RSS
Home
Oregon's very own Gluten Free RN
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
The Gluten Free RN
Recently, I had the pleasure of talking with Nadine Grzeskowiak, RN CEN, a Registered Nurse in Corvallis, who specializes in gluten intolerance and celiac disease. Nadine started her company, RN On Call/The Gluten Free RN, in February 2007, just four months after being diagnosed with Celiac herself. In addition to national speaking engagements, she currently offers one-on-one appointments/consultations and conducts gluten intolerance and celiac disease seminars and presentations throughout Oregon. Her consultations are $100/hr and her classes are usually $25/person, however you can catch her doing free seminars too. For example, she will be in Bend on Saturday, November 14th, to speak at the Central Oregon Gluten Intolerance Group meeting.
Nadine has great insight into all aspects of Celiac diease and gluten intolerance, especially from the point of view of the medical community. And unfortunately there continues to be a resistance from most doctors to acknowledge the seriousness of Celiac disease and educate themselves. Nadine has approached all of the physician groups in Oregon and offered to speak at their events and educate their members and not one has taken her up on this offer in the last three years! When asked if doctors are not paying attention to Celiac disease because there isn't a pill for it, she agreed. While there is currently a company developing a pill for Celiac disease it may not be the wonder drug everyone is hoping for. According to Nadine, even with this pill, Celiacs will still need to follow a gluten free diet. Which begs the question - what's the point of the pill? The Celiac community is estimated to be at least three million strong - potentially the largest untapped market for the pharmaceutical industry. You do the math. Sorry everyone, sticking to a gluten free diet is still the only treatment available.
Perhaps the most frequent question asked by newly diagnosed Celiacs is "When will I feel better? Two days? Two months?" According to Nadine, everyone is different and so symptoms and healing times will vary. While some people will feel better in days, some may take weeks and some may take months. It takes at least six months, and up to five years, for your intestines to regenerate and for the inflammation to start subsiding. She also stressed that during the healing process there will be times where you will actually be healing but you'll feel like you're having a return of your old symptoms. Take a deep breath, relax and give it time. Your body needs to detox. Stick with your gluten-free diet and hang in there.
But, if you do need help, have questions that you can't find the answers to or simply want more information on gluten intolerance and Celiac disease, I would encourage you to contact Nadine, Oregon's very own Gluten Free RN.
The Gluten Free RN's office is located at 215 SW 4th St. in Corvallis, OR. Nadine Grzeskowiak, RN CEN, can be reached at 541-602-1065 or you can email her here.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
