Endoscopy Center of Long
Island-Celiac Center
711 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530
516-227-3254
JULY 31, 2017
VOLUME 1, NUMBER 1
Welcome to the first edition of our quarterly newsletter!!
From The Director:
Alan Lipp, MD
Happy Holidays! For years, patients with celiac disease had few places to
turn to find a group of medical professionals who understood what they
were going through and were sympathetic to their needs. Finally, Long
Island has its own celiac center!
We have assembled a team that includes gastroenterologists, a nutritionist,
and physicians from other specialties, united in the goal of caring for those
with celiac disease. From diagnosis to treatment, it is important to be
followed by professionals who understand the nuances of the disease and
have a special interest in it. To make an appointment with a member of our
team, call 516-227-3254, ext. 3.
Welcome
Message
From the Director
Notes from the
Nutritionist
Patient Interview
We have been thrilled by the enthusiastic response that we have received
to our ongoing bimonthly lecture series. The series covers various topics
involving medical and nutritional aspects of celiac disease and the
challenges of maintaining a gluten free diet. The lectures are free to the
community. So, if you haven’t come out yet, please join us, enjoy some
gluten free snacks, and learn from these informative sessions.
I am excited to share with you our visions for the future. Because of our
commitment to education, I have met with faculty members of the Hofstra
Northwell School of Medicine to look at ways that I can teach the next
generation of physicians about celiac disease. Additionally, a few members
of our team recently met with a leading researcher at The Feinstein
Institute for Medical Research to look into ways that we could combine
forces to participate in research projects to advance our knowledge of
celiac disease.
Personally, I was fortunate to have been accepted into a preceptorship
program at the prestigious University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center. I
recently returned from Chicago, where I was able to discuss challenging
cases with renowned leaders in the field and get the latest information
about breakthroughs to come. We are always learning!
On behalf of myself and the entire team at the Celiac Center of Long Island,
I would like to wish you all a very happy holiday season and a healthy,
prosperous new year!
Notes from the Nutritionist - Sotiria Everett
Sotiria Everett, Ed.D., RD, CDN, CSSD Registered Dietician Nutritionist is
available for consultation every third Thursday at 300 Old Country Road,
Suite 31, Mineola, NY 11501. Please call 516-227-3254, ext. 3. Fee for
service.
Holiday tips:
The holidays can be extra stressful for those with celiac disease. Sources of
gluten can be found on most, if not all, holiday menus and meals. Here are
some tips to navigating the holidays when you have celiac disease:
BYO (bring your own) gluten –free dish! If you are attending a gathering,
offer the host to bring a meal that you know will be suitable for your needs.
Many will be grateful that you will be contributing to the menu! That goes
for drinks as well. Wine is gluten free, as well as rum, tequila and certain
vodkas.
Upcoming:
Please join us on
January 11th, 2017.
Our speaker will be
Dr. Weinerman,
Endocrinologist,
speaking on
‘Calcium, Vitamin D
and Osteoporosis in
Celiac Disease’.
Endoscopy Center
of Long Island, 711
Stewart Ave.,
Garden City, NY
11530. 516-2273254
Be aware! While most meats, poultry and seafood are naturally glutenfree, be aware of any coating, breading, spices, and gravies that have been
added. These are hidden sources of gluten.
Spread the word! Let the host know that you can’t eat gluten, and ask
about the types of dishes that will be served. Some holiday favorites, such
as mashed potatoes, roasts and several vegetable sides can be prepared
without gluten. However, be aware that cross-contamination can occur.
Don’t go to a party hungry! This is a tip I share with everyone. If you go to
a party hungry, you will not make the best food choices and will likely
overeat. That would cause some added stress to your digestive system.
Snack on healthful foods, such as nuts, fruit, fresh vegetable sticks and
yogurt before attending the party.
Be prepared! If you are dining out at a restaurant, look at the menu
online or call ahead to inquire if thy serve gluten free meals.
Need ideas for a side dish? Try something with sweet potatoes! They are
naturally gluten free and loaded with vitamin A! Here is a wonderful
holiday recipe to try, from the Celiac Disease Foundation.
INGREDIENTS

