Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Celiac In The Military?

Leonidas

By Leonidas
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Leonidas Newbie
Leonidas
Posted

I've been in the Marine Corps for 4 years now, and have already had one tour in Iraq. Though I am a reservist. My family Dr. recently tested and diagnosed me with Celic disease. I was curious if someone can definitively answer that you can no long be in the military or re-enlist if you do have Celiac disease. It's a lot harder to find information then I thought it would be, and I can't use the proper channels without raising to many questions. Any and all help provided would be greatly appreciated, Thank you

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
I've been in the Marine Corps for 4 years now, and have already had one tour in Iraq. Though I am a reservist. My family Dr. recently tested and diagnosed me with Celic disease. I was curious if someone can definitively answer that you can no long be in the military or re-enlist if you do have Celiac disease. It's a lot harder to find information then I thought it would be, and I can't use the proper channels without raising to many questions. Any and all help provided would be greatly appreciated, Thank you

Unless things have changed recently celiac is not a condition that the military can deal with and it will be a reason for a medical discharge. I would not attempt to hide this diagnosis as that could lead you into real problems down the line if it is discovered that you had been diagnosed and have not told anyone. There is a possibility that they may allow you to serve stateside but I am not positive about that. You should notify your command ASAP. This is not a failure on your part, my son was discharged over 5 years ago due to celiac related health issues and at times he still feels guilty or like he failed somehow. We can not control our genetics and excaberations of symptoms when under great stress or physical illness can have psychological as well as physical manifestations with many celiacs making it very unsafe for both the celiac and the folks around them. Hopefully your command will be able to help you through this, you may also want to contact your commands chaplin and talk to him about this issue.

Guest kivmom3
Guest kivmom3
Posted

there was an article in Sully's living without magazine from the spring issue regarding the military. I believe the person was reassigned to something stateside so that he could remain on his diet and healthy. He also told everyone necessary about his condition. Nothing to hide.

If you can access or get a hold of the magazine article, it may give you some ideas.

Sorry, that is all I can think of for you. Hopefully more people will post.

blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted

I actually do not have any info on this, but I do want to say, Thanks for serving our country!

happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted

Here is an excerpt from the article: Open Original Shared Link

I believe I have the full copy. If you'd like, PM me your email address, and I will scan and send it to you in a PDF file.

Here is a similar thread that may be of help.

Open Original Shared Link (see Tim-n-VA's post about Army regs....might be similar or direct you in dealing with the Marines)

Best of luck, and thank you for your service!

Rick45 Rookie
Rick45
Posted

leonidas : Do Not keep this from your commanding officer! YOU ARE A UNITED STATES MARINE AND SUBUJECT TO THE UCMJ ! You have fulfilled your duty in the greatest duty man will ever know !

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,353
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    ace14219
    Newest Member
    ace14219
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • SilkieFairy
      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      By SilkieFairy · Posted

      It could be a fructan intolerance? How do you do with dates?  https://www.dietvsdisease.org/sorry-your-gluten-sensitivity-is-actually-a-fructan-intolerance/
    • Lkg5
      Unexpected gluten exposure risk from cultivated mushrooms

      By Lkg5 · Posted

      Thank’s for addressing the issue of mushrooms.  I was under the impression that only wild mushrooms were gluten-free.  Have been avoiding cultivated mushrooms for years. Also, the issue of smoked food was informative.  In France last year, where there is hardly any prepared take-out food that is gluten-free, I tried smoked chicken.  Major mistake!
    • catnapt
      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      By catnapt · Posted

      my IGG is 815 IGA 203  but tTG-Iga is   <0.4!!!!!!!!!!!!!   oh my god- 13 days of agony and the test is negative?  I don't even know what to do next. There zero doubt in my mind that I have an issue with wheat and probably more so with gluten as symptoms are dramatically worse the more gluten a product has   I am going to write up the history of my issues for the past few years and start a food/symptom diary to bring with me to the GI doctor in March.   I googled like crazy to try to find out what other things might cause these symptoms and the only thing that truly fits besides celiac is NCGS   but I guess there are some other things I maybe should be tested for ...? like SIBO?   I will continue to eliminate any foods that cause me distress (as I have been doing for the past couple of years) and try to keep a record. Can anyone recommend an app or some form or something that would simplify this? I have a very full and busy life and taking the time to write out each symptom name in full would be tedious and time consuming- some sort of page with columns to check off would be ideal. I am not at all tech savvy so that's not something I can make myself ... I'm hoping there's some thing out there that I can just download and print out   do I give up on testing for celiac with such a low number? I am 70 yrs old I have been almost completely off gluten for the most part for about 2 yrs. I had a meal of vital wheat gluten vegan roast,  rolls and stuffing made from home baked bread and an apple pie- and had the worst pain and gas and bloating and odd rumblings in my gut etc - almost went to the ER it was so bad. I was thinking, since I'm spilling a lot of calcium in my urine, that perhaps this was a kidney stone (never had one before but there's always that first time, right?)    Saw my endo on Jan 20th and after hearing the story about the symptoms from eating that holiday meal, she suggested doing a gluten challenge. She said 2 weeks was fine- she said stopping it in the middle if symptoms got bad was fine- In the meantime I'd read that 2 weeks was not enough- called and argued with the nurse about this, but ultimately decided to stop the gluten on the 13th day and get the test done because I was in too much pain and almost suicidal and knew I could not continue.   so.............. that's where I am now I have had no bread since Sunday. I did have some rolled oats today and had some gas and bloating afterwards I did have some wheat germ in a smoothie on Tuesday and had a stomach ache later that night.   but overall I feel so much better! all the joint pain is gone! the nausea is gone. The stomach pain and gas and bloating are going away. Still a bit gassy but no more of that horrible odor. wow, that would clear a room if I was out in public!  I see a GI nurse March 4th  I hope she'll be able to help sort this out! can you think of what my next steps might be?
    • par18
      Is it gluten?

      By par18 · Posted

      Thanks for the reply. 
    • Scott Adams
      nothing has changed

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you’re describing is actually very common, and unfortunately the timing of the biopsy likely explains the confusion. Yes, it is absolutely possible for the small intestine to heal enough in three months on a strict gluten-free diet to produce a normal or near-normal biopsy, especially when damage was mild to begin with. In contrast, celiac antibodies can stay elevated for many months or even years after gluten removal, so persistently high antibody levels alongside the celiac genes and clear nutrient deficiencies strongly point to celiac disease, even if you don’t feel symptoms. Many people with celiac are asymptomatic but still develop iron and vitamin deficiencies and silent intestinal damage. The lack of immediate symptoms makes it harder emotionally, but it doesn’t mean gluten isn’t harming you. Most specialists would consider this a case of celiac disease with a false-negative biopsy due to early healing rather than “something else,” and staying consistently gluten-free is what protects you long-term—even when your body doesn’t protest right away.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.