My daughter’s food was hurting her. My youngest, Laura, was recently diagnosed with Celiac Sprue. She had always been slow to grow, over the last year became more tired and began having terrible stomach aches. We finally took her to the doctor and had her tested for Celiac. She came back positive for it.

Celiac Sprue is thought to affect at least 1 in 133 Americans, 97% of whom are currently undiagnosed, some probably misdiagnosed with things like IBS. When someone has Celiac, they are unable to eat gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye and ingredients derived from them. It is an autoimmune disease which means their body hurts itself with its reaction.  This can show itself in a variety of symptoms. They include:

·         Weight loss

·         Diarrhea or constipation

·         Abdominal Pain and/or bloating

·         Bone pain, body aches and pains

·         Depression, anxiety

·         Neurological symptoms such as seizures

·         Lack of energy

Doctors are just beginning to realize the wide variety of symptoms associated with Celiac and this is by no means an all inclusive list. If you suspect you have Celiac, it is important to find a doctor that will listen to you. Because the small intestine is damaged by eating gluten, going undiagnosed can lead to malnutrition, osteoporosis, and even a higher risk for intestinal lymphoma.

After a diagnosis, it may be helpful to meet with a nutritionist for help navigating the gluten free diet and to ensure that you are getting all that your body needs. Luckily there are many gluten free products available, as well as more and more gluten free offerings at restaurants. So once you get a handle on your new life, there is plenty for you to enjoy.

We are now enjoying a gluten free lifestyle in our home. The change in my daughter has been amazing. She no longer cries in pain and has bounds of energy. I am relieved that we have doctors that listened to us to find her the right diagnosis.