Does Celiac Get Worst?

[7-cody]

Does Celiac get worse? For example, I'm 19 now but if I waited until I was 30 would my symptoms get much worse?

Logic tells me that the answer is yes, but I'm wondering if anyone would know from experience.

Edit: OMG, brain fog... I meant worse, not worst

[Guest j_mommy]

I'm 24 and was diagnosed in april. My Gma has celiac and her symptoms have stayed the same through the years(ie she just got tested when I found out and doesn't want to do the diet...she figures she dealt with it this long and will continue the way she is...don't blame her).

The risks get higher the longer you go undiagnosed.....ie lymphomas,more damage to the intestines ect!!

[Lisa]

Does Celiac get worse? For example, I'm 19 now but if I waited until I was 30 would my symptoms get much worse?

Logic tells me that the answer is yes, but I'm wondering if anyone would know from experience.

Edit: OMG, brain fog... I meant worse, not worst

Yes, and consider yourself one of the lucky ones. I was diagnosed at 50. Which leave those of us diagnosed at a later age to potentially be at risk for much more unfortunate issues such as diabetes, fibromyalgia, MS, intestinal lymphoma, peripheral neuropathy and other paths that gluten can get a hold of and reek havoc.

Celiac is celiac, but it's friends are not welcome house guests. Please be true to you diet.

[7-cody]

Yes, and consider yourself one of the lucky ones. I was diagnosed at 50. Which leave those of us diagnosed at a later age to potentially be at risk for much more unfortunate issues such as diabetes, fibromyalgia, MS, intestinal lymphoma, peripheral neuropathy and other paths that gluten can get a hold of and reek havoc.

Celiac is celiac, but it's friends are not welcome house guests. Please be true to you diet.

Yeah that's pretty much what I figured...

[GeoffCJ]

I was diagnosed at 31, but have had symptoms since I was in college. Maybe 19 years old or so. Didn't get diagnosed. Symptoms got worse, and I got more of them. around 6-7 years ago, I started having issues with Periphial (sp?) Neuropathy. I get painful tingling and numbness in my hands and feet.

Since going gluten-free, most of my symptoms have gotten better, but I am still having issues with the Neuropathy. It coems and goes, but is frequently still pretty severe. Some times I think it's getting better, sometimes I'm not sure. At this point, I'm hoping it isn't completely permanent.

I'd say it's like driving a car with low oil. The earlier you figure it out, the better, but it probably has more to do with the time between onset and diagnosis, perhaps not as much as the age at which you get it.

It does seem likely to my non-doctor mind that having undiagnosed celiacs during times of large body changes (growth, puberty, pregnancy, etc) might have larger implications than perhaps during times where there is less change (like as an adult).

Geoff

[Betty in Texas]

I think the older you are before being dignosed the more damaged you would have and more chances of having intiestional canser. I was 53 and always had it the dr said. I can rember going on road trips with partents when I was small and always said I waould get car sick and throu up well that is because we would stop on the way and eat the hamburgers. So it wasn't car sick it was sick with celiac.

[Queen Serenity]

I agree with everyone. The later the diagnosis, the worse off you could be. I was diagnosed at the age of 28. Six years later, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. So, the younger, the better. You are really lucky, and I hope that you stay healthy!

Vicki

G.F. since Sept. 1995