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What are classic celiac symptoms? |
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Written by Dr Rodney Ford
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Thursday, 20 March 2008 |
Katrina sent me this email this week:
“Hi Dr Ford,
I have had an iron test recently that came back with a very low level. A Dr at the hospital said I had coeliac. So what do I do now? How do I go about having more tests done?
My local Dr said that I don’t fit the symptoms for coeliac - but I have:
Irritable bowel;
Gastric reflux;
very bad tummy bloating;
also I am depressed and moody;
finally, I have lost about 13kgs in the last 8 months;
I have got a skin rash on elbows and knees.
I would really appreciate an answer. Thank you for your time.” Katrina
I reply:
You have most of the classic symptoms of coeliac disease. Maybe you should ask your local Dr to tell you what he thinks the classic symptoms are! It is hard to have a more “classic picture”.
Studies show that iron deficiency is one of the most common ways to present with coeliac disease. Coeliac disease can cause just about ANY symptoms. Also, many people with coeliac disease have few if any symptoms. So the ONLY way to look for and to find people with coeliac disease is to do lots of blood tests on just about everybody.
Gluten sensitivity (the gluten syndrome) causes symptoms exactly the same as coeliac disease, but there is not intestinal damage.
The sad fact is that a great many doctors are unfamiliar with the various ways that coeliac disease can manifest and that gluten causes huge problems over and above that of coeliac disease. Cheers, Dr Rodney Ford.
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