Celiac Disease Support Group
Celiac disease is an auto-immune disorder of the digestive system that occurs in genetically-predisposed individuals. It is characterised by damage or flattening to all or part of the villi lining the small intestine, which interferes with the absorption of nutrients. This damage is caused by eating anything with gluten (gliadin), a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley...
For some time now I have been reading there is a diagnostic test for Celiac Disease which only requires blood tests. This is not so. I certainly do not agree with this in any way, nor would anyone else who had some knowledge about Celiac Disease.
Highly unlikely that having a gastroscopy would cause injury to the patient. Celiac Disease cannot be diagnosed unless a gastro bioposy is carried out and is positive. It is a waste of time and money to attempt to diagnose, without the gene test and bioposy. Some do not have the anti bodies, there maybe 10 -20% of them I think. But they (antibodies)do not have to be positive for a diagnosis of Celiac Disease. With the positive gene and positive bioposy the person has Celiac Disease. Easy.
It will be some time before sufficent has been found out about Celiac Disease so it can be diagnosed via blood cells alone.
The medical diagnosis is carried out by using the gene test and antibody test ( anti bodies may or may not be positive - does not have to be positive) and Bioposy.
It will take some time before sufficient realiable tests will throw some light onto these proplems.
There can be difficulties between those with Celiac Disease and Non Celiac Gluten Intolerance. Unless someone has been disgnosed by a qualified gastro specialist who finds that his patient is positive for the (genes) and positive bioposy they cannot say they have Celiac Disease. Lets get it right.
Non Celiac Gluten Intolerance came too the fore recently by (publishing) by medical people. Has been called a fad. As it stands at the moment there is now named Non Celiac Gluten Intolerance. But as yet there has not been sufficent research. Currently it may not be listed in the physician's handbook.
Of course it may well exist, time will tell. Thing is it is not Celiac Disease. It is a disorder in its own right.
More people are being diagnosed now due to doctors becoming more informed about diagnosing Celiac Disease. But they think nothing of putting a person on a gluten free diet. So it looks like they are doing something to help the patient. The patient demands treatment.
As a person with medically diagnosed Celiac Disease, I have been taught to have little time for those who say they are Gluten Sensivity/Intorrent. Stealing my food at my exercise classes. This belief is encouraged by a message here which details what a person without Celiac Disease had to say to a shop keeper. Poor behaviour. I was too embassessed to stay in the shop. Reflects on others with Celiac Disease.
Capt
Although, I do get pissed off when people disregard my disease, I understand it is hard for a healthy person to comprehend what complications might come with having an autoimmune disease. I was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and I do come accost people who tell me that they to “have joint pain”. Even though this is NO WHERE NEAR what I go through on a daily basis. Normally people don’t mean to be rude; they are just trying to relate.
I have a good friend who is allergic to wheat and buys gluten free products. When she does eat it her body breaks out with a very nasty rash. So it is something that we need to think about. I think more of the frustration that you feel is that people just need to be educated on what the difference between an allergy and an autoimmune disease is. To the average person with an average comprehension of the body these things could be very confusing. If you feel like someone is “hopeless” ( we all come accost those people) it’s just better to take it as a lost, laugh about it, and move on. Life is too short to worry about the minds of others.