Failure To Thrive/looking Younger In Young Adults, Due To Celiac?

[QueenEe]

Hi all,

I'm a 21 year old female, and I was recently diagnosed with celiac by my GI, even though my blood test was negative (5.1). Based on my symptoms, my rash, and the way I reacted well to a gluten free diet she was absolutely certain that I have celiac. (She's the director of her department, so I'd trust her to know her stuff )

I had many of the 'typical' celiac symptoms: constipation, diarrhea, lactose intolerance, rash, irritability, lethargy, mental fog, pale, always cold, skin was slow to heal, many broken bones as a child, cold sores when I ate gluten, etc.

I've always looked very young for my age, and now, at 21, I look like I'm 14. Seriously.

Could this be due to my celiac? My celiac symptoms worsened considerably when I was 19, and looking back at my graduation picture (taken when I was 18), I can't help but wonder how is it that I look younger now than I did back then???? Is there any way to explain this away with the rapid development of my celiac condition at around this time?

Any advice/pointers would be so much appreciated!

Thanks!

[Pac]

Looking way younger than your age? Oh I can so relate to that. Once I went to gather some leaves for my stick insect and decided to stop at the local animal shelter and take one of their dogs for a walk. The lady working there handed me a consent form to be signed by my parents 'cause kids under 15 aren't allowed to walk shelter dogs without that. I was in my mid 20's at that time!

And yes, it seems to me I look more adult in my face now on gluten-free diet, although I still look younger than my age.

[QueenEe]

Looking way younger than your age? Oh I can so relate to that. Once I went to gather some leaves for my stick insect and decided to stop at the local animal shelter and take one of their dogs for a walk. The lady working there handed me a consent form to be signed by my parents 'cause kids under 15 aren't allowed to walk shelter dogs without that. I was in my mid 20's at that time!

And yes, it seems to me I look more adult in my face now on gluten-free diet, although I still look younger than my age.

Not fun! It's reassuring to hear that once I'm on the gluten-free diet for good I'll hopefully start looking more my age. (And one day we will be thankful that we look so young! just not while we're in our twenties )

[Takala]

It's great when you're in your fifties.

Somewhere on this site is a thread or two about some of the physical characteristics of celiac, because it can affect growth rates of different parts of the body, which can in turn shape your face and effect your appearance.

Some of us also are very pale, with very light skin & eyes. Sometimes I see someone who looks as if their skin is glowing, and I think, aha, another one !

[sa1937]

Some day you will thank your lucky stars that you look young!!! When my daughter was 40, she occasionally got carded at a liquor store! I think that's a supreme compliment!!!

[QueenEe]

my skin is super pale, but I'm hoping that will change once I actually start absorbing the nutrients I'm eating.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll do a search and see if I can find those threads.

And yes, when I'm forty I'll be very happy to get carded; till then i'd like to look my age