Celiac In Psychology Today

[prinsessa]

I was reading my new issue of Psychology Today yesterday and I was happy to see Celiac disease mentioned. I will type out what it says....

A Shadowy Ailment

It often masquerades as depression, a learning problem or even ADHD. Celiac disease is one of the most common and most underdiagnosed autoimmune disorders in the United States. A recent study found it affects twice as many Americans as previously thought--nearly 3 million people.

Celiac is a genetic disorder that causes the immune system to attack gluten, a protein found in grain, in the small intestine. Damage to the gut causes malnutrition, which can manifest as psychological ailments, says Peter Green, director of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University. The average patient is misdiagnosed for 11 years. Early treatment is crucial, as the disease can do permanent damage.

Check yourself

Celiac disease affects 1 percent of the population. Its symptoms are varied, making it difficult to detect. It is often mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms include: chronic diarrha, bloating, abdominal pain - weight loss and fatigue - anemia - bone pain or loss - migraines - infertility. How to know for sure: a blood test. Treatment: a strict gluten-free diet.

I thought it was pretty good besides saying that the way to know for sure is by a blood test. Mine came back negative and I know I have some sort of gluten intolerance. I was thinking about writing the magazine about that part.

[jenvan]

That's really great!

[nettiebeads]

Awesome! I agree with you re: testing. I never had the blood test; dx'd by diet challenge alone. My current gp thinks that there are too many false negatives from the current standard tests - they are not refined or sensitive enough to ensure reliability.