Symptoms of Coeliac Disease

coeliac feeling sick

With an estimated 80% of coeliacs UNDIAGNOSED in Australia, it is important to raise awareness of the many ways coeliac disease can manifest itself. Most know of course the obvious symptoms…the ones that end up awkwardly being spoken about when informing someone you have coeliac disease…conversations that often go something like this…

Oh no sorry I can’t eat that, I have coeliac disease, so I can’t eat any gluten.

Oh really, what happens if you eat gluten?

Well, I usually get an upset tummy, IBS symptoms, feel nauseous and really bloated. And then I might just feel like I’ve been hit by a bus.

And…enough said. The interest level is usually not going to extend to the other 50 symptoms (possibly slight exaggeration) that may or may not also impact me once exposed to gluten.

For me, these include: itchy spotty rashes on my upper body, including scalp (great one that one if out to dinner…people start moving away for fear of little insects jumping on them!), migraines, chronic fatigue, brain fog, eye strain, hives, mouth ulcers…and of course general malnourishment that causes weakened hair, skin & nails if prolonged exposure to gluten occurred. And, ultimately potentially osteoporosis.

However I am thankful my symptoms are not as severe as it can get for others, who can become violently ill very quickly and even end up requiring treatment in hospital. This usually causes them to become socially isolated as they avoid eating out, and only trust the food they have prepared themselves.

And for some, they are what’s deemed as ‘asymptomatic’ because they do not have the obvious digestive based symptoms. This can cause them to not consider they may have the disease, and therefore do not get tested. However, they may in fact be exhibiting many of the other symptoms associated with the disease, but just don’t make the link.

So, coeliac disease is much much more than just getting an upset tummy.

Here is a comprehensive list of the symptoms associated with coeliac disease. It is important to note that they can vary greatly between individuals…no single set of signs or symptoms is typical for everyone with coeliac disease. See how many you relate to!

coeliac disease causing skin rashes

vitamin supplements for coeliac disease

osteoporosis pain

Symptoms of Coeliac Disease

  • Gastrointestinal issues, including upset stomach, abdominal pain, gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation & vomiting.
  • Persistent anaemia
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Obesity
  • Osteopenia & osteoporosis (& fractures)
  • Intolerances to other food groups such as dairy
  • Infertility or recurrent miscarriage
  • Muscle cramps
  • Tooth enamel defects
  • Joint pain
  • Mouth sores
  • Skin issues (acne, rashes, hives, dry skin, psoriasis, eczema & Dermatitis Herpetiformis)
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety & depression
  • Panic attacks
  • Eye problems
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Migraine headaches
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Vitamin deficiencies (B12, D & K)
  • Muscle weakness
  • Bone & joint pain
  • Fluid retention
  • Easy bruising
  • Delayed puberty
  • Stunted growth in children
  • Vertigo
  • Abnormal liver function
  • Increased risk of bowel cancer
  • Arthritis

If you feel you identify with several of these symptoms but have not been tested for coeliac disease, it is recommended that you consult with your doctor to see whether testing for coeliac disease is warranted (first with a simple blood test, and then followed by an endoscopy). It is also important to remain eating gluten before you are tested to avoid a false negative.

Doctors stethoscope

I would LOVE it if you decided to SHARE this article using the convenient buttons below to increase awareness of the seriousness of coeliac disease, and to hopefully encourage some of the currently undiagnosed coeliacs out there to get tested!

Sources:

celiac.com/what-are-the-symptoms-of-coeliac-disease/ (Scott Adams, Feb 2019)

theconversation.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-coeliac-disease (Dr Jason Tye-Din, May 2012)

coeliac.org.au/symptoms

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *