this was posted on the glutenfree.com board but thought you guys would find interesting.
http://www.drrodneyford.com/index.php/c ... ,viewpost/
gluten sensitivity
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Hi Kathy,
Dr. Ford is obviously quite correct. But that description fits virtually all digestive system diseases, doesn't it, except for infections by known pathogens, and cancer, of course? With the IBDs, for example, the diagnostic markers are also tissue damage markers. Of course, in the case of the IBDs, the cause of the damage remains a mystery, so I can see why the medical community would choose to define those diseases without reference to the underlying cause. With celiac disease, though, doctors have been aware of the disease for thousands of years. One would think that in that extreme span of time, they would know virtually everything there is to know about the disease. In reality, though, most of them are still unable to grasp the most basic issue involved with the disease.
You know, when you put some thought to it - it's really a very simple issue, isn't it. Certain people are intolerant of certain protein fractions in wheat, and related grains. Period. And yet, the medical community has been grappling with this concept, totally at a loss to comprehend it, for literally thousands of years. Celiac disease was first described in the records at least as far back as 250 A.D., (and probably it was described in some lost records, much earlier than that). It took until 1888, for a British pediatrician to figure out that it was related to diet. That's a span of 1,638 years. Obviously, figuring out the details of celiac disease, is not considered to be a high priority item, by the medical community.
It took another 64 years, (until 1952), for a Dutch pediatrician to figure out that the disease is caused by the ingestion of wheat proteins, and he had an extremely lucky break - celiac disease almost disappeared in the Netherlands, after wartime rationing of wheat, and then it reappeared, when wheat once more became more available. So here we are, 57 years later, and most doctors, and the mainstream medical community in general, still can't wrap their brains around the simple concept of gluten sensitivity. With all due respect to the profession, and the handful of doctors and researchers who actually do understand the issue, what's wrong with the "good old boys club", that we so generously refer to as the "medical profession" - are they retarded, or what? It ain't rocket science - it's grade school biology.
Could it be that they are pursuing their own agenda, for their own selfish reasons? Is something sinister going on here? No profession could possibly be composed of members that incompetent, that it's highly educated members couldn't figure out this issue, in roughly 2,000 years. Many of the original members of this board, have figured it out on their own, after they became sick, and it didn't take a single one of them, 2,000 years to do it, and only one of us has a medical degree. The average length of time required to get a celaic diagnosis in this country, (let alone MC, or gluten-sensitivity), is still unacceptably high, (close to 11 years, according to the most recent statistics, but surely that sad statistic is slowly improving, in recent years). None of us here, who figured it out on our own, took that long. So what's going on with the guys who are paid big bucks to figure out this sort of stuff? There has to be a reason for all the foot-dragging, and it's probably a reason that no one could be proud of.
Okay, rant off.
Thanks for posting that - Dr. Ford really does make an excellent point, (of course, he's considered to be a radical, by the mainstream medical community.
).
Tex
Dr. Ford is obviously quite correct. But that description fits virtually all digestive system diseases, doesn't it, except for infections by known pathogens, and cancer, of course? With the IBDs, for example, the diagnostic markers are also tissue damage markers. Of course, in the case of the IBDs, the cause of the damage remains a mystery, so I can see why the medical community would choose to define those diseases without reference to the underlying cause. With celiac disease, though, doctors have been aware of the disease for thousands of years. One would think that in that extreme span of time, they would know virtually everything there is to know about the disease. In reality, though, most of them are still unable to grasp the most basic issue involved with the disease.
You know, when you put some thought to it - it's really a very simple issue, isn't it. Certain people are intolerant of certain protein fractions in wheat, and related grains. Period. And yet, the medical community has been grappling with this concept, totally at a loss to comprehend it, for literally thousands of years. Celiac disease was first described in the records at least as far back as 250 A.D., (and probably it was described in some lost records, much earlier than that). It took until 1888, for a British pediatrician to figure out that it was related to diet. That's a span of 1,638 years. Obviously, figuring out the details of celiac disease, is not considered to be a high priority item, by the medical community.
It took another 64 years, (until 1952), for a Dutch pediatrician to figure out that the disease is caused by the ingestion of wheat proteins, and he had an extremely lucky break - celiac disease almost disappeared in the Netherlands, after wartime rationing of wheat, and then it reappeared, when wheat once more became more available. So here we are, 57 years later, and most doctors, and the mainstream medical community in general, still can't wrap their brains around the simple concept of gluten sensitivity. With all due respect to the profession, and the handful of doctors and researchers who actually do understand the issue, what's wrong with the "good old boys club", that we so generously refer to as the "medical profession" - are they retarded, or what? It ain't rocket science - it's grade school biology.
Could it be that they are pursuing their own agenda, for their own selfish reasons? Is something sinister going on here? No profession could possibly be composed of members that incompetent, that it's highly educated members couldn't figure out this issue, in roughly 2,000 years. Many of the original members of this board, have figured it out on their own, after they became sick, and it didn't take a single one of them, 2,000 years to do it, and only one of us has a medical degree. The average length of time required to get a celaic diagnosis in this country, (let alone MC, or gluten-sensitivity), is still unacceptably high, (close to 11 years, according to the most recent statistics, but surely that sad statistic is slowly improving, in recent years). None of us here, who figured it out on our own, took that long. So what's going on with the guys who are paid big bucks to figure out this sort of stuff? There has to be a reason for all the foot-dragging, and it's probably a reason that no one could be proud of.
