Celiac Disease - If my sister has it is it likely I do, too?

My sister was recently diagnosed with celiac disease. I'm wondering how real of a disease this is because my sister tends to be a hypocondriac.

But, I am curious because as I was reading up on it I can see some symptoms in myself: stunted growth as a child, underweight although I ate a lot, late bloomer (didn't get my period until I was 15), white spots on nails, sometimes spots on my tongue, and I am suffering infertility.

Does it sound like I might have it, too?

Celiac (CD) is very real, very genetic and very rarely a wrong diagnoisis. Usually a diagnosis of CD comes after YEARS of the patient being misdiagnosed with other things from IBS, infertility, hormones, or just 'in their head.'.
If your parents have the genes for CD then it is VERY VERY likely you have it. I believe the rate for siblings is that if one sibling has CD, then chance of you having it is 10% higher than the general population. (which is 1 in 133. So you'd be 10% higher than that in likelihood of having it.)If your parents have it or carry the genes, it is 99% or so likely you will have it.
(More on genetics can be found in Dr Peter Green's book, Celiac Disease a Hidden Epidemic.)

If you have the symptoms, it certainly seems likely. Infertility is a HUGE sign of CD. (often as 'unexplained infertility.)

You can go several ways, get genetic testing, get the Celiac testing (blood tests and endoscopy) or you can do the gluten free diet and see how u feel. I will say this, I was diagnosed in Nov 04. We had been trying to conceive 5 mos. Within ONE month of being GF, I was pregnant! Healthy boy born 9/27/05 and i became easilly preg with my second one (bc I had been GF for 3 yrs) due, 1/22/08. So this is VERY real and i would highly suggest you get tested for it. Please feel free to email me for help, support, or whatever!
www.csaceliacs.org
www.celiac.com
www.celiac.org

It is a real disease and it is genetic so it's possible you have it too. If you avoid wheat gluten you should be OK, but you should be tested so if you have children you'll know to look for it in them.

I've heard of a few cases where someone was mistakenly diagnosed with Celiac disease and actually had another underlying health problem, but for the most part it is a very "real" disease - its affects are just not always apparent. When my aunt was diagnosed with celiac disease, her doctor suggested that her children, parents, brothers and sisters, and even perhaps nieces and nephews all be tested regardless of if we showed symptoms or not.

Celiac disease is actually very serious. Every time a celiac patient consumes gluten, they a destroying their small intestine. All first degree relatives of a celiac patient should be tested on a routine basis. I would call your doctor now and request to be tested. The first step is a blood test, and if that comes back positive, they will also do an intestinal biopsy.
Good luck!