Do You Think That It Sounds As If I Might Have Celiac Disease

[wikipedia]

I'm not quite sure what to write here and I don't know a lot about Celiac Disease but someone suggested to me that I could have it. I'm a 16-year-old girl and I'm not sure if they all or even any of them are related to Celiac Disease but I'll just try to make it quick..

1. I have extremely irregular bowel movements, always have. It was a surprise to me that you're supposed to go once a day or every other day, ever since I can remember it's around once a week. It's not difficult to go though, just don't have to often.

2. Vomiting too often as a child. It was an exception if I didn't vomit for a month and I'm serious that at least a year passed when I didn't go for 30 days without vomiting at a time.

3. I feel sick after eating certain foods. I don't think I'm too bothered by homemade spaghetti and pasta but whenever I buy a sandwich or a box with pasta in it at the grocery store I feel nauseous. It's just this overall uncomfortable feeling of feeling like I'm about to vomit but not having to if that makes sense. My throat and everything downwards feels a bit sick after eating them. There's also this pizza we make at home that makes my stomach feel like this, most homemade pizzas do. Cheerios does as well. Crackers with certain cheeses made my stomach feel weird. I don't know, I don't really feel all that awful it's just this weird uncomfortable annoying feeling.

4. Weak immune system. At the same time every year I get awfully sick to the point where I can't do anything. I'm prone to infections, coughs and getting very sick.

5. Inability to gain weight, no matter how much I eat. I have a BMI of 18-19 at any given time.

6. Up until very recently, my skin and lips have always been very dry and cracked.

7. Bad breath, no matter how long I brush my tongue. I have to be chewing gum constantly.

8. I have hair pretty much everywhere. It looks like peach fuzz and some people have told me that since I don't eat very healthy foods and don't get enough nutrients that it might be lanugo and that it might disappear as I eat more.

9. Depression to the point of considering suicide.

10. Hair loss, perhaps related to the diet.

11. No concentration. Forget things as they are said to me.

12. No energy.

13. Pale.

14. Get extremely exhausted right away when exercising.

15. Irregular menstruation. I got it at 13 which my mother said was odd and extremely late (I don't think it is) but the first time it lasted over thirty days. Then I didn't get it for over six months. They're not that irregular anymore but still not regular. I haven't told anyone this.

16. I had REALLY bad eczema as a child and still get rashes occasionally.

17. Always hungry, almost never full.

Thank you, if someone reads this and replies. I don't really know anything about Celiac Disease or if this is misplaced but if you have ideas at what else this could be, please tell me.

[Korwyn]

Hi wikipedia I didn't know you had become self-aware!!!

I'm sorry that you are suffering through all of this. :/

Looking through Libonati's Recognizing Celiac Disease, 2007 edition, there are a number of newly associated conditions with case study backup relating to both male and female reproductive issues and various menstrual irregularities, including both late menarche and irregular periods.

As far as your other conditions go many of them are classic celiac disease and/or GI (Gluten Intolerance) symptoms. (There are over 300 symptoms, complications, and associated disorders linked to celiac disease).

If you have undiagnosed and untreated celiac disease and or GI, you may be suffering from severe nutrient malabsorption. A number of the issues you list can be directly attributed to nutrient deficiencies. Once again looking at the red book, there is a common thread to a number of the symptoms you list: Selenium, B12, B6, D, Calcium, Magnesium, Omega-6, low cholesterol - yes it can be too low .

I'd suggest that if you are in a situation where you can do so, that you take your list, along with any other physiologic and psychologic manifestations and see if you, your parent(s), and/or guardians can find you a competent GI specialist who is knowledgeable about celiac disease. If you are lucky perhaps you can find one who has celiac disease themselves.

If not and you are willing to go gluten-free (Gluten Free) and possibly CF (Casein/Dairy) free there are many people on these forums who will be very happy to share advice, experience, and encouragement. Statistically, 50% of all celiac disease are also unable to handle the protein casein, which is the protein in cow's milk, and Soy seems to be a very common intolerance as well.

I hope this helps. And I'm sure others will have more concise and helpful input than mine. I'm newly diagnosed myself (April 2009) and these forums and the people on here have been an invaluable help to me, including helping me retain my sanity at time struggling through this. My personal symptoms that were the worst were GI, psychological (anxiety to the point of almost incapacitating me, panic attacks, depression), and neurological (muscular spasms, twitching, and tremors).

On a side note, my insomnia (it was 0330 when I started this), anxiety attack, and muscle twitching would like to thank Ricola cough drops for NOT actually being gluten-free!!!! *grrr* 0.01% is apparently too much for me.

