How Long Do Celiac Patients Live?

[Anne Chopping]

I'm 71 and I was diagnosed over 55 years ago when I began a struct gluten-free diet. One of the big benefits is how young I look and how fit I am. Could it be that "older" Celiacs are not on the forums because they are doing so well on the diet that they do not need to research anything about their health? I would say more but I've just finished 4 hours of gardening and I must get on with painting the house.

[CMCM]

My mother was diagnosed (after nearly dying!) in 1967 at age 46.  At that time it was challenging to be gluten free because there weren't any gluten-free foods at that time.  She would buy rice flour at Asian markets and make baked goods the best she could.  She just ate natural fresh foods and almost never ate out, and she was very healthy her whole life.  She lived until age 95.

[MADMOM]

there’s no reason ppl with celiac live any less than anybody else providing you’re following a gluten-free diet and monitoring your health 

[Scott Adams]

On 3/17/2024 at 1:19 PM, Jwoods said:

So glad to see this. I read so many of these pages on Google and a lot say young adults especially die within a year of diagnosis but when I speak to my GI doctor he said people in general with celiac live long life’s . I’m newly diagnosed and have started my gluten free diet to repair my intestines 

Where did you hear that young adults with (untreated) celiac disease die within a year?!

While it's possible that some people who are untreated could die if they continue eating gluten, the likelihood is still relatively low. In general, if someone with celiac disease goes 100% gluten-free, especially when they are younger, they can expect to  have a normal lifespan. 

[cristiana]

22 hours ago, Anne Chopping said:

I'm 71 and I was diagnosed over 55 years ago when I began a struct gluten-free diet. One of the big benefits is how young I look and how fit I am. Could it be that "older" Celiacs are not on the forums because they are doing so well on the diet that they do not need to research anything about their health? I would say more but I've just finished 4 hours of gardening and I must get on with painting the house.

This wonderful, Anne.

I think you have a point about why people disappear off forums. 

I found the first few years post diagnosis a real struggle and frankly wondered if I would ever feel better (not to dishearten people, but just to say it can take a while longer for some folk to heal).  However, once my antibodies were back within normal range it really has made a big difference to my health.  I've chosen to stick around because I'm a Mod, otherwise I might have been one of those that disappeared, too!

 

 

 

Edited March 18, 2024 by cristiana

[Maggieinsc]

Have to say I was just diagnosed at 73 almost 74 last fall after complaining to doctors for years about my vicious heart burn. They told me to take antiacid. One head pf the department at the Medical College of Georgia said the same after he gave me an endoscope. The allergist also a department head - rheumatology - said u r allergic to wheat but go ahead and eat it. Ditto milk.

Fast forward it took the right gi after 5 minutes of talking to me to say I think u have celiac. And I did. Gluten free since feeling better. Really not too many health problems other than gastric EXCEPT I recently found put I have Osteoporosis thanks to the malnutrition untreated celiac gives us all. Talking to my cousin whose just slightly younger we both think our moms both sisters had it. Mom lived to 96 and always complained of stomach problems. So did hers. She died at abt 85. 
 

A long story to say YES you can live a long life even w untreated celiac not that I would advice that for anyone. I think I had more than 55 symptoms but than goodness they are fading fast!!  Just to show u all how determinedly I am gluten free and dairy free I went to a huge luncheon yesterday at the oldest country club in town next to the Augusta National Golf Course and didn’t eat a bite despite it being df and gluten-free because they served everybody with the same gloves, including rolls and chicken and butter. I even brought my own water and wouldn’t drink out of the glasses for the same reason and managed to have a good time anyway visiting with all my friends and made some new ones too.  

[Scott Adams]

That is a great story, and thank you for sharing it @Maggieinsc! It's never too late to get diagnosed and feeling better--hopefully you will have many years of good health ahead of you.

[Maggieinsc]

Hope so. And I definitely feel better than i did last fall. I just thought the terrible tiredness and aching all over was part of getting old. And oh the terrible stomach problems. All of those are gone as well as my 25 yrs of horrible “heart burn”. A miracle. Hope not too many effects from a long case of malnutrition which is what celiac gives us all.