My Story

We all have our story. Mine starts with a routine physical in 2001. I believe in preventative medicine, so every few years I  go for a complete physical, not because I am sick, because I believe in catching things early before they are serious.  Results not so bad-the start of osteopenia  ( I was in my 40's) and slight anemia-"take a daily vitamin w/iron and I suggest you add weight training to your exercise routine to strengthen your bones- and I'll see you in a year". So I did.

The next year the results of my physical showed improved bone density (the weight training helped!) but my anemia was worse. I was taking my daily vitamins with iron and was feeling good. So my doctor sent me to a gastroenterologist to check to see if I had any internal bleeding. Well now this was starting to sound more serious, but I felt fine so I wasn't too worried. I had a colonoscopy which was fine, no bleeding. Since I didn't have any other symptoms, I was sent home with a prescription for iron supplements and to make sure to be checked again in a year. 

Year three, 2004, I went for my physical, again still feeling fine, as a matter of fact, I was probably in the best shape of my life, since I had really gotten into the exercise routine and was exercising and weight training at least 3 times a week. I felt great!

This time, the doctor called me at work to give me my blood test results and to check how I was feeling. Apparently my hemoglobin and iron levels were very very low, much worst than the previous year. Again, I was still feeling fine.

Off again to the gastroenterologist, this time to have the "camera test" a test that involves swallowing a small camera that goes through your digestive tract while you are wearing a devise that records this whole thing-sounds ingenious! My doctor was certain I was bleeding somewhere. This appointment was with a doctor who specialized in this test. When I arrived and met the doctor I thought oh my, he looks so young, I'd rather have an older, more experienced doctor! He examined me, asked some questions, took some blood and scheduled me for the camera test.

I probably should have been more worried at this point, would I need surgery? Was it serious?  But I was feeling fine. A few days later, the "young" doctor called me to tell me I would not need the "camera test" , that my blood tests had come back and he knew what was causing the anemia. I had Celiac Disease and good news was, that the treatment was simple, just eliminate gluten from my diet. Celiac? Gluten? I had never heard of these things. (remember it was 2004, not so long ago, but gluten free was not so common then-we have come a long way)

He told me I would need a biopsy to confirm this diagnosis, but in the meantime, do not eliminate gluten from your diet yet-if you do, we could get a false negative result. I had so many questions, he told me to do some research and we would discuss the diet when we met. I had no idea how my life was going to change.

I read everything I could find and the day the biopsy confirmed my diagnosis I stopped eating gluten, completely. I didn't know how difficult this was going to be, coming from an Italian background, the thought of not eating bread and pasta seemed impossible. But I knew that in order to be healthy, I had to be gluten-free.

You are probably wondering why I felt so good and didn't have any symptoms? Actually I did, I just didn't know they were symptoms, I thought they were normal for me.  You see, I always felt nauseous and bloated after I ate, but I attributed it to overeating or gassy foods.  Once I eliminated gluten, I realized I could actually feel comfortable after I ate.

I am truly grateful to the "young" doctor who recognized the signs and tested me for Celiac. I am thankful I believed in "routine" physicals, I hate to think what would have happened if the anemia was not discovered when it was and had gotten worse. It was 3 years for me but so many stories I read the road to diagnosis can be very long and frustrating. Thankfully, today doctors are more aware of the disease. We need to "share" our stories because the symptoms are so varied, not everyone, like myself, recognizes them.

I have been gluten free since 2004, and (knock wood) healthy. I'd like to share what I've learned along the way...