Celiac Disease is An Autoimmune Disease, Not a Food Allergy

Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease. This can be confusing because sometimes you’ll even hear someone with Celiac Disease refer to it as an allergy when we’re eating out. (More on that on another day.)

An autoimmune disease is a “disease in which the body produces antibodies that attacks its own tissues, leading to the deterioration and in some cases the destruction of such tissue.”

Examples of other autoimmune diseases include Type 1 Diabetes, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis and more. To make it more interesting, autoimmune diseases are like birds – they like to flock together. When someone has an autoimmune disease, they are likely to develop another one later in life. We’re a blessed bunch, aren’t we?

Celiac Disease is Genetic

Celiac Disease is also a genetic disease. This means that the “code” for this disease is passed on through our genes to our offspring. For example, my grandmother and father both have Celiac Disease.

Interestingly enough, simply having the genes for this disease does not automatically mean that you will develop it. Thirty-five to forty percent of the general population carry the HLA DQ2 or HLA DQ8 genes, but only 1% of them will actually develop Celiac Disease. This is why genetic testing is not sufficient to diagnose the disease. Only to rule it out.

How Does One Get Tested for Celiac Disease?

So how does one get tested for this autoimmune disease? The two B’s – blood work and biopsy. And for these tests to be accurate you have to “B” eating gluten. (See what I did there? I’m so punny.) Doctors traditionally order a Celiac Disease panel that screens for the tTg, EMA, and DGP antibodies. I explain this more in depth on my post on how to get tested for celiac disease, accurately.

If those come back with a high level of antibodies, the next step is a small bowel biopsy done via endoscopy Before you panic, an endoscopy is performed by passing a tube through the throat, so there’s no need to drink the “junk” prior to this procedure. People sometimes comment that it’s highly invasive. Sure, there are some tissue samples, but more cutting and anesthesia is given when someone has their wisdom teeth out. It’s really not that bad. At least in my opinion.

How Does Celiac Disease Affect the Body?

As I mentioned above, the antibodies created by ingesting gluten destroy the body. Specifically, the antibodies destroy the villi that line the intestinal wall. Villi (vill- eye) are small finger-like projections that line the wall of the bowel. They’re little nutritional vacuums, sucking up all the vitamins and minerals from the food we eat.

They absorb the calcium we need for strong bones, the iron we need for red blood cell production, the B6 vitamins we need for metabolism. The list goes on and on. Without those little guys, we’re one big heap of malnutrition. Our body systems can’t function properly without those nutrients, which is why Celiac Disease has so many symptoms and is often misdiagnosed.

What Symptoms Does Celiac Disease Cause?

Due to this malnutrition, Celiac Disease causes some very unpleasant symptoms. Some of these issues can be embarrassing. Before I was diagnosed, I had the most foul smelling gas. I had chronic constipation. Some symptoms can be painful. Joint pain plagued me all throughout college

Some of the symptoms can be dangerous. There are many times that I had racing heart rates, which made me anxious that I was having a heart attack. Beyond Celiac shares a list of celiac disease symptoms, as well as a symptom checklist you can share with your doctor.

It’s Not In Your Head. It’s in your Gut.

Among these symptoms are also neurological and mental health issues. I think this is important to include, as anxiety and depression is on the rise in this country. While these are very real diseases which often require medical intervention, it’s worth mentioning that the food we eat can play a large part in the way we feel emotionally.

There are those with Celiac Disease who may never have physical symptoms from ingesting gluten, but have very serious panic attacks. I personally had one every morning for a year prior to my diagnosis. It’s definitely not fun. I also share this for those who may think that “a little” gluten won’t hurt someone with Celiac Disease. Please don’t mess with our food, because it can literally mess with our minds.

Celiac Disease is Life Changing, Not Life Ending

Celiac Disease changes more than our bodies. It changes our relationship to food, and often to other people. Social engagements often revolve around food, therefore we need to learn to navigate relationships as well. However, this disease does not have to define us or feel like a death sentence. In fact, a gluten free diet helps our bodies to heal so we can live our best life.

However, it often feels overwhelming, especially in the beginning. Let’s take some baby steps, together, in a series of articles I’ve written. First, let’s learn about the gluten free diet, and what’s safe and unsafe to eat. Next, let’s discuss how to take care of ourselves after receiving our diagnosis, both physically and emotionally. Lastly, we’ll discuss venturing outside of the home to eat with others, and resources that can help us learn more about this disease, and keep us healthy.

Welcome to the Celiac Family

Hopefully this primer has been helpful. Please know I have a whole category on my website devoted to living with Celiac Disease. It includes articles about research, food labeling, and so much more. I also have a post about “Celiac Disease Truths I Wish you Knew,” that contain images and memes you can use to educate others.

Last but not least, a few things you I want you to “hear.” One, you did not cause this to happen to you  (or your children.) It happens, so please lay aside any guilt you may have. Also, please know you are not alone. There are many in our community who are eager to help. Email me or reach out to me on social media anytime!

