Coeliac disease

[Amberzak]

One of the people I tutor, her mum is a nutritionalist. I was talking to her about my difficulties controlling my sugars. The other day we were talking about my stomach aches and other problems

Well, today we were talking and I said that I think I have ibs. She said she thinks it might be coeliacs disease. She said that I might not have an intolerance to onions, and that I only get stomach aches after eating something with onions because of the damage gluten may have done to my stomach lining.

She's suggested I keep a note of how I feel each day as well as my food diary. I keep good notes anyway because I really want to keep my sugars under control. She said the many hypos I have are common with coeliac and so is the tiredness. I must admit, I do occasionally purge myself of gluten and do feel better after.

So apparently it's common with type ones, as it's an auto immune disease. Do any of you have it? What am I supposed to do? Gluten is in almost everything I eat. She said I wouldn't have to cut it out completely. Just not eat it as part of my daily diet.

I tried to make an appointment to see my doctor but they couldn't do an advanced booking for some reason and because it's not an emergency they couldn't get me in today. So I don't exactly know how to see a doctor. Could my diabetic nurse help? I'm seeing her in a few weeks.

I don't want to sound like a hypercondriac. But all the symptoms fit. Apparently it's possible to not have many symptoms of coeliacs and often get diagnosed diabetic first.

 

[AlisonM]

It could be any number of things Amber and only your GP can order the necessary tests to find out the cause. I strongly urge you to keep nagging the surgery for an appointment and see your GP as soon as possible.

 

[HelenM]

You need to keep eating gluten if you are to have tests for coeliac.
https://www.coeliac.org.uk/coeliac-disease/getting-diagnosed/

I understand (I'm not coeliac) that if you do have it then you need to remove gluten from the diet. The same site on their 'Myths' section says that

Even very small amounts of gluten can be damaging to people with coeliac disease. Therefore, taking sensible steps to avoid cross contamination with gluten is important

 

[Hanmillmum]

Hi Amberzak,

My daughter (T1) was diagnosed with coeliacs last year and was picked up from her annual diabetes blood checks. She was only just starting to get odd stomach aches so had it not been for the annuals she would have been a bit further down the line in getting dx. Her bloods showed positive anti-bodies for this and she was then sent for a biopsy weeks later which was to confirm the dx - all the time still eating gluten or they wouldn't have been able to tell.

She has adjusted well and it has been ok - easier than I feared for her. She has bundles more energy - not sure if fatigue has been an issue with you ? After dx you do have to cut out gluten completely I'm afraid and keep food from any cross contamination (that gets easier once you get in the swing of it)

We are currently waiting for my older daughter's biopsy results a year on from the little one as she has tested positive for anti-bodies too.

🙂🙂