Why do GPs fail so miserably at diagnosing this?

I was diagnosed with IBS 34 years ago. In those days, not many people had heard of coeliac disease. I did manage to control my symptoms for a long time,  but eventually it had an effect on my body, together with developing another auto-immune disease. More recently, around 6/7 years ago, my symptoms got a lot worse and even a blood test was negative - a lot of people have what is known as 'false negative' blood tests. I have under-gone a lot of investigative work since that time and it was only through having an endoscopy with biopsies taken that I finally got my diagnosis. So it's not that surprising that people don't always get the correct diagnosis. I wouldn't call it negligence, but as it is known now, that blood tests are not accurate, they should now, as a matter of procedure, offer everyone with symptoms an endoscopy instead of assuming it's something else.

I'm sorry that you too have gone through a rough time.

Dear Egs,

It is annoying beyond words - HOWEVER, WE ARE VERY REAL.  I suppose after a half a million dollars in schooling, and books, a mortgage debt that will last forever, the need to have an office and equipment to match the very best medicine has to offer, and a lifestyle “marketing tool”that screams success while in reality it is full of daily financial challenges, "some" doctors just can't stand thinking they don't know something.  “It’s a silly tummy ache by over-reactive hypochondriacs and sympathy seekers.”  My comment is riddled with sarcasm but think about it this way.  For years many of us have been fighting the myriad of symptoms that Celiac Disease has to offer.  We’ve been to the doctor any number of times for each.  With each bout of “symptom”, the doctor says go home, rest and it will go away.  And, they go away only to return again for some unknown reason.  Of course, we KNOW the reason NOW, but doctors only see us through the lens of bias ignorance about the digestive disease that can slowly kill us.

Yes, it is annoying beyond words but the medical community is beginning to take a second look.  Some doctors (mine included) have been experiencing annoying sicknesses all their lives and now realize the too have Celiac Sprue.  Hang in there.  We may not change the medical community as quickly as we wish, but we can immediately have support and respect from those who suffer.

Bundles of hugs,

Laurie

Hi for every body

I agree above two friends their thoughts and I would sharing all who have

celiac disease through my journy with this disease.

After one meal at rusturant before 8 years i had severe diarrhea.

After serious of visits of 4 GI doctors and made all tests and endoscopies ,Ct-scan

in high ranks hosiptals till 2015 .All Doctors fail to diagnosis my disease and in addition they gave me a lot of medications (crohns, intestinal TB, and others)that increase my symptoms and i reach to death edge .Why?? because they didn't know what inside me. so i stop any medication since 2015 . i visit nutrition doctor

to make Allergy tests . At first time i know what is my disease , it is non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) . this disease is the main of diagestive system allergy and detected by blood sample only not by Biopsy.

Celiac disease is a part of NCGS  and can be detected by Biopsy through endoscopy procedure. I am sure there are thousands of patients struggle and suffer many years ,spent money, and took wrong medications as that happened with me.

My recommendation is : every one  must acheive his disease by himself more than follow the doctor advice ,when the later misdiagnosed his case. Any one who have any misdiagnosed disease must try eating food  without bread or any food have not contain wheat. The best way of preparing food is the KITCKEN in the home to make your food that mostly from meat,chiken ,lettuce,and fresh fruits.

My wishes for all patient and sorry for my bad English language 

No....they are not failing.......they are doing exactly what they've been trained to do........make us ill and then 'cure' us! The multi billion pound pharmaceutical industry pays huge incentives to the GPs to keep dishing out the drugs and then the side effects of those drugs make us more ill and so the doctors give us more drugs and they make more money and so it goes round.  Coeliac just doesn't play the game .......no pill is going to make us better; so...... far better to misdiagnose us......bung us on antidepressants for years. 

Cynical? Don't get me started....I am livid about the way I have been treated my entire life (I'm 55). I was finally diagnosed 2 years ago and although I feel so much better off gluten I have a legacy of attributable illness and my immune system is shot.

You are right......it is negligence but a whole industry is built on it and there is just too much money to be made.......until that changes Coeliacs will be fobbed off. 

My advice.......keep away from GPs......they're dangerous.

See a good Gastroenterlogist, dietician, Coeliac nurse but most of all educate and look after yourself.

There are a lot of us......and it's time we fought back at this ridiculous system of abuse.

Best wishes

Lyn