Coeliacs ...Sort of in denial

Hi Kim,

Whilst my symptoms are a lot more severe than yours, I know 'where you are coming from' I know people who don't have any symptoms and get tempted to eat gluten. Please DON'T eat gluten if you are coeliac, as even if you don't have symptoms (although what you seem to be experiencing are mild symptoms) the damage is still being done to your gut and are more likely to suffer the consequences in the future if you don't stick to the gluten free diet.

I understand your fears, my own father died at 58 after fighting bowel cancer for 5 years and I often wonder if he had undiagnosed coeliac disease. Any fears you have about cancer etc. need to be discussed so, making a list of questions as they surface and take with you when you see your consultant next month. Now you have been diagnosed you will get to see a dietitian every year, also you can get lots of help from Coeliac UK, you can get free membership for the first 6 months too. 

I hope this helps 

 

Hi Fiona, thank you for taking the time to reply. It definitely helps to talk. I think I seem to underestimate the consequences of not following the GF diet completely, although I think I am doing ok. Once I have seen the consultant maybe my head will be in a better place☺️

I understand how you feel. My father states the same even after having a stomach surgery for a hole in his stomach due to coeliac. He still eats gluten stating, "I'm 55, if gluten was actually that bad I would have been dead by now". I replied "dad, you're living, but are you living to a good standard of life?"

Don't wait for the worst to happen. I wish I always knew I was coeliac. It would have changed so much in my life. Just give the gluten free diet a try for 6 months, you'll have nothing to lose but might have a lot to gain.

If you had continued on as an undiagnosed coeliac or if you continue now to eat foods containing gluten, food does not get digested and therefore you are lacking in nutrients that your body needs.. THEN you might "have an early exit from this planet"!! Yes, you must carry on gluten free. Even though your symptoms might be mild now, symptoms become more severe as time goes on. If you follow a gluten free diet and you accidently have a 'tiny bit of gluten" it is not life threatening. You might have some symptoms return depending on how much gluten you have as to how long.. but might only be a few hours, a few days or a few weeks. Your consultant will advise you further. Coeliacs become deficient in vitamins and minerals (especially magnesium) so you could benefit from having tests to see if you are lacking in these.