Could Gluten Be My Problem?
Awhile back I posted a blog about gluten intolerance. You can check it out: Gluten Intolerance. I'm finding there's still some grey area and questions I would like to help answer. One interesting thing has happened since I posted that blog - - my GI doctor told me she's very sure I have celiac disease. What? I thought gluten issues were a fad? I thought you had to be underweight and very sick to have celiac. How wrong was I? Now, there are many people who suffer from severe celiac disease and I applaud them for the fight they endure every day to just live their daily lives. What I didn't know was the variety of symptoms.
At this time, I have chosen to not be officially tested. Reason being there are 2 tests available and I'm not ready for either of them. First is a blood sample but you must have consumed gluten products for 2 weeks before it is taken and the second is an intestinal biopsy. I know I cannot function if I simply consume a small amount of gluten let alone 2 weeks worth and the biopsy, while not that big of a deal, is just a procedure I'm not interested in currently. My doctor is very ok with this. She knows I'm improved immensely since going gluten free and whether it's a severe intolerance or true celiac, the treatment is the same - stay gluten free!
According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, 1 in 133 people have celiac disease or approximately 1% of the population. Nearly 83% of these patients will be misdiagnosed for years. Up to 22% of them will have a relative with celiac as well.
According to my doctor, GI specialists are recognizing the seriousness of gluten intolerance/sensitivity. This means the person does not have celiac disease but has a problem with gluten. While it's a fad when it comes to people trying to lose weight, it's a very real diagnosis for many people. According to a physician-reviewed article on About Health - Celiac, they also have estimated that gluten sensitivity/intolerance is a problem for as much as 7-10% of the population. Some physicians are going as far as estimating 50% of the population may have some problems with gluten. Now because there is no official test for gluten intolerance, these numbers are estimates. Physicians have to sort through symptoms and patients must adhere to a gluten-free diet and if it works, you have your diagnosis. Interestingly, there are some new lab tests that can look for gluten sensitivity and it's been found that up to 65% of those that suffer from irritable bowel syndrome test positive for the sensitivity. That is a huge percentage! I had this test performed a few years ago, before I got serious about going gluten free, and my test was very positive! I had sensitivities to wheat, barley, rye, millet, and more. It's the first time I even considered gluten as being the culprit to my daily problems.
Understanding the difference between true celiac disease and gluten intolerance/sensitivity can be difficult. Take a moment to look at this chart provided by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. It is very helpful in understanding the different diagnoses.
So let's go into some more discussion of symptoms. The variety is actually unbelievable. There are over 300 symptoms that can be tied to celiac disease! You can take a look at the list here. No wonder diagnosing celiac and gluten intolerance is such a challenge! Now the first thing people think of is digestive complaints. While this is true, and is the most prevalent symptom in children, it may not be for adults. Let's break it down. These are the symptom lists from Celiac Disease Foundation. The most common symptoms in children:
- Abdominal bloating and pain
- Chronic diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stools
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Irritability and behavioral issues
- Dental enamel defects of the permanent teeth
- Delayed growth and puberty
- Short stature
- Failure to thrive
- ADHD
Now, children do not have to have all of these symptoms! These are simply the most commonly reported symptoms associated with a celiac diagnosis in children. Now let's look at the list for adults. While 1/3 of adults will report digestive system complaints, the most commonly other reported symptoms are:
- Unexplained iron-deficiency anemia
- Fatigue
- Bone and/or joint pain
- Arthritis
- Bone loss or osteoporosis
- Depression and/or anxiety
- Tingling numbness in the hands and feet
- Seizures or migraines
- Missed menstrual periods
- Infertility or recurrent miscarriage
- Canker sores
- Itchy skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)
Again, adults may not have all of these symptoms. It just is very helpful in painting the clinic picture of celiac disease. Now what about symptoms of gluten sensitivity/intolerance? According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, the top reported symptoms of gluten sensitivity/intolerance are:
- Foggy mind
- Depression
- ADHD-like behavior
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Headaches
- Bone and/or joint pain
- Chronic fatigue
Just like with celiac disease, you do not have to have all of these symptoms but they are the most common. There are also hundreds more symptoms that 'can' be tied back to gluten sensitivity/intolerance. The list of hundreds of symptoms I shared earlier is almost identical to the list of gluten sensitivity/intolerance symptoms.
So what is the cure? It's very simple. For both celiac disease and gluten intolerance/sensitivity, the cure is a 100% gluten free diet! Combined with a positive attitude, you can watch your symptoms disappear. As I talked about in my first blog post on this topic, I saw huge improvements in digestive issues, migraines, asthma, allergies, anxiety, frequent infections, and general well-being. Now please know that the years of damage and inflammation from eating gluten will not disappear overnight. Your body will need time to heal, usually several months. You will instantly 'feel' better but will continue to see improvements over the next 6 months to 2 years.
If you're considering gluten may be a problem for you, this checklist will help you break your symptoms down. Fill it out, print it up, and take it with you to your doctor. Unfortunately many physicians still don't fully understand or will even diagnose a gluten sensitivity/intolerance. You must advocate for yourself! If they are not comfortable with the diagnosis, then seek out a specialist who is! Get yourself examined by an expert. The symptoms associated with celiac and gluten intolerance/sensitivity can also be warning signs to other underlying diagnoses so please don't make this diagnosis without a health care provider's assistance.
When you're ready to go gluten free, the internet will be your best friend. There are so many wonderful resources, recipes, online shopping, etc that will help make your transition a positive one. Here's a great article by the Mayo Clinic on gluten free diets. The most important part of a gluten free diet is preparation! You must read every single label. You have to study menus before going to restaurants or request their gluten free or allergy menu. Yes it is a pain but the pain of gluten symptoms is far worse!
Here's some great websites to help you in your journey:
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