Frequently Asked Questions

What is celiac disease?
Celiac disease is a genetic disorder affecting children and adults. People with celiac disease are unable to eat foods that contain gluten, which is found in wheat and other grains. In people with celiac disease, gluten sets off an autoimmune reaction that causes the destruction of the villi in the small intestine. People with celiac disease produce antibodies that attack the intestine, causing damage and illness. Finding the cause of this disease is a priority of The University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research.

What are the symptoms of celiac disease?
Symptoms of celiac disease include diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal pain, chronic fatigue, weakness, malnutrition, and other gastrointestinal problems. In children, the symptoms may include failure to thrive (an inability to grow and put on weight), irritability, an inability to concentrate, diarrhea and bloating. Further, people affected by Celiac Disease may experience extra intestinal symptoms that involve many systems and organs including bones (osteoporosis, arthritis, and joint pain), blood (anemia and bleeding), reproductive system (infertility and reoccurring abortion), nervous system (chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, dementia), and behavioral changes.

How common is celiac disease?
Nearly one out of every 133 Americans suffer from celiac disease, according to a new study by the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research in Baltimore. The research indicates that celiac is twice as common as Crohn's disease, ulceric colitis and cystic fibrosis combined.

How is celiac diagnosed?
A blood test is now available to screen for the presence of specific antibodies. A biopsy of the intestine (before beginning a gluten free diet) is needed to make a final diagnosis.

What are the long-term effects of celiac disease?
Untreated celiac disease can be life threatening. Celiacs are more likely to be afflicted with problems relating to malabsorption, including osteoporosis, tooth enamel defects, central and peripheral nervous system disease, pancreatic disease, internal hemorrhaging, organ disorders (gall bladder, liver, and spleen), and gynecological disorders. Untreated celiac disease has also been linked an increased risk of certain types of cancer, especially intestinal lymphoma.

What is the treatment for celiac disease?
There are no drugs to treat celiac disease and there is no cure. But celiacs can lead normal, healthy lives by following a gluten free diet. This means avoiding all products derived from wheat, rye, and barley.

What are the recommended blood tests to diagnose CD?
There is a particular series of blood tests called the ‘Celiac Panel”. These tests measure your immune system’s response to gluten in the food you eat.

    tTG-IgA or tissue transglutaminase-IgA
    AGA-IgG or Antigliadin IgG
    AGA-IgA or Antigliadin IGA
    Total IGA

The presence of tTG antibodies is highly suggestive of CD, while AGA can be elevated also in cases of wheat allergy.

How accurate are the celiac blood tests?
The current diagnostic tests for CD are very accurate, particularly when tTG and anti-endomysial antibodies are elevated. The isolated presence of anti-gliadin antibodies does not necessarily imply that the subject is affected by CD, with the exception of children under the age 2 in which tTG and EMA may not be present

Comments

[Renee]

I dont know of any camps for gluten detox (but that is a great idea!)
It was difficult for me to "detox" from gluten 8 years ago, at 24 years old, while living in FL. My endocrinologist at the time suspected celiac. Unfortunately he did not test my blood until after I was on the diet for 2 weeks and it came back false negative. I felt significantly better after being on the diet and my overall health and life for the past 8 years backs it up.
Back then even the holistic health practitioners were not up to speed with gluten allergy and all that it can cause. I sort of hid out in the yoga community and began to cook all my own foods. I have thought about going to a yoga ashram at some point since most of them focus on primarily been and rice diet. I know not everyone would be up for that but I thought I would share it. If it were not for yoga I don't think I could have recovered from how sick I was and have the determination needed to make all the life changes that were necessary. And I did have neurological symptoms as well and have been med free for 6.5 years thanks to a GF diet and yoga and meditation.

[Susan Flinn]

Hello - Sorry for not responding sooner, we just saw this query. We asked the members of our group for ideas and here are their responses. i would also suggest asking ROCK (raising our celiac kids), which is a great group and has chapters all over the place

One of our members, Cheryl Harris, is a nutritionist who often does classes that, while not specifically what you were looking for, might be useful - see her web page at harris whole health.

There are certainly cruises from bob and ruth for adults. http://www.bobandruths.com.

I think her/his best bet would be canyon ranch... super expensive, though. http://canyonranch.com/

This may sound extreme and is not for everyone, however, during my early years of being diagnosed with DH one of my doctors recommended a 7-day to 14-day water fast. She indicated that the body will heal itself if it is allowed to rest and "reset". A strictly water only fasting seemed dangerous and I declined. As my symptoms worsened and other illnesses began to plague me, I changed my mind. At the time there was a local place, Tanglewood (now located in Panama) that provided accommodations and counseling during your water fasting. Since I had already spent a fortune (depleted my savings and credit) on doctors and treatments I decided to "do-it-myself"... I have never regretted that decision!! At least once or twice a year I will do a 2-3 day water fast, a juice fast, or detox. Again, I must admit it sounds extreme, but my doctor was absolutely right. I was not cured, but all of my symptons subsided or disappeared, my thinking became very clear and lucid, no more joint pain, skin cleared, blood pressure was normal again, breathing was better, I lost at least 20 lbs., etc.

[Gloria Schaefer]

Are there "camps" or such where one might go to detox from gluten products by being in an environment that only provides gluten-free foods, thereby starting the healing process? In cases where the celiac disease or gluten intolerance causes neurological and behavioral problems (e.g. ADD, anxiety) the individual may not be able to grasp the fact that avoiding gluten is the first step to regaining one's health. My son is in this category and if there is a place where we can enroll him so that he can begin to heal I think he will then understand the importance and necessity of avoiding gluten for life. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. My son is 24 and his symptoms are getting worse. Thank you.