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What Were Your Symptoms Of Celiac Besides D?


hazelnutty42

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hazelnutty42 Rookie

I've seen people mention they have the "classic symptoms" of Celiac and I'm wondering what they are? I know about GI issues (Diarrhea!) but what else is there? Are they different for everyone?

 

What are YOUR symptoms or things you noticed went away after going gluten-free that you didn't know were related? 

 

Thanks!


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CajunChic Explorer

I never had D, but C. I now get D if I am glutened. My reflux was much stronger, I was bloated, tired, and grumpy. I noticed my hair started growing back after going gluten-free. I lost at least half of my volume I guess when the disease started. My nails are stronger, too. My anxiety went waaaaay down after going gluten-free too!

SMRI Collaborator

Constant fatigue, which is mainly what I made my dr appointment for to begin with--among a few other things, but not for D as I had had loose stools for as long as I can remember and just thought it was how I was :D.  Since I've been gluten-free for a while, much less gas and not as puffy-face, fingers, feet.  The U of Chicago has a list of 300 symptoms but lists these as the most common:

 

Symptoms of celiac disease may include one or more of the following:

  • Recurring abdominal bloating and pain
  • Chronic or recurrent diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Nausea or emesis
  • Liver and biliary tract disorders (increased serum transaminases, 
    primary sclerosing cholangitis)
  • Weight loss
  • Pale, foul-smelling stool
  • Iron-deficiency anemia unresponsive to iron therapy
  • Fatigue
  • Failure to thrive or short stature
  • Delayed puberty
  • Arthralgia
  • Tingling numbness in the legs
  • Pale sores inside the mouth
  • Dermatitis herpetiformis
  • Abnormal dentition (tooth discoloration, loss of enamel)
  • Unexplained infertility or recurrent miscarriage
  • Osteopenia or osteoporosis
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Psychiatric disorders (anxiety or depression)

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chocominties Rookie

My celiac co-existed with my colitis, and eventually I discovered that gluten was the primary source of my bleeding. 

 

My main problems were diarrhea, heartburn/reflux, really strange stomach spasms (which set off diarrhea), pain, bloating, vomiting**, fatigue, and little cracks at the corners of my mouth that were, I was told, caused by a B-vitamin deficiency.  Everything I ate made me sick with very few exceptions, and usually within about 30-60 minutes of eating.  I also gained a lot of weight in my early teens--I guess weight gain and weight loss are two sides of the same icky coin.  Since then I've yo-yoed up and down, and rapidly.  Since going gluten-free, my weight has sort of stabilized to a very "average" place. 

 

Those mouth cracks were one I got a lot when I was in my late teens and early 20s, but which I hadn't had before and never had again.  When I mentioned vitamin deficiency, a friend of mine told me about celiac and said, "I hope you don't have it!"  It's almost funny now ...

 

**As a baby and through my early childhood I used to spit up/throw up a LOT.  Until I was about six years old I couldn't burp without throwing up.  I actually remember the first time I was able to burp normally.  It was amazing.  Around age 10 my symptoms switched to mostly intestinal.   

bartfull Rising Star

Psoriasis and insomnia were my most noticable symptoms.

nvsmom Community Regular

I'm another who never had D; it was C my whole life to the point where I thought it was normal.  LOL

 

My symptoms were stomach aches, bloating, some gas, fatigue, hair loss, migraines, irregular and heavy cycles, plantar fasciitis, and a runny nose.  I also suspect it caused/causes my ITP, hypothyroidism and arthritis.

across Contributor

Never had D either.

 

Did have infertility, miscarriage, bloating, persistent anxiety, interstitial cystitis, depression, arthritic pain, pain and achiness all over my body, hair loss, dry skin, sores in my throat, muscle tension, pale skin, low vitamin D, gastritis, irritability, loose stool (but not D), paresthesias, swelling of fingers, asthma, allergies, and memory problems. Just before my diagnosis, I started getting weird trembling sensations in which it felt like different parts of my body (including my brain) were weak and trembling -- only they were not. That one was pretty frightening.

 

Can't think of any others at the moment.

 

I'm SO thankful to report that all of those have gone away since I've been off gluten (with the exception of infertility and miscarriage -- I've had a hysterectomy, so there's no way for a gluten free diet to solve those!


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sweetsailing Apprentice

For me, diarrhea (up to 9 times a day at the worse point), abdominal pain, bloating, lots of gas, stomach rumbling, light colored, foul, fatty and floating stools, elevated liver enzymes, osteopenia, weight loss, severe muscle and joint pain, nausea, fatigue, Low Vit D, multiple miscarriages, early menopause, numbness and tingling.  And the weirdest symptoms, that can be linked to celiac disease, I had a rare blood clot in my ovarian vein, that they could not determine why I had it. 

 

90% of my symptoms have vanished.  I am still working on my muscle and joint issues.  My nutritionist told me that gluten stays in your system for up to 6 months.  It was around the 6 month mark that I really started to notice the muscle and joint issues start to improve.  I am almost 10 months gluten free now (so I figure from a musculoskeletal perspective this is really like 4 months gluten free) and everyday my muscle and joint issues are very slowly fading away.  Taking a long time...

beth01 Enthusiast

way too many.

Pollymo Newbie

I was not aware I had the disease when I was diagnosed.  My brother (who was asymptomatic) discovered his during a 50 year old exam.  He recommended we get tested.  After I found out I tested positive I realized my HORRENDOUS gas was from gluten and I didn't know how much my stomach always hurt until the pain was gone!  My nails are stronger too.  I also had been on thyroid meds for about 5 years but didnt make the connection.  My vit b12 and D were low... also found after the diagnosis!

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