[mindyandy420]

Hi Wikipedia,

I'm sorry you are suffering. I myself am undiagnosed and am looking for answers. My lack of insurance right now is putting the diagnoses trail on a halt. I have some of the sx you have described. Celiac from what I have read not everybody has the same sx.

I have GI issues. Which really sucks. My periods for years were irregular. Drs. have alway brushed it off. I would go 2 months sometimes with no period. I actually didnt think I could have kids anymore. Well i was wrong. I did have 1 more and since I had him my periods have gotten much better.

DO NOT THINK SUICIDE. Go to the doctors and get tested. Even if the blood test is negative ask for a biopsy.

At the very least after testing go gluten free and see how you feel. You are so young. You will find light at the end of the tunnel.

[wikipedia]

Haha, took me a whole to get the wikipedia joke.

Thank you for your responses, I did speak to my mother but she said that she's OK with me going on the gluten free diet. She said she's not going to taste anything without gluten though and that she wasn't under any circumstances going to make me anything gluten free so I think it'll be too much of a hassle both going shopping for everything by myself (I don't have a car) and cooking everything by myself while they're eating my favorite foods.

I'm not suicidal right this second, I have been multiple times in the past though so I thought it was worth mentioning. Thank you for your advice.

[The Fluffy Assassin]

Haha, took me a whole to get the wikipedia joke.

Thank you for your responses, I did speak to my mother but she said that she's OK with me going on the gluten free diet. She said she's not going to taste anything without gluten though and that she wasn't under any circumstances going to make me anything gluten free so I think it'll be too much of a hassle both going shopping for everything by myself (I don't have a car) and cooking everything by myself while they're eating my favorite foods.

I'm not suicidal right this second, I have been multiple times in the past though so I thought it was worth mentioning. Thank you for your advice.

Then you're going to have to get tested, which comes in two phases. First a blood test, then an endoscopy of your small intestine. Then the doctor (look in the Yellow Pages for gastroenterologists) is probably going to tell your mother that, to save you from needless pain, and possibly to save your life, you need to be on a gluten-free diet. You can tell her from me that gluten-free cooking can taste just as good if not better than gluten foods. Potatoes, rice, meat, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits-- all are gluten-free. There's gluten-free pasta, gluten-free pizza mixes, gluten-free doughnuts for goodness' sake. Also, if you have it, there's a one in seven chance that she has it, too. And if you have it, eating gluten shortens your life on average 10 or 20 years.

Good luck. I suggest that you find out if there's a celiac support group in your area, and join it, and participate in the teens and young adults forum on this board. You need support that you are not getting, and I'm sorry about that. (Oh, and to answer your original question, yes it sounds like celiac disease.) Welcome to the board.

[Korwyn]

Haha, took me a whole to get the wikipedia joke.

Thank you for your responses, I did speak to my mother but she said that she's OK with me going on the gluten free diet. She said she's not going to taste anything without gluten though and that she wasn't under any circumstances going to make me anything gluten free so I think it'll be too much of a hassle both going shopping for everything by myself (I don't have a car) and cooking everything by myself while they're eating my favorite foods.

I'm not suicidal right this second, I have been multiple times in the past though so I thought it was worth mentioning. Thank you for your advice.

Two friends of ours with celiac disease and GI own a catering service, and everything they prepare is gluten free, including all the baked goods. One of them is so sensitized to gluten he cannot even slice regular bread without having a reaction. Nobody knows they are eating gluten-free.

I cooked for quite a few years for a living and trained under a chef and let me tell you that I could prepare a gluten-free meal for your mom, with pasta and dessert, including fresh bread made from scratch and she would not be able to tell the difference. Ok for all the purists out there, I suppose that since I don't grow the grain and grind the flours myself technically it isn't completely from scratch but you get the drift.

I'm having one of my emotionally good days today if you can't tell.

[lizard00]

3. I feel sick after eating certain foods. I don't think I'm too bothered by homemade spaghetti and pasta but whenever I buy a sandwich or a box with pasta in it at the grocery store I feel nauseous. It's just this overall uncomfortable feeling of feeling like I'm about to vomit but not having to if that makes sense. My throat and everything downwards feels a bit sick after eating them. There's also this pizza we make at home that makes my stomach feel like this, most homemade pizzas do. Cheerios does as well. Crackers with certain cheeses made my stomach feel weird. I don't know, I don't really feel all that awful it's just this weird uncomfortable annoying feeling.

4. Weak immune system. At the same time every year I get awfully sick to the point where I can't do anything. I'm prone to infections, coughs and getting very sick.

