I had a great appointment with the celiac specialists at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia yesterday. It was so cool that they answered almost all my questions before I could ask them. They ordered all the blood tests that will determine any nutritional deficiencies I may have from years and years of malabsorption. I've got a bone density scan set for next month. It was so great that they knew to do this stuff and that I didn't have to demand it and have a doctor act like I am trying to tell him his business. I return today to visit with the nutritionist at the celiac center, and it will be interesting to see what more I might be able to learn. I pride myself on being a knowledgeable healthcare consumer and I've done a ton of reading on celiac disease, and I finally feel like I've got a real plan to manage this condition with healthcare partners who really know what they are doing.

One down side -- hyposplenism -- decreased spleen function -- is common in people with celiac, so they gave me a vaccination for pneumococcal bacteria which apparently is pramarily warded off by a healthy spleen. The shot seemed like it was like any other, but man, my arm sure hurts now! I feel like a total wimp.

I traveled to Orlando for a work conference and Jenn and the boys joined me there for some fun at Disney. The resort we stayed in was not near anyplace, expensive, and not terribly rich in healthy and satisfying gf food offerings. Disney  parks are probably better than most, and I did speak to Chef Juan at Sunshine Somethingorother speedy food place in Epcot and got plain white rice, steamed broccoli and tofu for dinner one night. With a little hot sauce for the rice and some mustard to dip the broccoli into, it was pretty good. Not so much luck at Magic Kingdom the next day, so I ate my pb&j on gf bread that I had packed with me from home, plus an apple and a gf granola bar. In line at Small World yesterday I noted to Jenn that I was feeling a bit sorry for myself, being on vacation and mostly eating fruit or food I made and packed in myself. Still, the main point of the trip was to have a fun and memorable experience with the family. Now that I'm home, I can get back to making myself interesting and healthy gf food.