is it needed to undergo formal testing for cd?

[gazeofsorrow]

my father is cd, and i share the same set of syptoms when i eat gluten. do i really need to be tested personally if i seem healthy eating GF?

[aklap]

Hi Gaze,

Welcome to the board. Glad you are doing some research on this! Many of us are self diagnosed. The reasons are many, but it's usually because the medical community did have any answers for us and we decided to try the GF diet anyway. We had nothing to loose and everything to gain!!

Currently the numbers are:
1 in 133 of healthy people have gluten issues
1 in 56 of those with symptoms
1 in 22 for someone with a 1st degree relative/children with CD.

So - if you are fine with those odds, and do not need a piece of paper telling you that you can't have gluten...go for it!! Some Docs will say improvement on a GF diet is diagnosis enough! I will say if you think you want testing done, you will need to go back on gluten. This can be nasty...you are making yourself sick...to get the diagnosis. Hmmm, that seems a little strange But, its a matter of personal perference.

I would make sure you are getting enough fiber. Once you strip out wheat, barley, rye (and maybe oats) - a good chunk of fiber disappears too.

Make sure your eating enough fresh fruits & veggies too...

Good luck in your GF journey! Hope you stick around, there's lots of info here.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[gazeofsorrow]

yes, no oats. i figured that out allready. (the hard way)

also, i have done a bit of lurking on this board, and it seems that you are quite possibly the nicest member. it looks like you introduce EVERYONE to the board. thanks.

[aklap]