Celiac Disease?

Question

Does anybody have it?? I'm just curious...in the MA area? I might have it, just want to know how you're doin with it.

Answer 1

In celiac disease, the microvilli in a person's small intestine (Jejunam) flatten-out when exposed to gluten. This loss of surface area causes a person with celiac disease to malabsorb food.

Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley, and sometimes oats. Celiac patients are also advised to refrain from hydrolyzed vegetable protein, malt flavoring, soy sauce, and a host of other food additives or seasonings because many contain gluten. Eating out is extremely difficult on a gluten-free diet because you can never be sure exactly how a recipe is prepared.

Celiac disease is common in people of Western European ancestry. It is also very common in Type I diabetes and other autoimmune disorders (celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder).

Some of the more common symptoms of celiac disease are high flatulence (rectal gas), stools that are pale in appearance and "float" (due to high amounts of unabsorbed fat), intestinal pain and cramping, intestinal distention or bloating, weight loss, deficiencies in one or more of the fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), and fatigue or a general feeling of ill health. Dermatitis herpetiformis is also a symptom of celiac disease.

Years ago, the only way a patient could be diagnosed with celiac disease was with a jejunal biopsy; now, a simple blood test can immediately rule-out the possibility. The blood test checks for the "anti-gliaden antibody" which indicates if the patient is producing antibodies against gluten. If this test is positive, the physician may wish to perform further testing.

For more information, visit the following sites:
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/
http://www.celiac.com/index.html
http://www.celiac.org/

Answer 2

Yup, I have it, and so do the others in my family - all of us! I'm assuming you are getting tested for this currently (DON'T go gluten free before testing, if you are not currently testing. It ruins the test, as that looks for signs of the reaction to gluten).

As for how one does.
1. It's very, very hard at first to change your diet. You don't realize how much emotional attachment you have to foods until that's gone.
2. I feel so unbelievably BETTER going gluten free that while I miss foods, I have no interest in ever eating them again. However, you have to REALLy commit to it, because even a tiny cheat can make you sick for a couple weeks.
3. You will learn who your friends are. The ones who are willing to eat out with you at restaurants who are safe for you, the ones who are okay with you trying to do more activities that don't involve food. But there will likely be some friends who drift away because that extra bit of effort to BE a friend is more than they want to deal with. Which leaves you with a tighter knit group of friends, honestly.

Answer 3

Better consult with your doctor if you thinking you have celiac disease few of the symptoms of this disease are Diarrhea
Constipation
Abdominal pain
Heartburn
Headaches
Fatigue

Answer 4

Yup, Unfortunatly I have got a it...Its a pain in the ***...go to www.celiac.com and check out the message boards..some pretty good stuff on there...Personally I'm getting better I suppose but its been a while since i felt decent..good luck if you have it.