized his symptoms and made him feel like a hypochondriac, I'd never get him to go anywhere else. That's why I'm taking my time (as long as his symptoms are not worsening) trying to find the right one.

Dear Mandy F,
I used to go to F.J. Reitz up until my junior year of high school. My stomach problems got so bad despite doing my work and doctor's excuses, the EVSC forced me out. I finished high school by the American School in Illinois (which incidentally is the only one awarding a real diploma). I attended art school as well while finishing high school. Since last January, I have been attending Kaplan University working toward an Associate's degree in Management. I have been trying to get a business going for a couple of years, but due to lack of finances, cannot afford advertising and the like. So, now I am pursuing a receptionist job. I cannot afford testing I need for diagnosis of yeast overgrowth and my parents try to help me with my diet, but we cannot even afford to buy new pans so I have to just wash everything thoroughly.
As far as school went, I was in the class of 2001 originally. I really like Central better, which I went there for a little bit while in the T & I program. Mom refused to let me switch though. People at Reitz were racist toward me because they thought I was Asian.

My mom said that the person she used to see isn't practicing anymore but that Dr. Johnson is a good GI. She aslo said to try GI associates (I think that's the office that I was talking about downtown) which is actually next door to the Downtown St. Mary's hospital. Or at least it used to be. Sorry I can't be much more help...

NoGluGirl, I graduated from Castle in 2001 on a stroke of luck. They weren't going to let me graduate and at that time my doc was holding to "she's faking it to get out of school" routine. The final decision came down to the assistant principal. He listened to my story and said "You sound just like my wife... She's struggled with exhaustion and illnesses for years and was just diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue. If you bring me one doctors excuse, I'll excuse all of your abscenses for the semester." so yeah, I got lucky... I don't think I knew anyone who went to Reitz, though... Good luck on your buisness!

Dear Mandy,
My cousins went to Castle, but they are older. My Uncle Chuck (Hawkins) is a coach there. I was given the "she just does not want to go to school" routine by my parents. Then, the doctors all assumed I was crazy and doped me up on pills. It turns out, I have Fibromyalgia, Thyroid trouble, possibly Yeast Candida on top of gluten intolerance, as well as I had my gallbladder removed. If I had not pestered the doctor, he would not have let me go see the surgeon. Tests did not show anything, and according to my research, they are only about 33 percent accurate at best. Seeing the surgeon was the smartest thing I could have done. They got my very inflamed and irritated gallbladder out just before it ruptured! That was three years ago, and with the stomach problems persisting, I had to do something. Cutting out the gluten has help, and I am finally losing weight! Thanks for wishing my business good luck. It needs all the help it can get! I need more funding, but so far, there is not a way to get it. Loans and grants are both no - gos.
Sincerely,
NoGluGirl
P.S. I got lucky with the school situation , too. I would have gotten an EVSC education! That is more like a punishment instead of a reward! Being forced out was a blessing in disguise. I just did not realize it at the time.

I just spoke with my son's fiance and she wants me to call a dr asap...she said he was sent home from work today b/c he was sick on his stomach and they were at Logan's eating and he started having chest pain and feeling sick so he left the table to walk around. She put him on the phone and he wants me to go ahead and schedule an appt with my doctor in Vincennes. He said he had taken Mylanta and it was helping so it could be acid reflux. His fiance said he is getting sick daily. I can't wait any longer. I will be calling on Monday. Thanks for your help.

Dear cmom,
Get his gallbladder checked! I had trouble with that when my gallbladder was in. Pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen is typical. It can make you miserable. It also tends to mimic lactose intolerance and acid reflux. Get back to us soon and let us both know what is going on!
Sincerely,
NoGluGirl

I haven't been on much the past 8 weeks. Just a note to let those who tried to help with my son. He did see a GI, had the blood tests, endoscopy, and small bowel series with follow through. Everything came out negative. The dr said at this time, there is no evidence of celiac. He said to treat the acid reflux episodes as they happened. Didn't feel that he was having a gall bladder problem. Thanks noglugirl and everyone else for your advice.

If capsule endoscopy is available in your area, it may give your son a diagnosis. It is a small camera that is swallowed and makes photographs as it passes through the small intestine. It can be diagnostic for celiac as well as other small intestinal disorders. Good luck.

Dear cmom,
It is good to hear from you again. Thank you for the update. Still, all of my tests came out negative for the Celiac as well as the gallbladder, and they were wrong. Doctors today do not use common sense. I went through a lot of misery I may never mentally recover from. However, all I can do is warn others. They must use their own judgment. I went up to I.U. Med in Indy five and a half years ago. An entire team of docs worked on me, doing an endoscopy, intercolisis, gastric emptying study, bloodwork, and colonoscopy. They just told me I had a chemical imbalance in my brain causing my nausea (that is a nice way of putting that you are crazy). Those four and a half days of horror are something I would not wish on my worst enemy. I wish your son well. Feel free to update us any time.
Sincerely,
NoGluGirl

I'm unable to find where anyone said that they had a negative experience with Haseman... I question this because I've just been told by another celiac to go to Haseman. She recommends him highly. Has someone on here had a bad experience with him?

Thx,
Kate