How do I know if I've got a problem with gluten?

"There are no specific symptoms of Coeliac Disease." - coeliac.co.nz
Sure, like that's useful! Whatever.
If you're unsure about whether you've got coeliacs, you'll need a real list of symptoms, definitive and obvious, something to show the Doctor, and more importantly, to convince yourself.


Symptoms:
Most Common in Adults:
Diarrhoea ? This may begin at any age and is often present for years prior to diagnosis. It may first appear after other illnesses (e.g. gastroenteritis) or abdominal operations.Fatigue, weakness and lethargy [I had these ones! Plus a 'cloudy brain'.]Anaemia ? iron or folic acid deficiency are the most common. The anaemia will either not respond to treatment or will recur after treatment until the correct diagnosis is made and a gluten free diet is begun.Weight lossConstipation ? some are more likely to experience constipation rather than diarrhoea.Flatulence and abdominal distensionCramping and bloating.Nausea and vomitingDepression Less Common in Adults
Easy bruising of the skinUlcerations and/or swelling of mouth and tongueMiscarriages and infertilityLow blood calcium levels with muscle spasmsB12, A, D, E and K vitamin deficiencySkin rashes such as Dermatitis HerpetiformisAltered mental alertness.Bone and joint painsCommon in Children
Symptoms do not occur until gluten is introduced into an infant diet ? later onset is also possible.
Large, bulky, foul stoolsDiarrhoea or constipationPoor weight gainWeight loss in older childrenChronic anaemiaRetarded growthAbdominal distension, pain and flatulenceNausea and vomitingIrritability[Mostly taken from coeliac.co.nz]



I had a blood test today, I've got hard veins to find, the nurses had to try three times! I've got an autoimmune thyroid condition, which makes me more likely to have coeliacs.NOTE: Coeliac disease is more common among people with other autoimmune diseases, such as Type 1 diabetes and autoimmune thyroid disease. So if you've got an autoimmune disorder, get tested for coeliacs, it's the only way to be sure.

How is it tested?
First up you have to get some blood tests done. Do this before you start to eat gluten free. You need to be eating lots of gluten before taking any tests, whether it's blood or a small bowel biopsy.
There are four blood tests that your Dr can take:
tTG antibody (called IgA tissue transglutaminase antibody)DGP antibody (called Deamidated Gliaidn Peptide, IgA and IgG)IgG-gliadin (also called IgG anti-gliadin antibody)IgA-gliadin (also called IgA anti-gliadin antibody)The main one that your doctor or specialist will look at is the tTG. If it is high it means that you probably have damage in your bowel, [ie you've got coeliac disease] and they will put you straight on the list to get a piece taken out of your gut and tested [small bowel biopsy]. If any of the others are high, and the tTG isn't, you may still have coeliacs or be gluten intolerant. You can then either ask to be put on the biopsy list anyway, or just start a gluten free diet to see what happens and how you feel!



However the only real, personal way for you to know if you're effected is to finally try a gluten free diet for several months. Many people feel better on the G-free diet because of three possible reasons: 1) they're eating better, healthier food. 2) It's psychosomatic, in the mind. 3) They are actually intolerant to gluten.
I only really knew that I had a problem with gluten when I started eating it again. I had been gluten free for five months before I binged on gluten before my small bowel biopsy. I felt terrible! It was only then that I realised what my symptoms were. All of those years when I was eating gluten, my body was used to the symptoms and had been covering them up. I was used to coping with illness. But after being gluten free for five months and then eating gluten again? I felt awful.
Now, when I eat gluten I get a few bowel symptoms, tummy cramps, tired, emotional, my joints start to ache, headaches and I just over-all feel miserable for more than a week.


Have you been tested for coeliac disease? Do you have any of the above symptoms?