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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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- trents replied to Kj44's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms4
Testing
Have you considered the possibility that you might have NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity) rather than celiac disease? They share many of the same symptoms, the difference being that NCGS does not damage the lining of the small bowel. It is 10x more common than celiac disease. There is no test yet available for NCGS. Celiac disease must first be ruled out... -
- mariamccl posted a topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease0
Help with results
Hi, 25f who recently had a endoscopy procedure to diagnose celiac disease. Mum and uncle are both diagnosed celiacs. I've had symptoms over the past year - headaches that have become debilitating and frequent, feeling faint and nauseous with high heart rate, diarrhea and constipation, anemia, and recently my periods have become almost non existent. My doctor... -
- trents replied to Kj44's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms4
Testing
Did your symptoms improve after going on a gluten-free diet? -
- Scott Adams replied to Kj44's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms4
Testing
Thank you for sharing your genetic test results and background. Your results indicate you carry one half of the DQ2 heterodimer (DQA1*05), which is associated with a very low celiac disease risk (0.05%). While most celiac patients have either DQ2 or DQ8, these genes are also present in people without celiac disease, so the test alone doesn’t confirm a diagnosis. ...
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