Celiac Disease Prevalence High in Patients with Crohn's Disease

Your article regarding the association between celiac and Crohn's was enlightening. It seems that the European medical community uses a more effective model to assess, diagnose and accurately treat patients with autoimmune disorders. They are better able to arrive at a more accurate , differentiating diagnosis of celiac verses Crohn's, than their American counterparts.

Many thanks for all the work that you do!

Your article was rather short but informative. You are correct that many Crohn's sufferer are diagnosed with celiac disease. I don't want to sound as if I know a great deal about the celiac sufferer, but I am or was a crohn's suffer, and in my quest for relief I've found that there was research connecting crohn's and yeast fungus, and as you may know that the grain even the corn that celiac's are supposedly able to eat is largely contaminated with fungus which has been shown to negatively affect immune compromised individuals. Our immune systems are routinely compromised by the over use of antibiotics which in turn gives the fungi in our intestines a change to become the dominant player.

I love your website and am learning a lot about this disease! Keep up the great work and hope you are feeling good yourself.

Would love to know of any further research you have found. I am 48 year old male with Crohn's for 26 years but recently I have been sick. 1 1/2 years ago I went through all test I.E. Small bowel follow through, colonoscopy, CT with contrast and the one that tube goes down your throat. He could not find any active Crohn's but now I have lost some 80 lbs. and he wants to redo all. I am so sick and fed up but this article has peaked my curiosity.

Would love to know of any further research you have found. I am 48 year old male with Crohn's for 26 years but recently I have been sick. 1 1/2 years ago I went through all test I.E. Small bowel follow through, colonoscopy, CT with contrast and the one that tube goes down your throat. He could not find any active Crohn's but now I have lost some 80 lbs. and he wants to redo all. I am so sick and fed up but this article has peaked my curiosity.

I am a 51 year old male who had a small bowel ressection in 1985 for Crohn's. Been OK for 27 years like you with an occasional flare-up. Also like you I lost about 45 lbs in last year. I took same tests again (told Crohn's patients need to take these tests every couple years) especially if you are having problems. Anyhow On Thursday I had surgery at USC by one of the best in the country-Andreas Kaiser. Another small bowel resection and stricturplasty which I understand is the more desirable choice because it does not involve bowel removal. Feeling pretty good after a week and now am told about "CELIAC" never heard of it before but am amazed at the description of symptoms I have not only with my digestive system but also arthritic pains osteoporosis...No doubt I have Crohn's, but am definitely going to research this a bit more as the similarities are too strong to ignore.I know your comment was 4 months ago so you might not read this, but if you or anyone else like you or I are at that point, you probably are obstructed to the point meds wont help.

Good luck to you.

Would love to know of any further research you have found. I am 48 year old male with Crohn's for 26 years but recently I have been sick. 1 1/2 years ago I went through all test I.E. Small bowel follow through, colonoscopy, CT with contrast and the one that tube goes down your throat. He could not find any active Crohn's but now I have lost some 80 lbs. and he wants to redo all. I am so sick and fed up but this article has peaked my curiosity.

I have chrohns and always thought my bloated stomach was due to chrohns, but after cutting out dairy and gluten I feel like a new person. I went from size 12 to 6 in two years with little weight loss, just bloat!!

I am convinced of the connection between Chrons and celiac disease. I have had Chrons most of my life - multiple bowel resections, severe sensitivity in my belly, lots of bloating. IN fact my doctor had told me I was one of his worst patients - I have taken all the strongest medications for my Chrons, too. Now, a couple of months out in my diet from eliminating gluten and dairy, I am so well, I don't need to be on any medications at all!!! I have never felt so great in my life. Other symptoms I didn't even relate to it have cleared up too - chronic headaches, feeling bad and tired all the time, which I didn't even realize till I felt good again, as you get used to it as normal. I even sleep so much better, less aches and pains. Though I haven't yet had a formal diagnosis of Celiacs, I don't need to - I know gluten in particular was making me sick. I recently ate something containing gluten after being told it was gluten free, and it made me really sick - all the old symptoms returned. If anyone out there has Chrons, please, please, please try a gluten free diet. It will be the best thing you ever did! What have you go to lose?

Would love to know of any further research you have found. I am 48 year old male with Crohn's for 26 years but recently I have been sick. 1 1/2 years ago I went through all test I.E. Small bowel follow through, colonoscopy, CT with contrast and the one that tube goes down your throat. He could not find any active Crohn's but now I have lost some 80 lbs. and he wants to redo all. I am so sick and fed up but this article has peaked my curiosity.

There are currently four genetic similarities that researchers have found between celiac and Crohn's disease (see link below for source). I am no physician. But I suspect anyone that anyone who suffers from/manages any disease that in the IBS family or autoimmune diseases would do well to follow current research for a variety of them. I will not be surprised if in the future there are more genetic similarities found amongst many autoimmune disease and IBS symptom sufferers.

I am convinced of the connection between Chrons and celiac disease. I have had Chrons most of my life - multiple bowel resections, severe sensitivity in my belly, lots of bloating. IN fact my doctor had told me I was one of his worst patients - I have taken all the strongest medications for my Chrons, too. Now, a couple of months out in my diet from eliminating gluten and dairy, I am so well, I don't need to be on any medications at all!!! I have never felt so great in my life. Other symptoms I didn't even relate to it have cleared up too - chronic headaches, feeling bad and tired all the time, which I didn't even realize till I felt good again, as you get used to it as normal. I even sleep so much better, less aches and pains. Though I haven't yet had a formal diagnosis of Celiacs, I don't need to - I know gluten in particular was making me sick. I recently ate something containing gluten after being told it was gluten free, and it made me really sick - all the old symptoms returned. If anyone out there has Chrons, please, please, please try a gluten free diet. It will be the best thing you ever did! What have you go to lose?

Thank you so much for posting your comment Jennifer. My partner had a resection last year after being diagnosed with Crohn's. His medication is making him feel ill. I've researched over and over trying to find something to help him. We are going to go gluten and dairy free together. I feel so much more positive after reading your post.

I am convinced of the connection between Chrons and celiac disease. I have had Chrons most of my life - multiple bowel resections, severe sensitivity in my belly, lots of bloating. IN fact my doctor had told me I was one of his worst patients - I have taken all the strongest medications for my Chrons, too. Now, a couple of months out in my diet from eliminating gluten and dairy, I am so well, I don't need to be on any medications at all!!! I have never felt so great in my life. Other symptoms I didn't even relate to it have cleared up too - chronic headaches, feeling bad and tired all the time, which I didn't even realize till I felt good again, as you get used to it as normal. I even sleep so much better, less aches and pains. Though I haven't yet had a formal diagnosis of Celiacs, I don't need to - I know gluten in particular was making me sick. I recently ate something containing gluten after being told it was gluten free, and it made me really sick - all the old symptoms returned. If anyone out there has Chrons, please, please, please try a gluten free diet. It will be the best thing you ever did! What have you go to lose?

Jennifer, let me rephrase one of your sentences:

If anyone out there has Crohn's, please, please, please get tested to verify you have or don't have celiac. So many people unnecessarily give up gluten foods because they mistakenly think they have celiac disease. Pasta being one of those.