Celiac.com - Celiac Disease & Gluten-Free Diet Support Since 1995

My Long Journey to Celiac Disease Diagnosis

Like many people, I spent a lot of years, a lot of dollars, and endured many tests and misdiagnoses, before doctors finally discovered that I had celiac disease (also known as coeliac disease or celiac sprue), and needed to eliminate gluten and all gluten-containing ingredients from my diet. Gluten is a protein found in the three main gluten-containing grains: wheat, rye, and barley; and is often hidden in processed foods, and things like soy sauce and beer.

Celiac disease is NOT an Allergy

It's important to know that celiac disease is an autoimmune disease, not a wheat allergy. It's also different from non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten intolerance, or sensitivity to gluten.

Gluten-Free Diet

To treat my celiac disease I had to go on a gluten-free diet for life. That meant learning to read food labels to avoid gluten ingredients, and eating a diet of mostly naturally gluten-free foods like meats, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and packaged foods only if they are certified gluten-free or labeled gluten-free, for example gluten-free breads made using gluten-free grains.

My Celiac Disease Symptoms, Diagnosis and Recovery

My symptoms included weight loss, long-term diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain (especially in my middle-right section while sleeping. Once I began and maintained a gluten-free diet, those symptoms slowly disappeared....[READ MORE about my long and winding road to a celiac disease diagnosis and recovery.]

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