Celiac Disease?

Does anybody have it?? I'm just curious...in the MA area? I might have it, just want to know how you're doin with it.

In celiac disease, the microvilli in a person's small intestine (Jejunam) flatten-out when exposed to gluten. This loss of surface area causes a person with celiac disease to malabsorb food.

Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley, and sometimes oats. Celiac patients are also advised to refrain from hydrolyzed vegetable protein, malt flavoring, soy sauce, and a host of other food additives or seasonings because many contain gluten. Eating out is extremely difficult on a gluten-free diet because you can never be sure exactly how a recipe is prepared.

Celiac disease is common in people of Western European ancestry. It is also very common in Type I diabetes and other autoimmune disorders (celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder).

Some of the more common symptoms of celiac disease are high flatulence (rectal gas), stools that are pale in appearance and "float" (due to high amounts of unabsorbed fat), intestinal pain and cramping, intestinal distention or bloating, weight loss, deficiencies in one or more of the fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), and fatigue or a general feeling of ill health. Dermatitis herpetiformis is also a symptom of celiac disease.

Years ago, the only way a patient could be diagnosed with celiac disease was with a jejunal biopsy; now, a simple blood test can immediately rule-out the possibility. The blood test checks for the "anti-gliaden antibody" which indicates if the patient is producing antibodies against gluten. If this test is positive, the physician may wish to perform further testing.

For more information, visit the following sites:
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases...
http://www.celiac.com/index.html
http://www.celiac.org/

Yup, Unfortunatly I have got a it...Its a pain in the ***...go to www.celiac.com and check out the message boards..some pretty good stuff on there...Personally I'm getting better I suppose but its been a while since i felt decent..good luck if you have it.