COELIAC DISEASE

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease; it is caused by our immune system reacting to gluten. When someone with coeliac disease ingests wheat or gluten, the body responds with an autoimmune response producing antibodies that cause chronic inflammation.

The gut also becomes damaged, making it difficult to absorb vitamins and nutrients from the food you eat. It also damages the protective net in the digestive system. which allows undigested food particles and proteins to pass through the digestive tract, sending toxins directly into the bloodstream.

WHERE IS GLUTEN FOUND?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, and it is also used in lots of food and drink and even toiletries and cosmetics;

• Bread
• Pasta
• Cakes
• Biscuits
• Crackers
• Breakfast cereals
• Pastry
• Sauces
• Gravy
• Ready meals
• Beer and lager
• Squash
• Shampoo
• Shower gel
• Toothpaste
• Lipstick 

HOW COMMON IS COELIAC DISEASE?

Coeliac disease is widespread and affects around 1 in 100 people. Only 24% of people who have the condition have actually been diagnosed. This means nearly half a million people have Coeliac disease, but they do not even know they have it.

If a family member, such as your mother, father, sister or brother, has Coeliac disease, you have a one in 10 chance of having it yourself as coeliac disease is hereditary. 

WHAT IS THE CAUSE?

If you read any of the medical websites or see a doctor, they will tell you that the cause of coeliac disease is unknown and that they don’t actually know why people have it, but this is because doctors are not trained in nutrition. They are trained to treat symptoms with medication.

Coeliac disease is caused by eating gluten. If you stop eating gluten, you will heal yourself of coeliac disease, it will still be there lying dormant until the next time you eat it and have a flare-up, but you will be relatively symptom-free.  

Our bodies were not designed to or even evolved to eat wheat or gluten, which is why we now have an epidemic of coeliac disease, gluten intolerance, and gluten sensitivity.

When someone eats something they are not supposed to eat, they get a symptom or a side effect; for instance, if you ate something poisonous, your body would know that it needs to get rid of the poison. It does this by making us sick and giving us diarrhoea until we have removed all of it from our system; you should think of gluten in the same way.

When someone eats gluten, they may not react for a long time, but then one day, they get a rash or experience bloating or some other minor symptom. If this person continually eats gluten, they will start to get a whole host of symptoms, and if you continue to eat it after that point, you will get the disease.

Doctors will prescribe medications or creams for symptoms you may be experiencing. Still, they may never link what you eat to illness because doctors are not trained in nutrition. They are trained to treat symptoms with medication. 

They say there is no cure for coeliac disease. While there may not be a cure, you can prevent it. If you stop eating gluten, you will heal from coeliac disease. All of the symptoms associated with coeliac disease are your body’s way of telling you to stop eating it, and once diagnosed, you will be told to go on a gluten-free diet.

SYMPTOMS OF COELIAC DISEASE

The symptoms of Coeliac disease can vary from person to person. While one person can show mild symptoms, another can show severe symptoms. Some do not show any symptoms but can be affected later on in life.

It usually affects the intestines and the digestive system, but it can affect other areas of the body and lead to other diseases.

Coeliac disease should not be mistaken as an allergy. It is an autoimmune disease. If it were an allergy, your body would respond immediately. In some cases, anaphylaxis would occur, but then the symptoms would go away once treated.

The symptoms of Coeliac disease can last a lot longer in some cases, often up to or even over a week after gluten has been ingested.

In the past, people with Coeliac disease were expected to be underweight, and most people with the condition were either an average weight or even overweight.

SYMPTOMS IN ADULTS

• Severe or occasional diarrhoea or constipation
• Excessive extremely smelly wind
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach pain, cramping or bloating
• Iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency
• Anaemia
• Fatigue
• Sudden or unexpected weight loss or weight gain
• Mouth ulcers
• Acid reflux
• Heartburn
• Hair loss
• Lactose intolerance
• Dizziness
• Migraines
• Chronic fatigue
• Skin rashes
• Tooth enamel problems
• Depression
• Liver abnormalities
• Repeated miscarriages or infertility
• Loss of coordination or poor balance
• Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet

SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN

Coeliac disease can have a completely different effect on children making them feel tired and irritable; they may also be

• Smaller than normal
• Delayed puberty.
• Weight loss
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain & bloating
• Persistent diarrhoea or constipation
• Pale, fatty, foul-smelling stools

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE COELIAC DISEASE

If you believe you have Coeliac disease, you should first discuss it with your doctor. They can carry out a blood test to confirm it. It is crucial that you DO NOT stop eating gluten at any point during the blood test, and the time in between the biopsy or your test will not be accurate and can even show negative.

Firstly you need to make an appointment with your GP to discuss your symptoms. Some doctors are still uneducated about coeliac disease and will sometimes give you the wrong information.

Some doctors are even advising patients to give up gluten before their test. If you give up gluten before you get tested, your body may not show the antibodies, which will mean your test will be inaccurate, and to get retested, you will need to eat gluten again for at least six weeks.

You mustn’t stop eating gluten for the entire time you are being tested (blood test and biopsy). This can be as long as 3-4 months.

It is harder to reintroduce gluten once you have cut it out due to the severity of symptoms it causes. Some patients feel too ill to reintroduce for the six week period that is needed and give up on getting a diagnosis altogether.

HOW TO GET A DIAGNOSIS?

There are two parts to diagnosing coeliac disease.

A simple blood test that checks for antibodies is possible to have a negative test and yet still have coeliac disease.

A biopsy (Do not go gluten-free until after you have the biopsy) if you have a positive blood test, you’re GP will refer you to a gastroenterologist where a gut biopsy will be carried out. Once you have had the gut biopsy, it is safe to start a gluten-free diet.

DIAGNOSING COELIAC DISEASE IN CHILDREN

A child who has had a positive blood test may not always be sent for a biopsy. New information published by Coeliac UK and the British society of paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition (BSPGHAN) states; 

if children with coeliac disease symptoms have a high level of antibodies in the blood test and have the genes for coeliac disease may not need to have a biopsy confirming a diagnosis.

To ensure the correct diagnosis is carried out, your child will be referred to a gastroenterologist for the appropriate tests.

MY TEST WAS POSITIVE.

If your test was positive, you could switch to a gluten-free diet straight away.

MY TEST WAS NEGATIVE.

Just because the test was negative doesn’t mean you are not coeliac. It is possible to have a false blood test, and if your symptoms are severe, you can request a biopsy for definitive proof.

It may also be that you have a gluten sensitivity rather than coeliac disease. Whatever the outcome switching to a gluten-free diet will be the best course of action.