Thanks,
Tex
List Of Recommended Doctors
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hello!
I see Dr. Joshua Forman at St. Joseph Medical Center in Baltimore. He has been very open minded about my treatment and talking about food sensitivities. He has also asked for the link to Enterolabs so we can discuss it at my next appointment as he knows how much I dislike being on medication. His "bedside manner" is great, too, which is very important to me as I've seen dr's who are very impersonal and curt.
Laura
I see Dr. Joshua Forman at St. Joseph Medical Center in Baltimore. He has been very open minded about my treatment and talking about food sensitivities. He has also asked for the link to Enterolabs so we can discuss it at my next appointment as he knows how much I dislike being on medication. His "bedside manner" is great, too, which is very important to me as I've seen dr's who are very impersonal and curt.
Laura
All things are possible through God.
I wish I had someone to add from DC or Northern VA. The local Celiac group keeps a list, but these docs care mostly about Celiac, not MC, IMHO. I would add the HealthNOW Medical Center in Sunnyvale, CA -- Dr. Vikki Peterson, because of their highly informative, enlightened website, but they are not gastroenterologists.
http://www.healthnowmedical.com/
http://www.healthnowmedical.com/
Thanks Laura,
I've added Dr. Forman to the list.
Zizzle,
I hear you. The problem with celiac docs as a group, is that most of them go by the book, and the book that they tend to go by is out of date.
I agree with you about Dr. Peterson - I like the way she thinks, and what she writes, but as a chiropractor, she's probably not an ideal choice for someone who will need a colonoscopy for a diagnosis.
She's kind of in the same boat as Stephanie Seneff - I love her out-of-the-box thinking, and her detailed analysis of certain medical issues, but her license says electrical engineer, not neurologist or internist. 
Tex
I've added Dr. Forman to the list.
Zizzle,
I hear you. The problem with celiac docs as a group, is that most of them go by the book, and the book that they tend to go by is out of date.
I agree with you about Dr. Peterson - I like the way she thinks, and what she writes, but as a chiropractor, she's probably not an ideal choice for someone who will need a colonoscopy for a diagnosis.
She's kind of in the same boat as Stephanie Seneff - I love her out-of-the-box thinking, and her detailed analysis of certain medical issues, but her license says electrical engineer, not neurologist or internist. Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Michelle Smedley, Farmington, CT. I think she also did either a residency or a fellowship at Mt. Sinai Hospital, NYC. She also practices in Enfield, CT.
In any case, no messing around--her APRN who did my intake heard my symptoms, no doubt consulted with her, and we went straight to endoscopy/colonoscopy, biopsies, and LC diagnosis. No fooling with IBS. She also went straight to Entocort as a med, although she was a little hesitant to keep me on it long term initially, wanting to have me sort of cycle between Colazal and Entocort. She was ultimately OK with keeping me on Entocort longer-term. AND, when I raised the issue of Enterolab testing with her, while she was skeptical, she was willing to help me follow thru with it and try to get it covered by insurance, though I haven't done that yet. She was very insistent that I give up gluten based on the biopsy of the small intestine, and later recommended eliminating dairy.
In any case, no messing around--her APRN who did my intake heard my symptoms, no doubt consulted with her, and we went straight to endoscopy/colonoscopy, biopsies, and LC diagnosis. No fooling with IBS. She also went straight to Entocort as a med, although she was a little hesitant to keep me on it long term initially, wanting to have me sort of cycle between Colazal and Entocort. She was ultimately OK with keeping me on Entocort longer-term. AND, when I raised the issue of Enterolab testing with her, while she was skeptical, she was willing to help me follow thru with it and try to get it covered by insurance, though I haven't done that yet. She was very insistent that I give up gluten based on the biopsy of the small intestine, and later recommended eliminating dairy.
Suze
Hmmmmmm. I reckon I'd need to add a pediatric category.
But first, Polly, do you want your medical contact info added to our list? I don't want to do it without your approval, since I'm not sure if there would be any legal issues connected with such a listing.
Tex
But first, Polly, do you want your medical contact info added to our list? I don't want to do it without your approval, since I'm not sure if there would be any legal issues connected with such a listing.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Joseph7179
- Little Blue Penguin
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 1:04 pm
Hi Kathy,
Welcome to the board. Unfortunately, the closest doctor we have any verified information on, is this one, who is probably a couple hundred miles away. That doesn't mean that others in Florida aren't qualified - we just don't have any references on them:
Dr. Bernard Stein
North County Center for Digestive Health, LLC
Jupiter, Fl
(561) 744-2200
http://www.digestivecareonline.com/physician-55.php
Tex
Welcome to the board. Unfortunately, the closest doctor we have any verified information on, is this one, who is probably a couple hundred miles away. That doesn't mean that others in Florida aren't qualified - we just don't have any references on them:
Dr. Bernard Stein
North County Center for Digestive Health, LLC
Jupiter, Fl
(561) 744-2200
http://www.digestivecareonline.com/physician-55.php
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Joseph,
Are you saying that Dr. Brogan recommends diet changes in order to avoid food-sensitivities, as an option for treating the disease?
Tex
Are you saying that Dr. Brogan recommends diet changes in order to avoid food-sensitivities, as an option for treating the disease?
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thank you, Tex.
I was diagnosed with MC in August, 2011 after at least three years of pretty severe symptoms - GI and joint pain. The pepto didn't help and Lialda isn't much help either, so I clearly need to take additional steps. Perhaps my doctor is good; I'm not sure what his next recommendation will be. He seemed to rule out gluten (over the telephone) after my blood test which makes me wonder now after reading these posts. I'm a vegetarian and live on whole grains, nuts, vegetables, fruit, soy, cheese, yogurt, etc. My teenage daughter has been diagnosed with IBS-C, too. I'd just like to find out and start feeling better! The information here is wonderful!