4 Sweet Potatoes 9-10 ounces each

1 ½ Cups Cheddar Cheese

½ Cup Greek Yogurt plain

12 ounces Jones Dairy Farm Canadian Bacon, chopped

INSTRUCTIONS
1.
Preheat oven to 400*
2. Bake until soft, about 45-60 minutes. Let stand until cool
enough to handle.
3. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and remove flesh to bowl, leaving
thin layer around outside of the potato to keep the shape.
4. Mash sweet potato flesh. Add ¾ cup of the cheddar cheese and
Greek yogurt. Stir in chopped Canadian Bacon. Season to taste
with salt and pepper.
5. Add filling back into potato skins. Top with remaining cheese.
6. Return to oven until heated t6hrough and cheese is melted, 1015 minutes. Serve topped with chopped parsley and additional
Canadian Bacon, if desired.
7. Source: celiac.org
Patient Interview: Dave Copozzi
When were you diagnosed with celiac disease?
I was diagnosed with celiac disease about 3 years ago.
Tell us what led to your diagnosis.
I have been having stomach issue since I was about 10 years old. When I
was about 19, my stomach was bothering me so often; I was running to the
bathroom about 5 times a day. I finally decided to go see a doctor of
gastroenterology, who diagnosed me with IBS. He advised me to just take
Imodium when my stomach was bothering me. The doctor told me it is
often found in people that have a very busy lifestyle and eat a lot of fast
food. This made sense because I was attending college full time, as well
as working over 40 hours a week. After being diagnosed, my stomach still
bothered me, however when I would take time out and eat homemade and
healthier foods, I would feel better. I was still taking Imodium every day
and running to the bathroom. When I was 27, I started dated a woman,
who is now my wife, who works in a gastroenterology office. She would
watch what I ate, mostly bread and starches like sandwiches, burgers and
pretzels. She felt I should see a new doctor because what I was eating
shouldn’t have been bothering my stomach and make me run to the
bathroom so often. She felt I may have celiac disease. After meeting with
Dr. Geier, I had bloodwork, an endoscopy, and colonoscopy and was
diagnosed with celiac disease.
Tell us about living with celiac disease after the diagnosis.
The biggest area where my life has improved is in the social and work
settings. I can now go out with my friends to a movie, to eat, or just relax
and not have to run to the bathroom, at least once during the event. I can
also attend work and not have to factor in running to the bathroom multiple
times with my tasks for the day. It also helps that I do not constantly have
to be aware of the closest bathroom. Before I was diagnosed, it had gotten
to the point, where friends would make fun of my stomach constantly
bothering me. They would factor in my bathroom needs for our events.
What are the biggest flaws of a gluten free diet?
One of the biggest problems with my diet is the stigma of eating gluten
free. When I am going out to eat with friends and family, they are worried
about where to eat, due to my restrictions. They usually pawn the decision
of the restaurant to me. The fact that eating gluten free has become a fad,
has helped me, however, I still ask about what is on the menu. I worry if
the waiter thinks I am doing this and making his job more complicated,
because he thinks I am trying to eat healthy. I feel like I come across as
pompous when I ask to ensure the food is gluten free. There are also quite
a few people I socialize with that think eating gluten free is a fad and that
celiac disease is not real. People will ask me if I am sure I actually have
the disease. People will also ask me what happens to me if I do not follow
my gluten free diet and it becomes embarrassing to tell people not eating
gluten free bothers my stomach and causes me to constantly run to the
bathroom. Lastly, the biggest flaw is trying to find the gluten free foods
that actually taste good. Like I said before, the fact that being gluten free
is a big fad right now is helping me find things that are gluten free.
However, I have to slowly find the foods that actually taste good or taste
similar to the foods I was used to eating before I was gluten free. The cost
of eating gluten free is also a problem, but things have been getting
cheaper the last few years.
What are your hopes for the future?
Personally, I would love to lose the stigma when eating gluten free food
and for people to understand that it is a real condition. My biggest concern
is now that I am married we would like to start a family. Research has
shown some people with celiac disease have problems with infertility. I
have been told is not a problem as long as I follow my gluten free diet.
When we finally have kids, I am concerned about whether my children will
also have celiac disease and how that will affect them growing up both
personally and socially. Finally it worries me that if my kids do not have
celiac disease, how my having it will affect them.
Appointments with Celiac specialists available by calling 516-227-3254,
ext. 3.