Hi Scott
No, there isn't any mould but the road outside our house has got a lot busier lately. A lot more houses have been built in the area and I wonder if road pollution has something to do with it.
Many people with celiac disease don't have symptoms, so your doctor is correct to make this diagnosis based on your results. Did they refer you to get an endoscopy to confirm this? If so, you need to continue eating gluten until all tests are completed, otherwise you might get false-negative results.
This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.
I've never been there, but this may be helpful.
Here's a concise gluten-free restaurant card in Korean along with its English translation:
---Korean:
English Translation:
This card should help convey your dietary needs clearly in Korean and English when dining at gluten-free restaurants or explaining your requirements to restaurant staff.
Is there any chance you have mold or mildew somewhere in your home? I've heard some horror stories about people who get major allergy and other health issues, and then discover black mold in their home.
Good point, as I don't believe that sugar is good for anyone, and I avoid it. Eating too much can lead to imbalances in the gut microbiome which can lead to IBS-like symptoms.