Celiac Disease is an inherited autoimmune disease affecting 1 in every 100 Americans. This condition damages the lining of the small bowel, preventing it from absorbing nutrients from foods.

When an individual with Celiac Disease eats food that contains gluten (wheat, barley, and rye), the immune system has an abnormal reaction to it. This reaction destroys the villi in the small intestine, making it difficult for sufferers to get the nutrients they need to stay healthy.
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Symptoms of Celiac Disease

• Gas
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Nausea/Vomiting

Getting a diagnosis
Your doctor will gather a medical history and examine you. They will also send you for blood work. If the blood test comes back positive for Celiac Disease, your doctor will recommend a biopsy in order to confirm the diagnosis.
These tests for Celiac Disease must be done BEFORE eliminating gluten from your diet. If you have already eliminated gluten from your diet, your doctor may ask you to re-introduce some gluten back into your diet in order to diagnose you properly.

Treatment
While there is no cure for Celiac Disease, there are ways to manage the disease. The main treatment is a strict gluten free diet for the rest of your life.
If Celiac Disease is left untreated, you open yourself up to a ton of complications, including cancer, osteoporosis, infertility, and in extremely rare cases, death.
Nowadays, it has become easier for people to manage their Celiac Disease. Many stores throughout the country have entire aisles dedicated to gluten free eating. Still, it is important for you to familiarize yourself with labels.

My Story
I grew up with a grandmother that had Celiac Disease. She was diagnosed in the 1980s and the disease made her deathly ill. Back then, there was virtually nothing available to her. My grandfather had to drive to another state in order to get grains that she could tolerate. When he brought them back, he would grind them with blenders and mortal and pestles. He did this from the time he retired, until they moved into assisted living. Watching her get worse in health was very difficult. Even my grandfather was showing wear and tear. He had to hire someone to come in and help with my grandmother while he rested. I helped when I could during the summer months. My grandmother died in 2007.

A few years after she died, I began feeling very ill. I had severe fatigue, diarrhea, extreme weakness, and I honestly thought I was dying. I went to the doctor, and they did a blood test. The call I got one October afternoon changed my life. The doctor said I tested "very positive" for Celiac disease. A biopsy later on confirmed it, and I started my gluten free journey. After my diagnosis, I remember crying during my first grocery store visit. I spent a few hours in the store because gluten free food was not as widespread as it is now. I read every label in the store, familiarizing myself with ingredients.

While things may seem a lot easier for us Celiacs, we still have to be cautious. This is a life-or-death situation for us. This isn't some allergy. This is a real disease, with real complications.

I cannot stress this enough, if you suspect that you may have Celiac Disease, DO NOT begin a gluten free diet until you've seen your doctor. You need a proper diagnosis.

​During the winter months, people tend to want to eat hot cereals. Many people start eating oatmeal for breakfast. However, when you have Celiac Disease and cannot have oats, oatmeal is off limits. So, what CAN you eat on those cold mornings?

• Along with a hot cup of coffee, I sometimes eat hot quinoa flakes. Quinoa flakes takes only 90 seconds to cook in the microwave, and the heartiness of the cereal keeps you full for hours. I add a touch of organic brown sugar and a serving of craisins to the cereal, just to give it some flavor. It's pretty darn good! The brand that I recommend is Ancient Harvest. Most supermarkets carry this quinoa cereal. You can find it in the natural foods section, with all the gluten free foods. Yes, this cereal is gluten free.
• I also recommend gluten free rice and shine cereal, if you're not a fan of quinoa. This hot cereal is also gluten free, but, does take a little longer to cook. This hot cereal keeps you full for hours, and I also add some organic brown sugar, and craisins. The brand to look for is Arrowhead Mills. This cereal is more difficult to find, but, you can find it in most organic and natural food stores. You can also find it online as well.
• There is also the option of Buckwheat hot cereal by Pocono. I am hesitant to mention this one, because some Celiacs are sensitive to Buckwheat. I happen to be one of them. If you are able to tolerate buckwheat, I do recommend this cereal. Add some fresh blueberries to the cereal. The fresh fruit gives it a very nice flavor.
• If you CAN tolerate gluten free oatmeal, I recommend Quaker Oats' gluten free oatmeal. Also, Chex makes a good gluten free oatmeal (I've had both products several times and have had no issues). Add craisins, brown sugar, or fresh fruit to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Start off your day with a hot beverage and a comforting bowl of hot cereal. Stay warm out there and be well! Winter will be over soon!

Refractory Celiac Disease is defined as one whose symptoms do not improve, even while on a Gluten Free diet.

