Coeliac Disease...So hard to diagnose

by Sylvia
(Wellington)

Four years ago I was having totalling distressing rush visits to the toilet. The frequency and ferociousness of the visits really began to affect my quality of life.

I went to my GP who referred me on to a gastroenterologist. The diagnosis was IBS, and I was told there was nothing they could do about it.

I made up my mind that I couldn't go through the rest of my life like that and tried to make changes myself. First off I tried going dairy free but that had no effect on the severity of the symptoms. Then I tried going wheat free. (I didn't know then what I know now about gluten.) The change in my symptoms was absolutely dramatic.

So I went on like that for the intervening three plus years and gradually the frequency of toilet visits began to rise again, although I have to admit, that because I was wheat free by choice I didn't refuse bread or other such products when dining out or with friends.

I finally went to my GP again late last year, back to the gastroenterologist and this time up came Coeliac Disease in the bowel biopsy. However I still had to have a gene test which he said was consistent but not conclusive and he sort of left me in the air about really did I have this disease or not. It was the dietician who looked at everything and said that there was no doubt!

I was given the diagnosis the day before my 58th birthday! But having moved on to the gluten free regime, everyone told me I would feel "so much better" and while I was somewhat better, I was still not right and by chance realized that perhaps dairy was a problem as well.

A few weeks ago the dietitian confirmed that as a temporary side effect of the coeliac disease. Now gluten free and dairy free I do fee "much better".