Celiac possibility

[Amanda7]

Hi there,

I am looking for opinions before starting the testing route. I currently live overseas where testing is not very easy.

A little background, I am 38 and was born with vitiligo. It has spread steadily, mostly in my 30’s. I developed Hashimoto’s at 34. Gallbladder removed at 35. I have also struggled with anemia for the last few years. I have been told by two naturopathic doctors to quit gluten and dairy, but I have not been tested for celiac or other food sensitivities. I do not have constant digestive issues, no heartburn, or other debilitating symptoms. I do get a lot of face puffiness, bloating and exhaustion after eating gluten.  
 

I have cut gluten for about 3 months in the past. My skin looked great and I was certainly less tired, much less bloating. I am wondering if celiacs is a possibility that may have lead to my other issues. 
 

any thoughts/opinions would be appreciated.

[trents]

Just now, Amanda7 said:

Hi there,

I am looking for opinions before starting the testing route. I currently live overseas where testing is not very easy.

A little background, I am 38 and was born with vitiligo. It has spread steadily, mostly in my 30’s. I developed Hashimoto’s at 34. Gallbladder removed at 35. I have also struggled with anemia for the last few years. I have been told by two naturopathic doctors to quit gluten and dairy, but I have not been tested for celiac or other food sensitivities. I do not have constant digestive issues, no heartburn, or other debilitating symptoms. I do get a lot of face puffiness, bloating and exhaustion after eating gluten.  
 

I have cut gluten for about 3 months in the past. My skin looked great and I was certainly less tired, much less bloating. I am wondering if celiacs is a possibility that may have lead to my other issues. 
 

any thoughts/opinions would be appreciated.

You could have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitity), the latter being 10x more common than the former. They share many of the same symptoms and the antidote is the same, life-long abstinence from gluten. There is no test at the present time for NCGS. It is diagnosed by first ruling out celiac disease.

There are also home test kits available for detecting celiac disease antibodies. Imaware sells one for about $100 US. https://www.imaware.health/at-home-blood-test/celiac-disease-screening

Just be aware that if you are going to get an antibody test for celiac disease, you must have been eating regular amounts of gluten for 6-8 weeks leading up to the test. For the endoscopy/biopsy of the small bowel to check for villi damage you must be eating regular amounts of gluten for two weeks pretest. Regular amounts of gluten is defined by the Mayo Clinic as being daily consumption of amount of gluten equivalent to two slices of wheat bread.