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Celiac.com - Celiac Disease & Gluten-Free Diet Support Since 1995
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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- eKatherine replied to SaiP's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease12
Dangerously underweight, Perfect gluten free and insomnia
I suggest you look at your calorie intake. If you're not eating enough calories, your body will signal you to wake up and forage for more food. You need to be eating more calories than a healthy person of normal weight in order to gain weight. Also, your diet is extremely low in fat unless you are eating chicken thighs with the skin on, which I would recommend... -
- trents replied to AndiOgris's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms4
False blood test positive?
Since your mother has celiac disease, I would still keep an eye on this as there is a genetic component. Study results vary wildly, but the numbers are that anywhere from 10% to almost 50% of the first degree relatives of those with active celiac disease will themselves develop celiac disease. -
- Russ H replied to AndiOgris's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms4
False blood test positive?
Your initial test showed a moderately raised level of IgA tTG2. There are several causes of this apart from coeliac disease including: inflammation of the joints, bowel and liver. Transient rise in levels can be caused by an infection. -
- trents replied to sillyyak52's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease6
Family education
Rogol72, your recommendation to the OP to "show them pictures of dermatitis herpetiformis" confuses me as the OP does not mention having dermatitis herpetiformis. -
- Rogol72 replied to sillyyak52's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease6
Family education
Hi @sillyyak52, I empathize with you. I would suggest showing them pictures of "dermatitis herpetiformis" which is a complication of undiagnosed/untreated Coeliac Disease. You can find them on Google images. It's pretty alarming to see and it may be the wake up call they need to visually understand what gluten can really do to the body. In this case...
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