Celiac Disease Awareness Month - Diagnosis

A lot of people have asked me how I was diagnosed. The first test for Celiac is a simple blood test, and then after that, you may be sent for an endoscopy. Personally, I was only sent for a blood test. My doctor didn't suggest an endoscopy, and by the time I had done enough research to ask for one, I'd been eating gluten-free for awhile. Ah well.

If you think you or a loved one may have Celiac Disease, just ask your regular doctor to send you for a blood test. However, you have to be eating a regular amount of gluten at the time of the test.

For any other questions about diagnosis, check out this FAQ from Celiac.ca.

Celiac Disease Awareness Month - What is it?

Celiac disease is a genetic, autoimmune disorder, which means the problem starts in the person's immune system. There is no cure, and the only effective treatment is a strict gluten-free diet.

According to the Mayo Clinic:

Celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.

If you have celiac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response in your small intestine. Over time, this reaction produces inflammation that damages the small intestine's lining and prevents absorption of some nutrients (malabsorption).

The intestinal damage can cause weight loss, bloating and sometimes diarrhea. Eventually, your brain, nervous system, bones, liver and other organs can be deprived of vital nourishment.

In children, malabsorption can affect growth and development. The intestinal irritation can cause stomach pain, especially after eating.

There's no cure for celiac disease — but following a strict gluten-free diet can help manage symptoms and promote intestinal healing

Thoughts of Halloween

Well, it's October third. Do you know what that means? It means I woke up and didn't want to leave my blankets. It means my cardigan isn't warm enough for being inside. It means my wet hair felt crunchy by the time I got to work. I means I'm moving to Florida.

Okay, I'd probably never move to Florida, but this time of year every year, I daydream about warmer places, I look at plane tickets, and I resent my winter coat.

And yet, I still live here. And I am going to keep living here, at least this year. I will most likely suffer through a snowy halloween, or at least the kind where children wear costumes over their snowsuits.

So anyways, enough complaining about the cold. I will embrace it. I will learn to love it. I think.