The symptoms of coeliac disease in adults
Poor absorption of food may cause deficiencies of vitamins, iron, and other nutrients. Anaemia due to poor absorption of iron is common. Other common symptoms include: abdominal pains which tend to 'come and go', excess wind, bloating, diarrhoea, and tiredness or weakness. Mouth ulcers may occur. You may lose weight due to poor absorption of food. An itchy skin condition called dermatitis herpetiformis occurs in some people with coeliac disease.
If the common symptoms described above develop, the diagnosis may be made quickly. However, common or typical symptoms do not always develop. Particularly in adults, the areas affected in the gut may be patchy. Symptoms may then be mild, or not typical, and it may be a while before the diagnosis is made.
How is the diagnosis confirmed?
If coeliac disease is suspected, a blood test to detect a certain antibody that occurs in coeliac disease may be advised by your doctor. If it is present the diagnosis of coeliac disease is likely. To confirm the diagnosis, a biopsy (small sample) is taken from the inside lining of the gut. This is looked at with a microscope to see if the typical changes of coeliac disease are present. The biopsy is usually taken by a flexible tube (endoscope), which is passed into the small intestine.
Other tests may be done to find out how much the poor absorption of food and other nutrients has affected you. For example, checks may be made for anaemia and for the levels of vitamins, iron, protein, etc, in the blood. You may be advised to have a special bone scan (a DEXA scan) to see if your bones have become affected due to poor absorption of calcium and vitamin D.
Note: if you suspect that you may have coeliac disease from your symptoms, then see a doctor. Do not treat yourself by going on a gluten free diet (described below) without a firm confirmed diagnosis. If you do go on a gluten free diet before the diagnosis is confirmed, then any tests done at a later time may not be conclusive and may even give negative results. So, get it checked out first - and then treat it if it is confirmed.
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angela williamson, over 2 years
I found this article very helpful because at the moment my blood test shows coeliac I have had a biopsy but have not had the results yet. Angela
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sally launchbury, about 1 year
I do not eat bread or wheat cereals because they cause IBS whenever I do. I am beginning to suspect Coeliac as I have lost a little weight and have uncomfortable digestion symptoms including bloating, bad reflux, intermittent diarrhoea and nausea. These symptoms " come & go". I had a colonoscopy a few months ago for diverticular disease, which WAS present but biopsies were normal, although they were not looking for Coeliac. If I go to my GP for a Coeliac test, do I need to re-introduce gluten before doing so?
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