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Celiac.com - Celiac Disease & Gluten-Free Diet Support Since 1995
What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease (aka coeliac disease) is a genetic autoimmune disorder where ingesting gluten (a protein in wheat, barley, and rye) triggers an immune response that damages the small intestine's lining. This damage leads to inflammation and atrophy of the villi, tiny finger-like projections in the intestine responsible for nutrient absorption. As a result, individuals with celiac disease may experience symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, and malnutrition. Over time, untreated celiac disease can lead to more severe health problems, including anemia, osteoporosis, weight loss, and increased risk of certain cancers. A strict gluten-free diet is the only effective treatment. 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.
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...[READ MORE about my long and winding road to a celiac disease diagnosis and recovery.]
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.
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Recent Activity
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- knitty kitty replied to Ginger38's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms6
This Roller Coaster Ride Needs to Stop
@Ginger38, I'm with you! I could not take Metformin. I got so sick, constant diarrhea, abdominal cramps, extreme highs and lows, no energy, weight loss, muscle wasting. Just horrible. Metformin is known to block thiamine absorption. Talk to your doctor about thiamine deficiency. It's called Gastrointestinal Beriberi. My doctor didn... -
- Jmartes71 replied to Jmartes71's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease3
Frustrated
Thankyou I will be seeing my new primary this coming Monday and will ask.I did ask about some other blood test to look for that I saw on this website.I pushed the second ANA panel two months ago thinking it would show but found out it doesn't.I don't have lupus which seems what the ANA panel seems to only look for.I have come to the conclusion that doctors... -
- Scott Adams replied to NCalvo822's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease1
Newly Diagnosed
It’s completely understandable to feel blindsided by a celiac disease diagnosis, especially when you’ve never experienced any noticeable symptoms. Many people assume that celiac disease always comes with obvious digestive distress, but in reality, some people—like you—are asymptomatic, or what’s sometimes called “silent celiac.” Even without symptoms, the... -
- knitty kitty replied to Jmartes71's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease3
Frustrated
Welcome to the forum, @Jmartes71, Wow! 31 years! That's great! You can get a DNA test to show genes specifically for Celiac. Your genes don't change whether you eat gluten or not. Have you been checked for nutritional deficiencies? The gluten free diet can be low in essential nutrients. You may have become a bit deficient after such... -
- NCalvo822 posted a topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease1
Newly Diagnosed
Hi Everyone, I’ve just been diagnosed with celiac disease, almost by accident. I went to find out if I have ataxia, as that is something my mother has. I believe my sister does too, though she hasn’t been diagnosed with ataxia. Anyway, lab tests showed I do not have ataxia, but I do have celiac disease. I have to admit, I was totally blindsided. I’...
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