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

What's The Main Difference Of Crohns And Celiac

faithforlife

Recommended Posts

faithforlife Apprentice
faithforlife
Posted

I know celiac usually improves on a gluten-free diet. Is Crohns related to celiac? Im reading that the intestinal damage looks similar. Just wondering if Crohns is something we should be tested for. I had my endoscopy late in the game 6 months after the gluten-free diet and the doc could see scalloping in duodenum. Will that heal in time? Makes me worry also that I'm accidentally buying cross contaminated groceries. Or could it be gluten-free oats? FYI I don't have celiac symptoms but was positive for antibodies and genetics. And still waiting on biopsy results.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Bubba's Mom Enthusiast
Bubba's Mom
Posted

My sister has Crohn's and her main symptom is D. It's considered auto-immune too.

I guess they can tell by the biopsy if it's Crohn's or Celiac? They're both inflamatory but under the microscope they have different cells visable? There's some speculation that those with Crohn's would be wise to try gluten-free? My sister's Dr. told her diet didn't matter with Crohn's when she asked.

If I had to choose between one or the other, I'd choose Celiac. The treatment for it no gluten and that is much easier than having a disease with no known cause? My sister has to have IV treatmnts to knock out her immune system, and that's all they can do for her.

frieze Community Regular
frieze
Posted

....different ends of the digestive tract.

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

I think they can test for Crohn's by looking for antibodies to yeast. Some people do have both celiac and Crohn's. I guess that's different kind of CC. Some people with Crohn's follow the gluten-free diet also.

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

My sister has Crohn's and her main symptom is D. It's considered auto-immune too.

I guess they can tell by the biopsy if it's Crohn's or Celiac? They're both inflamatory but under the microscope they have different cells visable? There's some speculation that those with Crohn's would be wise to try gluten-free? My sister's Dr. told her diet didn't matter with Crohn's when she asked.

If I had to choose between one or the other, I'd choose Celiac. The treatment for it no gluten and that is much easier than having a disease with no known cause? My sister has to have IV treatmnts to knock out her immune system, and that's all they can do for her.

As Frieze already mentioned, Crohn's is an inflammatory disease of the large intestine, while Celiac is the small intestine. Similar symptoms but each affects a different part of the bowel.

Crohn's has genetic components to it and that's why you see it run in families...like Celiac. However, you cannot knock it into remission by diet alone.

I think it much worse because many people with Crohn's have to have sections of the large intestine removed due to damage from poorly controlled inflammation. I have heard of Crohn's patients who follow the gluten-free diet and they claim it does help them a lot but I wonder if the 2 diseases are common together? I would bet they are.

The AMA has no real treatment for most autoimmune problems except to suppress the immune system but that can be dangerous to do for long periods of time.

I feel lucky as all hell to have Celiac and not something else that cannot be controlled by diet. I don't believe that diet is irrelevant with Crohn's.

That's just the misguided belief of the AMA.

Bubba's Mom Enthusiast
Bubba's Mom
Posted

Crohn's can affect your digestive system anywhere from the mouth to the other end, and everything in between. My sister has had her Colon removed and it's now attacking her small intestine. It's brutal.

Celiac doesn't look as bad to me? At least it can be controlled?

ChristenDG Rookie
ChristenDG
Posted

My best friend has Crohn's Disease (which runs in my family, but fortunately I do not have!). I very much agree that Celiacs is much better to deal with! Remove gluten and the damage can heal and you can have a fairly normal life! With Crohn's though, the way I understand it and from my experience, there's not much you can do. You can eat carefully and whatnot, but there doesn't really seem to be a way to control the symptoms. The symptoms are all very similar though and before I was diagnosed with Celiacs the doctors believed I might have Crohn's. Thank God it wasn't!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


faithforlife Apprentice
faithforlife
Posted
  • Author

Thanks everyone. I find it very interesting.

  • 2 weeks later...
49erlady Newbie
49erlady
Posted

I was just dx with both Celiac Disease and Crohns on the same day. The dr told me they don't know of a def correlation but would not surprise him if the Celiac got so bad that it triggered the Crohns. However no way to tell. Balancing the two is going to be challenging but I will find a way. Long road ahead for me!

GlutenFreeAustinite Contributor
GlutenFreeAustinite
Posted

My grandmother was dx'ed with Crohn's when she was much, much older...when she was in her 70s. She was tested for celiac in the 1990s, but it came back negative. My family is convinced she had gluten-intolerance, and most likely celiac, even though she did have a negative test. The Crohn's was absolutely nasty--she eventually had to have a colostomy bag.

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Hi 49er,

My younger brother had both celiac and Crohn's. It is not unheard of to have both. I wish you the best in your journey. I wish I understood more about celiac back then so I could have helped him. He didn't really follow the gluten-free diet. But we know a lot more about how to eat healthy these days. On some Crohn's forums they are people who say the gluten-free diet helps their symptoms. Some say it doesn't help them. So it is a variable thing. Maybe it will help you. :)

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Links for info on IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease).

Open Original Shared Link

heidi g. Contributor
heidi g.
Posted

You will know if you have crohns because I've heard the pain from it be described as close to labor pains. Now I'll tell ya from experience those hurt! I had ulcerative colitis when I was younger and luckily it healed.by itself but (very similar pain as crohns) and id wake up sweaty. I know several people who have crohns disease and their Main symptoms are extreme pain and bloody diarrhea. It will only get worse too. You get sicker and sicker. Now depending on she. Your symptoms started but the doctors.most likely would of seen the extreme inflammation crohns causes. Hope that made you feel better. (I myself questioned if I had crohns at one point so I asked people who actually have it.)