Okay, rant off.
Thanks for posting that - Dr. Ford really does make an excellent point, (of course, he's considered to be a radical, by the mainstream medical community.
).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.
Tex, I don't think that there is anything more sinister than than a lot of doctors being "slackers" when it comes to chronic disease, especially those affecting, at least in their minds, boring, depressed, constantly- complaining-about-their-bowels elderly people. 
Of course as you have so often said, if the doctors had to suffer with MC, their attitude would be quite different........... Thank goodness for the internet, has it has empowed us neglected patients!
Rosie
Of course as you have so often said, if the doctors had to suffer with MC, their attitude would be quite different........... Thank goodness for the internet, has it has empowed us neglected patients! Rosie
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time………Thomas Edison
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kscolorado
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Kathy,
He's an Australian paediatric gastroenterologist, who has a reputation among some of his more regimented peers, as kind of a maverick, on many GI medical issues. He's on our side, though.
http://www.drrodneyford.com/index.php/Dr-Rodney-Ford/
Tex
He's an Australian paediatric gastroenterologist, who has a reputation among some of his more regimented peers, as kind of a maverick, on many GI medical issues. He's on our side, though.
http://www.drrodneyford.com/index.php/Dr-Rodney-Ford/
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.
I have to take issue with this statement from the article:
I vote for the Enterolab test as the best test.
Gloria
As someone who is multiply-intolerant, that kind of test would never have told me that I'm sensitive to gluten because I saw no change after going gluten-free. I had to take a steroid and eliminate many other foods before I saw results.The best clinical test is to trial a gluten-free diet for 3 months (a food elimination test).
I vote for the Enterolab test as the best test.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Next to the doctors we have the pharmaceutical industry. It is great that they are there. Medication helps a lot of people with several diseases. There is a lot of money involved and a lot of money to earn. Especially when it comes to chronicaldiseases. A lot of chronical diseases are threaded with pills. And over the years lots of new pills are developed for chronically disease, lots of money is put in research, because lots of money can be earned with it. And can you blame this industry? I don't think so, patients are asking for it, because it seems the only answer to their complaints and doctors subscribe it, because it is the only thing they know that works.
Almost no money and effort is put in research in the relationship between food and chronicle disease (or other life circumstances like stress, healthy life style, exercise and what more). I guess this is because, this kind of research costs money instead of earning it. Of course it saves money in the long term. You can't expect the pharmaceutical industry to put money in this. Government should do it.
But that is my idea why there is so little attention for the relationship between lifestyle, food and (chronically) diseases.
Things are changing over the years, like 20 years ago, scientists said there was no relationship between cancer and food. Nowadays they tell you a different story.
Also when it comes to depression, more and more research shows that in mild versions of a depression running has the same effect as Prozac.
If you think about chronically bowel diseases how on earth can doctors think there is no relation with food. It only requires a little bit of logic thinking.
It is not that I have anything against medication. I still think it is a very good thing and is very helpful in curing diseases. But there is so much more.
Almost no money and effort is put in research in the relationship between food and chronicle disease (or other life circumstances like stress, healthy life style, exercise and what more). I guess this is because, this kind of research costs money instead of earning it. Of course it saves money in the long term. You can't expect the pharmaceutical industry to put money in this. Government should do it.
But that is my idea why there is so little attention for the relationship between lifestyle, food and (chronically) diseases.
Things are changing over the years, like 20 years ago, scientists said there was no relationship between cancer and food. Nowadays they tell you a different story.
Also when it comes to depression, more and more research shows that in mild versions of a depression running has the same effect as Prozac.
If you think about chronically bowel diseases how on earth can doctors think there is no relation with food. It only requires a little bit of logic thinking.
It is not that I have anything against medication. I still think it is a very good thing and is very helpful in curing diseases. But there is so much more.
Dear Harma
I agree with your logic..... The incentive for business is what earns, not what costs. The incentive for people is to be healthy. The incentive for Government should be to rule for the people and so stay in power by re-election.
Best thing is that the truth will one day get out about diet and health ..... and the voice of people looking for health (not profit; nor the maintenance of an undeserved reputation) will prevail. Perhaps the internet and the social networking revolution will speed that day...
all best, Ant
I agree with your logic..... The incentive for business is what earns, not what costs. The incentive for people is to be healthy. The incentive for Government should be to rule for the people and so stay in power by re-election.
But, then there is the influence that lobby groups have on politicians, the media and other 'authorities' and it starts to get complicated.Government should do it.
Best thing is that the truth will one day get out about diet and health ..... and the voice of people looking for health (not profit; nor the maintenance of an undeserved reputation) will prevail. Perhaps the internet and the social networking revolution will speed that day...
all best, Ant