Let’s help spread the knowledge. What’s one thing you’d tell someone who is newly diagnosed? What insight or encouragement would you share? Add it in the comments below! 

Originally Published May 2016

The post What is Celiac Disease? appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

1) Because Your Stomach Problems Might Not Be Related To Gluten

I originally wanted to title this article, “Why you should still be eating gluten.” A friend told me my followers may have thought I’d lost my flippin’ mind. But it would have caught your attention.

I want to catch your attention. Taking care of our health is our own responsibility, but sometimes that involves seeing a doctor. True, you may stop eating gluten and you may feel better.

However there could be other health issues that are lurking beneath the surface. These include –

• Gastroparesis.
• Chron’s Disease.
• Colon Cancer.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• SIBO.
• FODMAP Intolerances
• Colitis
• Ovarian Cancer

I don’t want to turn you into a hypochondriac. However, I also don’t want you to trust Dr. Google for a diagnosis. Please, see a doctor. Ask to be tested. Demand to be tested. And if they won’t, find another doctor.

2) Because You Can’t Seem to Lose Weight

The world of Celiac Disease has drastically changed over the decades. Doctors used to believe that it was a wasting disease and all Celiac Disease patients were thin. Au contraire, mon frère. Many people diagnosed with Celiac Disease are overweight or even obese.

My friend’s undiagnosed Celiac Disease actually prevented her from losing weight. In addition, a personal comment about weight and eating gluten-free. When I started my gluten-free diet, I gained a lot of weight. Like 60+ pounds. Eating gluten-free is not always healthier and does not always equal weight loss.

3) Because Your Family Will Thank You

Celiac Disease is a genetic condition. That’s right, you can pass it on to your children. This is why Celiac Disease testing is so important. If your tests come back positive,  your family needs to know this for future generations.

If you have the genetic testing done and you do NOT appear to carry the gene, it is nearly impossible to have Celiac Disease. However, if you do have the gene, it doesn’t mean that you do have it. 30% of the population carries the genes for Celiac Disease, but only 1% develop it. However, you’re still able to pass on the gene to future generations and they can develop it

4) Because A Celiac Disease Diagnosis May Help You Stick to the Diet

A little bit won’t hurt, right? Sorry friends, yes it will. Foods that are gluten-free must test less than under 20 ppm. That’s less than a 1 tsp in a 40 lb bag of flour. Pretty strict requirements here. Some people don’t strictly adhere to this diet if not properly diagnosed. This is why Celiac Disease testing is important.

If you have Celiac Disease, you can’t cheat on this diet. The damage gluten does to your body can affect other biological systems as well. Some people with Celiac Disease are asymptomatic. We call them a “Silent Celiac.” Don’t be misled. Gluten continues to damage the lining of the intestinal wall, even if you don’t “feel it.” Don’t play around with this folks.

5) Because Celiac Disease Testing Helps Us All

So you submit your self to Celiac Disease testing. You find out that you don’t have the disease. The testing isn’t for naught. Maybe your body really does hate it when you eat gluten. It’s possible that you have Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity. The cause of this is being highly researched, and your blood work might provide further insight. Also, ruling out a diagnosis may get you closer to a real answer for your malaise.

What if your test results show you do have Celiac Disease? You become part of a larger community that needs your voice. It provides you legal benefits. These legal benefits help the rest of the world to take our disease that much more seriously.

“Is It Worth Eating Gluten Again to Get Tested?”

Maybe you’re already on a gluten-free diet. Maybe you’re wondering if it’s worth it to get really get tested. I can’t make that decision for you, only you can. I can tell you that a proper diagnosis is beneficial.

It helps you know what other health issues you could be facing due to your autoimmune disease diagnosis. Please, if you’re considering changing to a gluten-free diet, don’t do so without first going through Celiac Disease testing. You and those around you will thank you.

**Note- The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center suggests that patients should eat one slice of gluten-containing bread, daily, for 12 weeks prior to blood antibody screening. A shorter gluten challenge is possible for endoscopy.**

There is much research being done on alternative ways to test for Celiac Disease that DON’T require gluten ingestion. One of those methods is IL-2 testing, which is showing a lot of promise. Read more about IL-2 testing in this article from Beyond Celiac.

“My Doctor Says I Can’t Have Celiac Disease Because I’m Black.”

No, I’m not making this up. There are Black people I’ve personally talked to who’ve said their doctors told them this. To put it plainly, those doctors are wrong.

While current research data shows Celiac Disease is less prevalent in Black communities, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. I met someone from Ethiopia who had Celiac Disease, so it’s definitely possible.

And to be honest, we know that minorities, especially in the United States, suffer from inequities in health care. In my opinion, more research needs to be done on the prevalence of Celiac Disease in minority populations. Beyond Celiac and the National Minority Quality Forum are partnering on an initiative on this topic right now.

What were your biggest reasons for getting tested for Celiac Disease? Did you get pushback from your doctor, only to have lab tests prove you have Celiac Disease? Please feel free to share your story, below.

Originally Published September 2016

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