Kathy
I was diagnosed with MC in August, 2011 after at least three years of pretty severe symptoms - GI and joint pain. The pepto didn't help and Lialda isn't much help either, so I clearly need to take additional steps. Perhaps my doctor is good; I'm not sure what his next recommendation will be. He seemed to rule out gluten (over the telephone) after my blood test which makes me wonder now after reading these posts. I'm a vegetarian and live on whole grains, nuts, vegetables, fruit, soy, cheese, yogurt, etc. My teenage daughter has been diagnosed with IBS-C, too. I'd just like to find out and start feeling better! The information here is wonderful!
Kathy
Kathy,
Except for those of us who also have fully-developed celiac disease, the type of gluten-sensitivity that we have is not detectable by the classic celiac blood tests. Only the much more sensitive stool tests offered by Enterolab, in Dallas, TX, will reliably detect the food sensitivities that we have. In fact, those blood tests are so insensitive that they are the primary reason why it takes so long to get a diagnosis of celiac disease. They will only detect the disease after it is fully-developed, which means that it usually takes several years of reacting before enough antibodies show up in the blood to yield a positive test result. The stool tests are capable of detecting celiac disease in its early stages.
Many of our members are, (or were), vegetarians or vegans, before developing the disease. Some suspect that high grain content in the diet may increase the risk of developing food-sensitivities, but there's no research data that I'm aware of, to support that speculation. One of the problems with MC is that the genes that predispose to MC also predispose to certain food-sensitivities, so that when the disease is triggered, virtually all of us become sensitive to gluten and casein, (the primary protein in all dairy products), and about half of us become sensitive to soy, (and virtually all legumes). That makes a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle very difficult to maintain, unfortunately. Another problem is that fiber irritates our intestines when they are already inflamed, so we have to minimize fiber, in order to allow the gut to heal, so that we can achieve remission of symptoms. After sufficient healing occurs, we can usually reintroduce more fiber into the diet, again.
It's the consensus of opinion among most of the members here, that IBS does not actually exist - it's simply doctor-speak for, "I Be Stymied", meaning that they don't have the foggiest idea what is wrong with the patient, but they're too embarrassed to admit that, so they created the disease, "IBS", to save face. Many of us were misdiagnosed with "IBS" before being properly diagnosed. In most cases, the difference between "IBS" and MC is simply biopsies.
Most gastroenterologists don't realize that the original description of MC is incorrect. It describes MC as a disease "characterized by watery diarrhea". The fact of the matter is, though, many people with MC have alternating D and C, and some have only C. As is the case with celiac disease, some MC patients are asymptomatic, so they aren't even aware that they have the disease.
I had C most of my life, also, until one day the D started, and wouldn't stop. Then it became alternating C and D, until I eventually figured out that food-sensitivities were causing me to be so sick.
I hope you can find the information here, that you need to develop a personalized treatment plan that will allow you to get your life back. Every case is different, so we each have to fine-tune our treatment program to suit our food-sensitivities, and our lifestyle.
No one truly understands this disease, unless they have it, so we share our experiences here, and cover all of the things that our doctors were unable to tell us. Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Except for those of us who also have fully-developed celiac disease, the type of gluten-sensitivity that we have is not detectable by the classic celiac blood tests. Only the much more sensitive stool tests offered by Enterolab, in Dallas, TX, will reliably detect the food sensitivities that we have. In fact, those blood tests are so insensitive that they are the primary reason why it takes so long to get a diagnosis of celiac disease. They will only detect the disease after it is fully-developed, which means that it usually takes several years of reacting before enough antibodies show up in the blood to yield a positive test result. The stool tests are capable of detecting celiac disease in its early stages.
Many of our members are, (or were), vegetarians or vegans, before developing the disease. Some suspect that high grain content in the diet may increase the risk of developing food-sensitivities, but there's no research data that I'm aware of, to support that speculation. One of the problems with MC is that the genes that predispose to MC also predispose to certain food-sensitivities, so that when the disease is triggered, virtually all of us become sensitive to gluten and casein, (the primary protein in all dairy products), and about half of us become sensitive to soy, (and virtually all legumes). That makes a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle very difficult to maintain, unfortunately. Another problem is that fiber irritates our intestines when they are already inflamed, so we have to minimize fiber, in order to allow the gut to heal, so that we can achieve remission of symptoms. After sufficient healing occurs, we can usually reintroduce more fiber into the diet, again.
It's the consensus of opinion among most of the members here, that IBS does not actually exist - it's simply doctor-speak for, "I Be Stymied", meaning that they don't have the foggiest idea what is wrong with the patient, but they're too embarrassed to admit that, so they created the disease, "IBS", to save face. Many of us were misdiagnosed with "IBS" before being properly diagnosed. In most cases, the difference between "IBS" and MC is simply biopsies.
Most gastroenterologists don't realize that the original description of MC is incorrect. It describes MC as a disease "characterized by watery diarrhea". The fact of the matter is, though, many people with MC have alternating D and C, and some have only C. As is the case with celiac disease, some MC patients are asymptomatic, so they aren't even aware that they have the disease.
I had C most of my life, also, until one day the D started, and wouldn't stop. Then it became alternating C and D, until I eventually figured out that food-sensitivities were causing me to be so sick.
I hope you can find the information here, that you need to develop a personalized treatment plan that will allow you to get your life back. Every case is different, so we each have to fine-tune our treatment program to suit our food-sensitivities, and our lifestyle.
No one truly understands this disease, unless they have it, so we share our experiences here, and cover all of the things that our doctors were unable to tell us. Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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SisterSupport
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2011 10:37 am