What Are the Symptoms of Celiac Disease?

Have you found any association with Hirschsprung's Disease? My daughter has Hirschsprung's and was doing fine until becoming miserable ever since going away to college and eating dorm food. We have an appointment with a new Gastroenterologist and will pursue the Celiac angle just to see.

I'm 19 and I think I might have this. I'm not sure though. My family cant afford to take me to the doctor, and I'm too afraid anyways. I get sick to my stomach A LOT! Everyday I feel like I have a stomach ache. I don't usually go to the bathroom for 4-5 days. I get diarrhea when I go, and the rest of the time I'm constipated. I cant go anywhere. I have to stay home because it hurts way to bad. I have felt like this for 2 years, and had no idea why. Everyone I know thinks its just in my head, and the only reason I feel like this is because I think about it too much. Or they think I want attention or I'm faking it. I'M NOT FAKING IT! I ordered a book on it. I read it and it helped me a lot and so did this article. I would love to know if I have it but I'm just way too scared, and the diet is too expensive.

Thank you...thank you...thank you!

I have been suffering for over 4 years with chronic diarrhea, bloating, cramps, fatigue and body aches. I had been treated with antibiotics for the last 4 years for bacterial infections which I obviously did not have. Thank you for sharing and educating people about celiac disease. The more we know....the better we are!

I'm 20 and I've had stomach problems since 5th grade. I was pretty friendly in grade school, but just quiet and tired since then. Everyone said I was nervous and didn't eat enough. When I was 15 my friend told me she was lactose intolerant -- avoiding lactose helped me some, but not a ton. My junior year of high school I went from 135lbs to 120 in two months for no apparent reason, and things only went downhill from there. This winter the stomach problems got so bad, I found myself curled up on the floor crying, thinking that I was going to die soon from organ failure or starvation. I went to the doctor, they said “maybe celiac disease,†and gave me a packet on it. The only symptom I didn't have on the list was stunted growth – although I come from a tall family – I'm short comparatively. I've been on the gluten-free diet for a little while and I feel AMAZING. If a college student whose cooking repertoire previously consisted of toaster waffles and instant pudding can go gluten-free, so can you!

I'm 20 and I've had stomach problems since 5th grade. I was pretty friendly in grade school, but just quiet and tired since then. Everyone said I was nervous and didn't eat enough. When I was 15 my friend told me she was lactose intolerant -- avoiding lactose helped me some, but not a ton. My junior year of high school I went from 135lbs to 120 in two months for no apparent reason, and things only went downhill from there. This winter the stomach problems got so bad, I found myself curled up on the floor crying, thinking that I was going to die soon from organ failure or starvation. I went to the doctor, they said “maybe celiac disease,†and gave me a packet on it. The only symptom I didn't have on the list was stunted growth – although I come from a tall family – I'm short comparatively. I've been on the gluten-free diet for a little while and I feel AMAZING. If a college student whose cooking repertoire previously consisted of toaster waffles and instant pudding can go gluten-free, so can you!

I have most of the symptoms that are mentioned. I was checked for celiac disease, the doctor said I was all clear. But because the symptoms carried on I decided to stop eating Gluten in my diet I did this for a month, the symptoms stopped and the added bonus was I lost a stone. Then we had a Crisis in the family and I was away for a week, I didn't want to add to the stress so I ate what I was given. Well the symptoms were back in 2 days. I think the doctor must be wrong, but don't want to keep bothering him.

Excellent statements. Isn't it a shame that our doctors don't give us the celiac blood test after we go in with numerous problems? I am new to this Web site and hopefully, I'll find some ideas on what to eat, how to fix, where to buy something that tastes half way decent! I am allergic to dairy, soy, eggs, etc. Never knew this until I took a food allergy test! Going back soon and have a retest and ask for the Celiac blood test too! Thanks to everyone......all this helps!

OK - after 4-5 days in the hospital for 'colitis' - very bloody stools and extreme pain. My doctor finally does a celiac test and it comes back negative! I definitely have a lot of the symptoms, especially the aches and pains, problem stools, low energy, etc etc. Could I still have the disease even though the blood test came back normal? If not, the doctors, nor I really know what is going on. This is so frustrating!

I am still surprised how hard it is to find information about celiac disease. I have friends, co-workers, students, and family members who have symptoms of or have been diagnosed with celiac. I am hoping to become more informed so that I don't add to their issues by giving them something to eat that they shouldn't have. I also am finding that the more information I read, the more people I know with symptoms. I have struggled for years with certain problems and, even with some education on celiac disease, I never assumed that I too could have a gluten intolerance or allergy. I am going to be a lot more conscious of what I eat and expose myself to and see if my symptoms go away. I appreciate sites like this one that give the public a chance to share their voice. The information here is very helpful and the comments from others are a real eye-opener! Thanks!

My friend is gluten free, after hearing her story I looked into it and started my gluten free diet, within a week I was feeling better, I've been down (ill) for 4 years barley participating in life, wish I had seen this sight years ago! Would be nice to see this on Nightly News!

Brilliant article, I have all the symptoms and am going for a test on Monday! Hopefully a start of better things to come! Thank you.

I was diagnosed with dermatitis herpetiformis 10 years ago and ignored it. I continued to eat gluten until my mother was recently diagnosed with celiac. I have also been tested and await the results. Regardless. after reading these articles, I vow to be gluten free for life! Thanks for the info.