Let’s start with a definition:
CELIAC DISEASE: Celiac disease (CD), also called Celiac Sprue or Gluten Intolerance, appears to be a genetically inherited disorder which sets off an autoimmune attack in the body. In other words, if you have it, you probably have ancestors or family members with it, too. This attack causes an atrophy damage in the small intestine, and that, in turn, results in poor absorption of nutrients in the food you eat, which can lead to malnutrition and other maladies. Some individuals can have CD less severely than others.
What causes CD to show its face: Stress can cause Celiac to reveal itself, and eating certain types of storage protein, aka gluten, can set off the autoimmune response. Those glutens are found in wheat, rye, barley and even oats, as well as other related grain products. The Celiac genetic tendency can also be triggered by oral thrush, vaginal infections and intestinal Candidiasis, all which contain the same protein sequence as wheat gluten.
Some patients find themselves with manifestations of Celiac Disease after the birth of a baby; others after an infection or surgery. It’s all over the map.
Who has it: The Celiac Sprue Association website states that up to 1 in 133 have CD, and only 3% of those have been diagnosed! Other estimates are around 1 in 2000. There is also evidence that people of Irish or Swedish descent have the highest incidence. It is much more prevalent in lighter skinned individuals than in darker skin and in Asians. And many thyroid patients have it.
What are the symptoms of Celiac: Symptoms of Celiac include bloating, muscle cramps, smelly gas, and diarrhea, and you can also have constipation, weight loss, anemia, chronic fatigue, weakness, or premature osteoporosis and even bone pain. You can also have projective vomiting, migraine headaches, tingling of hands or difficulty walking. If the autoimmune attack started early in one’s childhood, it can result in a short stature, plus enamel problems on the teeth. Lactose intolerance can be common with many who have CD.
It is not uncommon to be misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, spastic colon, and Crohn’s disease. CD also affects the central nervous system and can be similar to symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. You will have CD your entire life, and it can wax and wane.
Are there non-GI symptoms of Celiac: Fatigue and weakness, Vitamin/mineral deficiencies, Headaches (including migraines), Joint/bone pain, Depression, irritability, listlessness, mood disorders, “Fuzzy brain” or an inability to concentrate, infertility, spontaneous abortions, intrauterine growth retardation (infertility incidence as high as 10%), Abnormal menstrual cycles, Dental enamel deficiencies and irregularities, Seizures, Ataxia (bad balance), Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy), Respiratory problems (including asthma and bronchial), Canker sores (apthous ulcers), Lactose intolerance, Eczema/psoriasis (skin conditions –not to be confused with dermatitis herpetiformis, a dead giveaway for Celiac), Rosacea (a skin disorder), Acne, Hashimoto’s disease, Sjogren’s syndrome, lupus erythematosus, and other autoimmune disorders, Early onset osteoporosis, Hair loss (alopecia), Bruising easily,
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), Muscle cramping, Nosebleeds, Swelling and inflammation, Night blindness. (The latter symptoms courtesy of realthyroidhelp.com and “hypothyroidceliac”.)
How is it confirmed in the doctor’s office: Three key tests include the anti-endomysium antibody (lgA EMA) and anti-gliadin antibody (lgA & IgG), and tissue transglutaminase (tTG IgA) or anti-reticulin. A gastroenterologist can also take a small intestine tissue biopsy, if necessary.
Also strongly recommended is the stool test from Enterolab.com, since the above can fail to show it in some patients.
How do I treat my Celiac: By a total gluten-free diet, which means eliminating any food products containing wheat, rye, barley and even oats, the latter which can have traces of wheat on them. But you have to be careful, because even other products can have gluten, including soy sauce from your favorite Chinese food restaurant and many processed foods. Believe it or not, some cosmetics contain gluten, as well as some household cleaners. Once you eliminate gluten from your diet, give the removal of Celiac symptoms time. There are some medications you can talk to your doctor about to help control it, such as Dapsone. But you may have to start low for your body to deal with the side effects of the med.
Joseph Murray, MD, PhD, who has been one of the leading US physicians in the diagnosis of Celiac disease plus Dermatitis Herpetiformis, states that the damage done to your intestines with CD came be reversed in most cases by avoiding the gluten. (Janie wonders if being on desiccated thyroid like Armour, which promotes a stronger immune system, can help promote that healing when gluten is avoided, as well, as compared to those who are on thyroxine or who are undiagnosed due to their doctor’s over-reliance on the TSH range.)
Why is Celiac Disease mentioned on this thyroid website: Because autoimmune diseases can go hand in hand, and there are a percentage of Hashimoto’s patients who also have Celiac! Conversely, those with Celiac have a higher risk of having hypothyroid (besides diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis). Estimates are that 10-14% of hypothyroids have Celiac, and it might be higher. It is proposed that if Celiacs control their disease by avoiding glutens, they can either stop a thyroid autoimmune attack, or prevent it from occurring!
Another important reason to mention Celiac in relationship to thyroid disease: when you are undertreated due to being on thyroxine meds like Synthroid, Levoxyl, Eltroxin, etc, or if you are undiagnosed due to a doctor’s over-reliance on the TSH range, your immune system is compromised, and that can lead to the very conditions which can trigger the autoimmune response, including oral thrush, vaginal infections or intestinal Candidiasis. These three can also develop due to an adrenal insufficiency.
Can there be other disorders that go along with Celiac: Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH) can often go hand-in-hand as a manifestation of Celiac. DH is a chronic and extremely itchy skin condition which is manifested by red bumps which can erupt into blisters, and those are mostly found on your elbows, knees, back, buttocks and even the scalp, though they can occasionally be found elsewhere on your body. Many patients with DH see it start when they are young adults. Like Celiac, it is controlled by avoiding gluten in your diet. Iodine in your diet can make it worse, according to some sources, so if you are supplementing with iodine, you might want to pay atttention if it’s affecting you or not.
Is there a difference between the terms ‘Celiac’ and ‘Gluten Intolerance’: Celiac disease refers to a damaged intestinal mucosa brought about by a inherited gene, and avoiding glutens can help control the disease. It is proposed that others can have a sensitivity to gluten without damage to the intestines, and this could be simply called Gluten Intolerance.
Check out the Celiac Sprue Association website where you can also get recipes to learn how to cook without wheat and related products.
Click here to read an excellent overview of Celiac by Dr Joseph Murray, one of the leading US physicians in the diagnosis of celiac disease (CD) and dermatitis herpetiformis (DH)
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