-
Welcome to Celiac.com!
You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.
-
Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):
-
Get Celiac.com Updates:Support Our Content
-
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.
Breaking Celiac Disease News & Info:
-
Get Celiac.com Updates:Support Celiac.com:
-
Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):
-
Recent Activity
-
- trents replied to Kj44's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms2
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 & Symptoms2
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. ... -
- Scott Adams replied to KRipple's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms8
Celiac or Addison's complications? Can someone share their experience?
@cvz Thank you for sharing your daughter’s story. It sounds like she is managing multiple complex conditions with great care and diligence. It’s encouraging to hear that she is compliant with her gluten-free diet and that her Addison’s disease symptoms are under control. The addition of electrolytes seems like a thoughtful suggestion, especially given her f... -
- Kj44 posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms2
Testing
Hello I received this in a genetic lab test I requested from my provider. The patient is positive for DQA1*05, one half of the DQ2 heterodimer. The celiac disease risk from the HLA DQA/DQB genotype is approximately 1:1842 (0.05%). This is less than the 1% risk in the general population. Allele interpretation for all loci based on IMGT... -
- cvz replied to KRipple's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms8
Celiac or Addison's complications? Can someone share their experience?
My daughter, age 48, has Down syndrome, hypothyroidism, Addison's disease, and Celiac disease, which was diagnosed based on blood tests last July. After a small intestine biopsy last fall, we were told that she has severe celiac disease. She is taking both levothyroxine and leothyronine for her hypothyroidism and both hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone...
-