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What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease (aka coeliac disease) is a genetic autoimmune disorder where ingesting gluten (a protein in wheat, barley, and rye) triggers an immune response that damages the small intestine's lining. This damage leads to inflammation and atrophy of the villi, tiny finger-like projections in the intestine responsible for nutrient absorption. As a result, individuals with celiac disease may experience symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, and malnutrition. Over time, untreated celiac disease can lead to more severe health problems, including anemia, osteoporosis, weight loss, and increased risk of certain cancers. A strict gluten-free diet is the only effective treatment. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease, not a wheat allergy. It's also different from non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten intolerance, or sensitivity to gluten.
My Long Journey to Celiac Disease Diagnosis
Like many people, I spent a lot of years, a lot of dollars, and endured many tests and misdiagnoses, before doctors finally discovered that I had celiac disease (also known as coeliac disease or celiac sprue), and needed to eliminate gluten and all gluten-containing ingredients from my diet. Gluten is a protein found in the three main gluten-containing grains: wheat, rye, and barley; and is often hidden in processed foods, and things like soy sauce and beer...[READ MORE about my long and winding road to a celiac disease diagnosis and recovery.]
Gluten-Free Diet
To treat my celiac disease I had to go on a gluten-free diet for life. That meant learning to read food labels to avoid gluten ingredients, and eating a diet of mostly naturally gluten-free foods like meats, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and packaged foods only if they are certified gluten-free or labeled gluten-free, for example gluten-free breads made using gluten-free grains.
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Recent Activity
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- Shining My Light replied to Shining My Light's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms13
Virus, celiac disease or both?
@trents I do like the idea of the shake! yes. I was expecting to have all my blood tests that were celiac related to be positive. I guess I’m confused about why they wouldn’t be. Nothing else in my blood work even gave a clue as to helping me either. All my vitamins were good other than D and that’s everyone in my state. @RMJ how impre... -
- RMJ replied to Shining My Light's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms13
Virus, celiac disease or both?
I can’t imagine eating 4-6 slices of bread per day, either. You just need wheat, it doesn’t have to be bread and it doesn’t have to whole wheat. If a piece of cake or a doughnut is about the same size as a slice of bread it’s probably roughly equivalent. Or you could do what Trents suggests and just buy powdered gluten. Gliadin X can help by “digest... -
- trents replied to Shining My Light's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms13
Virus, celiac disease or both?
@Shining My Light, what do you mean when you say "the blood test not being 100%"? Were you expecting all possible celiac blood antibody tests to be positive in the case of someone who actually does have celiac disease? That seldom, if ever, happens. You are gauging too much on how you feel when you consume gluten and not paying enough attention to test... -
- Shining My Light replied to Shining My Light's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms13
Virus, celiac disease or both?
Hi @RMJ, Thank you for you input. I really appreciate all view points on this, more than you know. Maybe I’ve done too much research. One thing I read would point to yes and then along comes all these variables that convinces me that my levels were high because of having a virus. I don’t like bread or pasta that much but seriously lov... -
- Shining My Light replied to Shining My Light's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms13
Virus, celiac disease or both?
Thank you @trents! I have been going back and forth on some gluten free some days and some days not trying to see if there is any reaction to how I feel. As much as I don’t want to I think given the blood test not being 100%. It’s fair to say an EGD is necessary. I do think before I go through with that I would run another TTG IGA...
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