Celiac Disease

Overview

Celiac disease is a digestive disease that interferes with the absorption of nutrients and causes damage to the small intestine. People with Celiac Disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, and which also may be found in products such as medicines, vitamins, and lip balms.

When people with celiac disease eat foods or use products containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging or destroying villi. Villi are tiny, finger-like protrusions in the small intestine that normally allow nutrients to be absorbed through the small intestine into the bloodstream. People without healthy villi will become malnourished, no matter how much food they eat.

Celiac disease usually runs in the family, but it can also be triggered by events such as surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection, or severe emotional stress.

Applicable Procedures

EGD

Is there a cure for celiac disease?

Doctors and medical experts do not know a cure for celiac disease, but many people can manage the condition and heal the intestine by adhering to a strict gluten-free diet.

What causes celiac disease?

Genes might contribute to celiac disease, but the exact cause of this condition is not known. Sometimes, celiac disease may develop as a result of childbirth, pregnancy, surgery, infection, or severe distress. Gastrointestinal infections, gut bacteria, and the way that infants are fed may also contribute to the condition. Risk factors for celiac disease include having a family history of the condition, suffering from type 1 diabetes or autoimmune thyroid disease, and having certain conditions like Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, Addison’s disease, or microscopic colitis.

How do doctors treat celiac disease?

The only way to manage celiac disease is to maintain a strict gluten-free diet, which means eliminating wheat, barley, durum, rye, spelt, graham flour, malt, bulgur, farina, triticale, and semolina from the diet. A dietician can work with you to plan a gluten-free diet and help you to identify and eliminate potentially hidden sources of gluten in your diet. You may also have to take supplements to treat issues like anemia. A doctor may also prescribe medications to help the intestine heal if you have severe celiac disease, or you do not respond to treatment. In some cases, celiac disease is refractory, meaning it does not get better with a gluten-free diet. In this case, a specialist will need to evaluate your condition to determine the cause.

Common Symptoms

“I was experiencing signs of gastrointestinal distress, such as abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. I also felt tired all the time and started to lose weight.”
“I started to get headaches and feel extremely tired all the time, and I noticed ulcers in my mouth.”
“My son was irritable all the time and started to lose weight, and he suffered from chronic diarrhea. His belly also appeared swollen, and he complained of constipation.”

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What Our Patients Are Saying

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I’ve been a patient of Dr. Weber for almost a decade. My husband for more than & it was he who recommended Dr. Weber. He’s knowledgeable & well experienced in his field. Plus he’s an all around kind & nice guy. And you’d like how the office & tech staff are trained to run the operation of this practice. Efficient, patient and helpful! I’d feel very comfortable recommending this practice.

Vicki M.

I had a great time. Everyone was very friendly and professional. One nurse said I had nice eyes, which really helped my self esteem. Dr. Willie was fantastic. His concern about having magenta ink for the printer really shows what a caring man he is. The pictures turned out great. I framed them and hung them up on my wall at home. But, seriously the experience was pleasant. Thank you to everyone involved.

Terry M.

Lord knows having a colonoscopy is zero fun. The prep nearly did me in. But after arriving at suite 270 every single person was pleasant and efficient. The attention to cleanliness in the office is very apparent and appreciated. Every employee introduced themselves by name, apologized for an IV that took two tries and made sure I was as comfortable as can be before I was ready to leave. However, I’m going to enjoy every minute of the five years before I need to return!

Marie C.

I have been here several times and have always been treated great. The receptionist are so kind and the nurses are wonderful so is the anesthesia person are so kind and answers any concerns you might have. My Dr Bologna is awesome. This is the place to go if you need endoscopy or colonoscopy. Thank all the staff for being so kind

Debbie A.

Our Doctors

We’re proud of our team here at Digestive Health Institute. Our health care providers include some of the very best colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists and physician assistants. To learn more about our qualified team of specialists, please visit our providers page.

Amir Abadir MD, FRCPC

Anezi E. Bakken MD, MS

Sante D. Bologna MD, FACP

M. Emin Donat MD, FRCPC

Ronald Fogel MDCM, MHSA

Freeha Khan MD

Partha S. Nandi

Leonard G. Quallich III MD

Aditi Saxena MD

Jack Tocco DO

John R. Weber MD

Richard T. Wille MD

FAQs

What happens during my first visit?

If you are a new patient, you can expect to have a complete physical exam. You will also be asked detailed questions about your current problems and your past medical history, your current medications, allergies, your family history and other pertinent medical information. If you are taking medications, please bring a completed medical history form with you to your appointment. Once the physician has reviewed your medical information and completed the physical examination, a plan of care will be developed. You may need to be seen again in the office, be referred back to your family physician for follow-up care, or require additional testing. If additional tests are needed, we will assist you in scheduling these tests.

What if I need to schedule an endoscopic procedure?

An endoscopic procedure allows the physician to visualize a part of your gastrointestinal tract with a special instrument called an endoscope. If your family physician has ordered testing, you will be contacted by telephone by one of our staff members. If a physician orders testing and you are in the office, the procedure can generally be scheduled during the course of your visit. You will be given a date, time, and location for the test, as well as written instructions telling you how to prepare for the test. If you have any questions about the procedure, please feel free to ask one of our staff members or the physician.

How do I get test results?

We ask that you wait 10 to 14 days before contacting us for results. Often results come from several different sources. This information needs to be compiled and reviewed by your physician before you can be appropriately advised.

What insurances do you accept?

We accept payment from most insurance companies including Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Physicians Health Plan, Cofinity, Sparrow Professional Health Network, Medicaid, McLaren, Health Plus, and several others. Accepted insurances are subject to change at any time without notice.

If your insurance requires an authorization from your primary care physician, you may be asked to assist us in obtaining this authorization.

All patients are responsible for all copays and deductibles at the time of service.

If you have any questions regarding your benefits or insurance coverage, please contact our Billing Department at 248-844-9710.

What if I need to contact the doctor?

To contact your doctor during business hours please call our main number 248-844-9710. If you have an urgent need to speak with the doctor after hours, you will be rerouted to our after hours answering service, and your doctor will be paged. In the case of a medical emergency please proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.

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