Do you have any ongoing symptoms that have not been addressed?  Did you know that those with Coeliac Disease may also have other intolerances or symptoms related to their food intake?  When talking about food and nutrients, it is important to seek the advice and support of your healthcare team before eliminating or restricting your diet any further.  A medical professional can work with you to identify any potential areas that are causing issues with you and find a solution to ensure a well-balanced nutritious dietary intake.

We all know that it is hard to get an appointment with your requested medical professional, and sometimes this leads us to ‘google’ our symptoms and self-diagnosis ourselves with a nutrient intolerance.  But Dr ‘google’ can lead us down a path of quirky, eccentric, and often unfounded diagnosis that require the removal of a whole food group or nutrient.

It is important to have an open and honest relationship with your medical professional to ensure you are heard and your concerns are validated.  Here are some top tips to go prepared.

Top tips for your medical appointments.

1. Keep a food and symptom, diary – sometimes it is not obvious where the issue comes from. Keeping a record of what you are eating, drinking, your symptoms, and your activity can help to narrow down the symptom concern.
2. Discuss with your medical professional whether any further tests are required to help narrow down what may be influencing your symptoms
3. Once a medical professional has undertaken any relevant tests, talk with a registered dietitian using your food diary to help narrow down any potential areas of concern – both from a symptom perspective and nutrient deficiency.
4. Continue to engage with your health professional whilst getting your symptom management under control.
5. Take a support person with you – sometimes you often miss a vital piece of information and having another pair of ears can help during these times.

Article provided by Suzanne Aitken,  NZRD, Coeliac New Zealand Dietary Education Manager