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Diagnosed with coeliac at 69

Posted , 4 users are following.

paul76280
paul76280

At 69 I have recently been dignosed with coeliac disease and have been unable to get any sensible answers from the medical profession. In 15 years time I will be either dead or in a home!

The only symptom I have is mild anaemia which is resolved with iron supplements. I am finding it very difficult to stick to  a 100% gluten free diet and am being told that if I eat one breadcrumb by mistake, I may as well not bother at all! At my age, what's the worst that can happen if I'm just sensible and realistically manage an 85% gluten free diet?

2 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • linda72460
    linda72460 paul76280

    Posted

    Like you Paul I was always anemic.they put me on iron tablets permantly because everytime my levels went up I stopped taking them but within 2 weeks my levels dropped.eventually after testing for everything else they tested for coeliac.mystery solved.i was about 40 at the time.the up side to going gluten free is although you think you feel fine after a month you feel even better. Because your body can absorb nutrients your digestive system works better and it stops you feeling sluggish.also because it is an.auto immune disease you are prone to certain illnesses so eating sensibly helps boost your immune system.at the end of the day it's your body so only you can decide what is best.go on the internet and research it if you haven't got a very informative doctor.good luck xi 

     

  • Jeepers
    Jeepers paul76280

    Posted

     I think it is a trade-off Paul. How much are you willing to change  just for the sake of not taking a few iron pills?

     If it makes you miserable then is it worth it?

    But the burning question is - will anaemia always be the only side-effect for you? you don't know what lies ahead.

    I am in the same boat but I am older than you and i can tell you when I was your age I was fit and healthy, used to go to the gym, not overweight etc.

     Then in my early seventies my health suddenly nosedived . Our earlier life styles usually hit hardest when we get older you know.

    I am on about 85 percent gluten free now too.  Today I am saying I am going for the full 100. I have a nasty auto-immune disease i would love to get rid of.

    I wish us both luck.

      

  • tm62
    tm62 paul76280

    Posted

    Hi Paul I completely understand what you mean,  going gluten free is a huge life changing experience.  I am nearly 52 and although i didnt have any drastic symptoms I think I have had CD for well over 25 years.   I  went to the GP on a couple of occasions over the last 25 years I can now see that it was all linked to the CD as i also have the skin condition dermititis herpetiformis but it wasnt diagnosed until the CD was discovered.  I now think I am having a reaction to dairy in the same way that i would if eating gluten and therefore having to give this up as well. I completely took all dairy from my diet last week and felt so much better. I personally think this is because I should have been eating gluten free for over 25 years but because i didnt know I havent been and my bodies immune system is all over the place. 

    Obviously the decision is yours as to whether you stick to the diet, I personally think that if you dont you are damaging your body and your body will probably react in some way similar to what Joodie has said.

    Good luck with it, if you do need any help then there are plenty of people in the same postion on various forums who will happily give you support.

    Also make sure you receive your dexa scan and ask for your other vitamins and minerals to be checked, ie vit b12, d, zinc, calcium, selenium etc  

    Also give Coeliac Uk a call as their dieticans are helpful and will advise you 

     

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