Patient Perspective: Collaborative Doctor-Patient Relationship Key to Dietary Management of Eosinophilic Esophagitis By Jacqueline Gaulin
NOT MANY PEOPLE WOULD BELIEVE THAT LORI EATON, A PERSONAL CHEF AND CERTIFIED HEALTH AND NUTRITION COACH,
cannot eat (or even taste) most of the delicious food she prepares for her clients, who have included Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jeff Bridges, and the cast and crew of many TV shows and movies. But for Lori, who was diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in 2007, just taking a bite of a dish containing such common ingredients as rice, gluten, soy, corn, dairy, wheat, pork, or fish will trigger any number of GI and other symptoms that will wreak havoc on her body, including swallowing difficulties or a food impaction. Lori has faced these challenges related to food by learning all she can about EoE and the role diet and nutrition plays in her disease, and by steadfast selfadvocacy that has made her a “model” empowered patient, according to her doctor, a leading expert and researcher in EoE, Evan Dellon, MD, MPH, FACG. Dr. Dellon is Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Lori’s strong collaborative relationship with Dr. Dellon has been key to her finding effective dietary management of her EoE and achieving remission.
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