6. Up until very recently, my skin and lips have always been very dry and cracked.

11. No concentration. Forget things as they are said to me.

12. No energy.

13. Pale.

14. Get extremely exhausted right away when exercising.

15. Irregular menstruation. I got it at 13 which my mother said was odd and extremely late (I don't think it is) but the first time it lasted over thirty days. Then I didn't get it for over six months. They're not that irregular anymore but still not regular. I haven't told anyone this.

17. Always hungry, almost never full.

Thank you, if someone reads this and replies. I don't really know anything about Celiac Disease or if this is misplaced but if you have ideas at what else this could be, please tell me.

Hi and Welcome!

Those were some of my smptoms, too. I also had daily headaches, which is probably the only thing missing from your list. Pretty much every one of them has gone away in the 1 1/2 yrs that I've been gluten-free.

Given your situation, living at home and not being in full control of your foods, I would strongly suggest that you get tested. It's a blood draw, and possibly an endoscopy, but if it would help answer your questions and maybe get your family on board, it would make your life a lot easier.

Hope you find some answers soon!!!

[Salax]

Wow, I would definitely get the blood test if nothing else. I would also go gluten-free after that test has been done. If your mom isn't big on the idea to take you to the doctor for the test, I would then just go gluten-free and see how you feel.

I find it very sad and frustrating how unsupportive family/parents/friends can be when we are trying to feel better and just a change in diet provokes irrational responses, like your moms. It

[wikipedia]

Thanks for your replies..I wasn't making it seem like it was awful though, I know it's worse to have something like cancer, sorry if it offended you. It's just that my mother isn't willing to help me at all (she yells at me if I ask her to help me with something I don't know how to cook) and I live in an area where there isn't much gluten free stuff. Well gluten free replacements for normal wheat stuff. It took two hours to find something today and even then it was just pasta and wheat, that's the only thing they have in my whole town and it was really expensive. My mom says it's just a fad diagnosis and that she doesn't want any part in this, when I asked her to help me with the stove she refused because she said that she doesn't know how to prepare gluten-free stuff and doesn't want to learn how. It was just normal cooking with a stove, I'd already prepared the ingredients.

Sorry that I sound like I'm complaining. I think it's too early to tell for a difference but my body feels a lot colder than it has in a while. I've been looking up the symptoms and I've found so many more (including headaches!!!) that I could possible attribute to Celiac Disease. I'll just have to see over the next few months if everything gets better, I can't get a diagnosis right now.

I've always loved rice and potatoes, it's nice that I can still have them right now.

[fayeolivia]

Hi Wikipedia, I also don't know yet if I am a celiac - I am going for a blood test this week.

Here are my symptoms - some the same as yours.

1. On going anemia. Though it was only diagnosed a month ago, the doctor thinks it likely that I have had it for a good few years. This last month I have been taking iron tablets but the haven't made any difference.

2. I had very severe chronic fatigue syndrome a few years ago (I have since found out that this can trigger gluten intolerance, and also that celiacs are more prone to getting it as vitamins and minerals aren't absorbed as well, weakening the immune system and causing fatigue.)

3. I feel bloated and sick after eating bread and pasta.

4. Once I became ill my periods became very irregular and painful. The doctor put me on the pill to help with this, so I don't know what they are naturally like now.

5. I have mouth ulcers constantly and the skin at the edges of my mouth is dry and sore.

6. I'm an insomniac.

7. My hair and nails are an absolute state.

8. I'm always anxious.

9. I'm so pale that the palest foundation I can find still looks orange on me. Anyone know anywhere I can get really white makeup?

10. I have trouble concentrating and remembering things.

11. I always get sick. I just have to look at a kid with a runny nose and I'm ill for about 2 weeks.

Also I have relatives diagnosed with celiac disease on both sides of my family, and though my dad hasn't he has really bad restless leg syndrome, so I thought I might suggest he tries gluten free as apparently this had helped a lot of people.

Because I had chronic fatigue syndrome, all my on going health (physical and mental) problems have been blamed on that, without anyone looking at other possibilities. This is why my anemia went undiagnosed for so long and why my doctor has only just thought that I might be a celiac.

Having a look through this forum, there are so many knowledgeable people on this site, so if you think I might be a celiac or if you have any ideas on what else it could be, I would really appreciate your replies.

[wikipedia]

hey i don't really know much about celiac so i can't help much but good luck on your blood test (i don't know how you can get luck there but good luck anyway)!!

[Korwyn]

hey i don't really know much about celiac so i can't help much but good luck on your blood test (i don't know how you can get luck there but good luck anyway)!!

For me getting a positive test result was wonderful. Finding out what was wrong, that I wasn't losing my mind, that I wasn't necessarily dying, and that there was a treatment for what was going on was the greatest blessing in the world for me!!!