In order to be properly diagnosed as someone who has Refractory Celiac Disease, a few questions must be answered:

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• We must make sure that there is no other cause for this problem. There are many conditions that may mimic Refractory Celiac Disease.
• We must make sure that one is truly Gluten Free. Gluten is hidden in the most unlikely of places, including medication, envelopes, body wash, and make up, to name a few. If you eat out a lot, you run a risk of cross-contamination.

If all of these theories have been debunked, then the only way to measure whether or not you have Refractory Celiac Disease, is with a biopsy. When compared to the original biopsy, doctors can determine whether or not there has been any improvement.

If doctors conclude that you do have Refractory Celiac Disease, it is important for doctors to check for complications, such as lymphocytic Colitis, lymphoma, and pancreatic insufficiency.

If you have Celiac Disease, and your symptoms have not improved, make an appointment with your Primary Care Physician, or your GI doctor immediately. It is better to be safe than sorry, especially with the increased risk of the above complications. 

(Source: www.celiac.com/articles/104/1/Refractory-Celiac-Disease/Page1.html)
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​#CeliacDisease #CoeliacDisease #GF #GlutenFree #RefractoryCeliacDisease #AutoimmuneDisease #HealthAndWellness #Health #Blogging #CeliacBloggers

Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing the nutrients in food that are essential for humans to stay healthy. While there is no cure for Celiac Disease, there is a treatment: Maintaining a strict Gluten Free (GF) Diet for the rest of your life.

I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease (via blood test and biopsy) nearly 14 years ago. My late grandmother was diagnosed in the 1980s. 

The more that I research Gluten Free dieting, the more I see a lot of misconceptions that people have when it comes to Celiac Disease and Gluten Free dieting:

1. "Eating Gluten Free can help you lose weight."
   Not necessarily. If you look at the ingredients in baked goods, some of them use an extra stick or two of butter, or an extra cup or two of sugar. Adding these ingredients provides enough elasticity in the baked good so it doesn't get completely hard. People who eat GF have been known to gain weight. In order to be successful at losing weight, while being gluten free, you have to stick with the foods that are naturally gluten free: meats, dairy, vegetables, fruit, and rice.
2. One regular meal won't hurt you."
   False. There is a small amount of Celiacs, such as myself, who are extremely sensitive to the point that even a crumb of gluten can cause relapse that lasts for DAYS, even months. My longest "glutening" relapse lasted 3 or 4 MONTHS! It was pretty much hell. I had to stay hydrated, and my potassium levels had to be monitored.
3. "Gluten Free food is nasty."
   Not all of it is nasty. While some baked goods (bread, etc) can be hard as a rock, there are some brands that are amazing. I recommend Bisquick Gluten Free pancakes. It is actually much tastier than regular pancakes. Also, Barilla has an amazing gluten free line that tastes like the real thing. Like with any GF pasta, you have to keep an eye on the pasta, so you don't overcook it. We all know what happens to GF pasta that is left unattended. Gross clump-city!
4. "You can't eat at restaurants, right?"
   False. There are more restaurants offering GF options. However, restaurants don't make any guarantees that the GF food hasn't come into contact with food containing gluten. Every GF menu I've seen has that disclaimer and it also advises that you eat at your own risk. I've eaten at several restaurants since my diagnosis, and most of them I have gotten sick from. Eating out is a risk us Celiacs take. It's sort of like playing Russian Roulette. I have a handful of restaurants and bakeries that I trust (half of them cater to GF individuals only). 
5. "They make GF oats, so you can have granola and oatmeal, right?"
   Yes and no. Yes, they make GF oats, but not everyone is able to have them without problems. Some end up with painful stomach issues, others were able to build up a tolerance to it. When I was first diagnosed, I had an issue with GF oats. It took me a few years to build up a tolerance to it. I'm able to tolerate GF oats from specific brands. Others, not so much. This is another area where people have to be careful. What I did could be considered reckless, but I haven't had any issues since I built up a tolerance.
6. Celiac Disease is the same as a gluten/wheat allergy.
   WRONG! WRONG! AND WRONG! SO FUCKING WRONG! This is my biggest pet peeve, as it downplays the severity of Celiac Disease. Complications from Celiac Disease can be serious, even fatal in rare cases. Gluten actually DESTROYS the villi in the small intestine in Celiac Disease patients, the villi being the only way humans absorb nutrients. In those suffering from gluten/wheat allergies, they endure the miserable reactions of being exposed to gluten. However, they do not suffer the long-term consequences. The villi in their small intestine aren't destroyed. 

There are many more misconceptions about Gluten Free dieting, but these are the most common ones I have come across. Living day to day with Celiac Disease and eating GF is a tough road to travel, but, it's worth it in the end.

Updated July 2022
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