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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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- knitty kitty replied to Rejoicephd's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease13
Struggling to get into a good pattern
@Rejoicephd, Would you consider adding a B Complex to your supplements? I was taking a multivitamin and still became deficient. There's a question as to how well multivitamins dissolve in the digestive system. I found taking a B Complex and Benfotiamine, a form of thiamine shown to promote intestinal healing, very beneficial in my recovery... -
- knitty kitty replied to kopiq's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease4
almost a year in recovery - so many questions about to give up
@kopiq, Your case is not hopeless. Doctors are not required to learn much about nutrition. Celiac Disease causes damage to the lining of the small intestines resulting in malabsorption of essential vitamins and minerals. The eight essential B vitamins and the four fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) are chemical compounds that our bodies... -
- Rejoicephd replied to Rejoicephd's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease13
Struggling to get into a good pattern
Thank you @cristiana. Its really helpful to hear your experience, thanks for sharing. 8 years is a long time! And its also good to know that others have experienced worsening before it gets better. I've just started doing the food diary recently, and I'll keep that going. It's at least helping me try to get a handle on this, and also helps increase my... -
- trents replied to junell's topic in Related Issues & Disorders1
Help!
Yes, the development of additional food intolerances is a common spinoff of celiac disease. To ensure valid testing after beginning a "gluten challenge" you would need to be consuming at least 10g of gluten daily (about the amount in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for at least two weeks. Many cannot follow through with this regimen, however, as their intolerance... -
- junell posted a topic in Related Issues & Disorders1
Help!
I've been gluten free for 5 years, as well as being intolerant to gluten, my list of intolerances is growing.. from dairy, eggs, soya, yeast, to mushroom, garlic, onion, spinach and quite a few in-between, basically my diet is gluten-free cornflakes, rice, banana, almond milk and fish anything else causes bloating, severe abdominal pain, mucousy diarrhoea...
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