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101 Symptoms That 'something' Is Wrong- Could You Be Suffering From Celiac Disease?
Celiac Disease is a little known autoimmune disorder. The latest reports state that 1 in 133 individuals suffer from it. Because it is a disease with potentially severe consequences but a relatively simple cause, it is important to be diagnosed correctly to battle this disease. If you THINK you may be a possible candidate, be certain to eat a lot of bread products a few days prior to the blood test. Only a biopsy in endoscopy can confirm the diagnosis, however, since it is very easy to be cured in 1 week of NO gluten, this means that a blood test will show you as ‘negative’ as a potential Celiac, when you really just went that week without pizza. It bothers me terribly that when my daughter was tested at 18 months old (last time before the diagnosis 4.5 years later), NO doctor told me to be certain she was eating wheat products up until the test. At a year and a half it is VERY likely she would not have any wheat in her diet for the week prior to the test, and be ‘healed’ in time for the test. Diagnosing celiac disease can be so difficult to diagnose due to the wide variety of symptoms that sufferers may experience. It is thought that the severity of symptoms is linked to the amount of intestinal damage that has been accumulated and the length of time nutrient absorption has been disrupted. Most obvious are digestive symptoms such as abdominal cramping, bloating, distension and either diarrhea or constipation. Other symptoms result from nutrient malabsorption, such as mouth sores or cracks in the corner of the mouth, night blindness, dry skin, tooth enamel defects, muscle cramping and general muscle weakness. In children they tell you to look out for lack of independence. WEIGHT GAIN OR LOSS Weight gain or loss (usually!) is one of the main symptoms of Celiac disease. Whether you will lose or gain weight is not an easy question to answer because it will differ with each individual case. For those underweight, gaining weight is common (and hopeful) on a gluten free diet, as they will be absorbing nutrients that they were unable to before. If overweight, ‘going gluten free’ can contribute to a significant weight loss, as they are absorbing a better balance of nutrition, and the bloating and water retention they had before, will greatly diminish. This bloating and water retention along with the mal absorption of a good balance of nutrients is the primary reason for obesity in untreated celiacs. Some will gain because their digestive systems are not accustomed to absorbing so much and therefore, their bodies store the excess as fat. Once diagnosed, eating too many gluten free treats can greatly contribute to weight gain, however, more often than not, those who adhere to a strict gluten free diet maintain a much healthier weight than the masses. Imagine removing bread, pastas, cakes, pastries, pizza, etc. from your diet!! Other than sweets, the only real potentially fattening ‘celiac proof’ food is potatoes! The best rule is the standard one – eat 3 healthy nutritious meals, exercise regularly, and your body, while thriving on the proper food, will maintain the best weight for YOU. Children who have had untreated celiac disease during their growth phase may be of short stature and have difficulty gaining weight. Starting your child on a gluten-free diet before the completion of puberty may mean that they are able to 'catch up' in terms of height and weight. EMOTIONAL SENSITIVITY Many patients with celiac disease also suffer emotional symptoms, including depression and irritability. As a Celiac, it is not at all unusual to feel as if you are on an emotional roller coaster ride. Not only can depression result from Celiac Disease, but many other neurological disorders result from gluten intolerance. Often improvements are apparent after being on a gluten free diet consistently for a substantial amount of time. FOOD ALLERGIES It is not unusual to experience other food sensitivities in addition to gluten. The most common ones are soy and lactose. It may be necessary to eliminate non-gluten food products, such as eggs, soy, fish or peanuts in order to control your symptoms. Any food allergy could be associated with Celiac Disease and some will lessen or disappear with treatment of CD. Allergies often will be the result of untreated Celiac Disease. However, allergy or intolerance may in some cases remain for the life of the celiac. While you can be tested immediately for (example) lactose intolerance, if you are not having any symptoms after being gluten free, it may be unnecessary. Bare in mind, though, that while you may not be (example) lactose intolerant now, it does not mean you will never become so. AT- RISK for other diseases or conditions Damage to the small intestine as a result of prolonged gluten consumption prior to diagnosis increases the risk that associated conditions and health problems may develop. Some celiac sufferers are at a higher risk of developing lymphoma and adenocarcinomas and cancers that affect the small intestine. Osteoporosis is also a risk, due to calcium malabsorption. Women whose celiac disorder is untreated may find it difficult to fall pregnant and stay pregnant. If your celiac disease is untreated and you do become pregnant, there is a higher risk that your baby will suffer from neural tube defects or be of low weight at both. Both of these occurrences are caused by nutrient malabsorption. If you suspect that you or someone you know has Celiac Disease, contact your family practitioner and ask them to examine this potential diagnosis. Leaving Celiac Disease untreated can cause other auto-immune diseases in the future. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com To receive your FREE Celiac 101, hard to find TIPS, and awesome RESOURCES, head over to www.celiacreport.com & check out what my daughter is eating at the blog! |
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