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. ShariW
      - ShariW commented on Scott Adams's article in Frequently Asked Questions About Celiac Disease
      4

      What are Celiac Disease Symptoms?

      In addition to gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, I had gastroesophageal reflux that was becoming intolerable despite treatment with PPIs and antacids. When I went gluten-free, the GERD lessened tremendously (as did the other symptoms).
    2. klmgarland
      - klmgarland replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      2

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      Thank you so very much Scott. Just having someone understand my situation is so very helpful. If I have one more family member ask me how my little itchy skin thing is going and can't you just take a pill and it will go away and just a little bit of gluten can't hurt you!!!! I think I will scream!!
    3. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      2

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      It is difficult to do the detective work of tracking down hidden sources of cross-contamination. The scenarios you described—the kiss, the dish towel, the toaster, the grandbaby's fingers—are all classic ways those with dermatitis herpetiformis might get glutened, and it's a brutal learning curve that the medical world rarely prepares you for. It is difficult to ...
    4. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      1

      My only proof

      It's very frustrating to be dismissed by medical professionals, especially when you are the one living with the reality of your condition every day. Having to be your own advocate and "fight" for a doctor who will listen is an exhausting burden that no one should have to carry. While that 1998 brochure is a crucial piece of your personal history, it's infuriating...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Colleen H's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      Methylprednisone treatment for inflammation?

      Methylprednisolone is sometimes prescribed for significant inflammation of the stomach and intestines, particularly for conditions like Crohn's disease, certain types of severe colitis, or autoimmune-related gastrointestinal inflammation. As a corticosteroid, it works by powerfully and quickly suppressing the immune system's inflammatory response. For many...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,908
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    ebrown
    Newest Member
    ebrown
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • klmgarland
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By klmgarland · Posted

      Thank you so very much Scott.  Just having someone understand my situation is so very helpful.  If I have one more family member ask me how my little itchy skin thing is going and can't you just take a pill and it will go away and just a little bit of gluten can't hurt you!!!! I think I will scream!!
    • Scott Adams
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It is difficult to do the detective work of tracking down hidden sources of cross-contamination. The scenarios you described—the kiss, the dish towel, the toaster, the grandbaby's fingers—are all classic ways those with dermatitis herpetiformis might get glutened, and it's a brutal learning curve that the medical world rarely prepares you for. It is difficult to have to deal with such hyper-vigilance. The fact that you have made your entire home environment, from makeup to cleaners, gluten-free is a big achievement, but it's clear the external world and shared spaces remain a minefield. Considering Dapsone is a logical and often necessary step for many with DH to break the cycle of itching and allow the skin to heal while you continue your detective work; it is a powerful tool to give you back your quality of life and sleep. You are not failing; you are fighting an incredibly steep battle. For a more specific direction, connecting with a dedicated celiac support group (online or locally) can be invaluable, as members exchange the most current, real-world tips for avoiding cross-contamination that you simply won't find in a pamphlet. You have already done the hardest part by getting a correct diagnosis. Now, the community can help you navigate the rest. If you have DH you will likely also want to avoid iodine, which is common in seafoods and dairy products, as it can exacerbate symptoms in some people. This article may also be helpful as it offers various ways to relieve the itch:  
    • Scott Adams
      My only proof

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It's very frustrating to be dismissed by medical professionals, especially when you are the one living with the reality of your condition every day. Having to be your own advocate and "fight" for a doctor who will listen is an exhausting burden that no one should have to carry. While that 1998 brochure is a crucial piece of your personal history, it's infuriating that the medical system often requires more contemporary, formal documentation to take a condition seriously. It's a common and deeply unfair situation for those who were diagnosed decades ago, before current record-keeping and testing were standard. You are not alone in this struggle.
    • Scott Adams
      Methylprednisone treatment for inflammation?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Methylprednisolone is sometimes prescribed for significant inflammation of the stomach and intestines, particularly for conditions like Crohn's disease, certain types of severe colitis, or autoimmune-related gastrointestinal inflammation. As a corticosteroid, it works by powerfully and quickly suppressing the immune system's inflammatory response. For many people, it can be very effective at reducing inflammation and providing rapid relief from symptoms like pain, diarrhea, and bleeding, often serving as a short-term "rescue" treatment to bring a severe flare under control. However, experiences can vary, and its effectiveness depends heavily on the specific cause of the inflammation. It's also important to be aware that while it can work well, it comes with potential side effects, especially with longer-term use, so it's typically used for the shortest duration possible under close medical supervision. It's always best to discuss the potential benefits and risks specific to your situation with your gastroenterologist.
    • Scott Adams
      I think I am gluten intolerant

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Based on what you've described, it is absolutely possible you are dealing with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS).  Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS.   Your situation is a classic presentation: a negative celiac panel but a clear, recurring pattern of symptoms triggered by gluten. The symptoms you listed—particularly the extreme fatigue, bloating, neurological-psychiatric symptoms like depression and anxiety, and even the skin manifestations like facial flushing—are all well-documented in research on NCGS. It's important to know that you are not alone in experiencing this specific combination of physical and emotional reactions. The only way to know for sure is to commit to a strict, 100% gluten-free diet under the guidance of a doctor or dietitian for a period of several weeks to see if your symptoms significantly improve. It is also crucial to rule out other potential causes, so discussing these symptoms with a gastroenterologist is a very important next step.
×
×
  • 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.