jdonliturgy

I was diagnosed at age 61 with celiac disease, which came as a total surprise because all my life I had been able to eat anything I wanted  with no gastric consequences. However, when I read the list of other symptoms I laughed/cried. I had experienced a lifetime of flares of unexplained skin rashes, an “allergic” skin reaction to sun exposure, severe menstrual pain from childhood (eventually fibroids and a full hysterectomy), a benign pituitary microadenoma, bad tooth enamel, early onset arthritis… yeah – these all show up as celiac symptoms. I did not have gastric symptoms until just before I was diagnosed (by biopsy) which was a total accident – the doctors did not suspect it and had just ordered a routine colonoscopy and upper endoscopy.

When I did DNA screening recently, it also showed I am a carrier for hemochromotosis (hereditary iron buldup), which has celiac disease as an associated condition. Other associated conditions found in my family include early arthritis, bad teeth, oteoporosis, MS and type 2 diabetes. All of this now makes sense.

On the strict gluten-free diet for over 6 years now… but I still am experiencing bothersome itchy, peely facial skin rashes (including around the eyes), irritable bowel syndrome and osteoarthritis.