Symptoms of Celiac Disease

Celiac Disease presents itself in wide variety of  symptoms.  Including both physical and emotional symptoms because the body of one with Celiac Disease cannot process gluten (proteins found in wheat, rye, oats, and barley), therefore not allowing them to absorb any nutrition, no matter how much one with Celiac eats.

Physical Symptoms of Celiac Disease (But not limited to):

• Constipation
• Stomach Bloating/Cramps
• Diarrhea
• Lack of Energy (Seeming Depressed mood)
• Fatigue
• Loss of enamel (Found on teeth)
• Weight Loss
• Hair Loss
• Changes in vision
• Retention of Fluids
• Skin rash/Extreme Dryness
• Painful Joints
• Tingling in limbs

Sadness after realization of Celiac Disease... its OK!

Emotional Symptoms of Celiac Disease

• Irritability
• Depression
• Headaches
• Mood swings/changes

If untreated it can lead to…

• Osteopenia (a lesser version of Osteoporosis…but can turn into Osteoporosis)
• Osteoporosis
• Nerve Damage (That tingling in ones limbs)
• Stunted Growth (Especially if not treated in childhood)
• Intestinal Damage (or anywhere in ones digestive tract…from ones esophagus to the colon)
• Other autoimmune disorders (The Immune system is vulnerable when it is being attacked for so long)
• Infertility
• Interference with ones concentration and or memory

The list goes on with symptoms and if left untreated, but these are generally some of the more known signs.

Personally some of my symptoms included:

• Itchy rash on my chest and upper back (the reason I ended up going into the first doctors apt.)
• Blisters on my lips/lips would swell up (not the nice-collagen kind, only one side would swell…embarrassing)
• Face would swell (again only one side)
• Horrible stomach pain/cramps (could not sit or stand up straight)
• Was 88-92 lbs (Now after being G-Free, 105 lbs)
• Stopped growing at age 12…(5′2)same height and weight (now I have gained weight, but no more growing)
• Constant Headaches (always felt like I was in a “fog”)
• I was not able to hold down food after I ate it
• I was always hungry, but didn’t want to eat because I knew it would just bring pain
• Yellow eyes (sign of Jaundice)
• My teeth have lost their enamel (has left them prone to cavities – had 10 cavities last visit!)
• Was always sick with some sort of cold at least 1 week out of every month
• Memory loss (I rode horses for almost ten years…then one day I could not even remember how to put the saddle on or how to take a bridle off)
• Painful Joints
• I have not had a bone density test, however I would explain it as my “bones hurt”, even now after being G-free, after running or even walking around my hips/shins hurt.
• Nerve Damage (had bad tingling in legs and arms, even now if I eat Gluten accidentally I get this)
• Decreased energy (I went from horseback riding almost everyday/working out with aerobics etc to not being able to walk)
• Hair Loss
• Vision changes
• Personality changes (as told by family members…I do not recall any of it)

And again, those are just to name some of the symptoms I experienced. Although around the time I was diagnosed they had got to be severe versions…probably from the build up of gluten my body could not handle nor process.