Do you have Celiac Disease?
Article submitted by LARRY CASEY, MSW

Many of you may never have heard of this ailment as it is often mis-diagnosed because of its similarity to other medical conditions. Yet research indicates 1 in 133 people in this country suffer Celiac, or Celiac sprue. The rate drops to 1 in 40 for those who manifest symptoms and 1 in 20, if a firstdegree relative has the disease.

So what is this illness with an unfamiliar name? Celiac disease is a genetic condition that passes from one generation to the next and manifests itself by the inability to tolerate "gluten"; a protein found in wheat, rye and barley.

When the gluten contained in one of these grains is ingested by a person with Celiac in the form of a slice of whole wheat toast, a ham on rye sandwich or a bowl of barley soup, the body sees gluten, incorrectly, as an invader and actually begins to destroy itself.

This destructive process begins by damaging the small "villi" or tiny hairs lining the small intestine. The villi have the important role of extracting nutrients such as vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates and fats and distributing them to vital parts of the body to keep all the parts working properly.

When these nutrients are not absorbed into the digestive system, the body actually begins the process of starvation. Symptoms begin to appear: dramatic weight loss, diarrhea, thyroid dysfunction, dental problems, arthritis, chronic fatigue and irritability, to name a few.

Untreated Celiac can be life threatening. Persons having the disease are more likely than the general population to have problems that include: osteoporosis, loss of tooth enamel, neurological system disease, pancreatic problems, internal bleeding (ulcers), gall bladder, liver and spleen disorders.

Celiac has also been liked to an increased rick of certain type of cancer, especially intestinal lymphoma. It is obvious this disease is not something to be ignored or taken lightly.

I was diagnosed with Celiac in my mid-sixties after losing forty pounds in about eight weeks, brought on by a serious case of diarrhea. Walking my dog, Oxley, became an exhausting chore and I had to lie down afterwards to gain my strength back. This from one who hiked several miles a week up and down mountains; played racquetball and swam laps in a pool.

Afflicted with that "macho" male gene, I delayed seeing my doctor, chalking it up to an intestinal bug. It wasn't. My wife, Rita, finally convinced me to see a gastroenterologist, Dr. James Mock, who performed an endoscopy, a surgical procedure involving the insertion of a probe into the intestine for the purpose of obtaining a biopsy.

When I met with the doctor the following week, he said, "Larry, you have Celiac disease." My response was, "What is that?"

He went on to explain the disease, indicating if untreated, it could be fatal. That wasn't unnerving enough, he assured me there was no cure; it was with me for life. The good news, he told me, was that I would not have to take any drugs, as drugs have no effect on Celiac.

"Well, if there is no medicine that will treat it and I have the disease for life - what do I do - just wait to die?"

The doctor laughed, and given the circumstances I didn't find my situation amusing. "Not to worry, Larry," he said, "All you have to do to treat this thing is stop eating foods containing gluten. Of course that means an end to pasta, bread, rolls, cake, pie crusts..."

"That's enough doc...you've already eliminated half my diet," I complained.

"It's not as bad as it sounds. All of these things I mentioned can still be made and enjoyed by using corn, rice or potato flour."

As soon as I arrived home I went on the Internet to investigate this mysterious disease that was to accompany me through life. I discovered there were countless gluten-free recipes available to Celiacs. Many large food markets have a special section for gluten-free products and most health food stores carry flour substitutes.

I began a gluten-free diet the following day (I wanted to enjoy one last meal of pasta and Italian bread). Within a few weeks I had regained the weight I had lost, my energy level increased and I was back to all my former exercise activities.

I contacted each of our eleven children, informed them of my condition and asked them to be tested for Celiac disease. Three of our daughters tested positive and had ben experiencing thyroid problems as well as arthritis in multiple skeletal joints. Their conditions greatly improved when they began a gluten-free diet.

My purpose in sharing this information on Celiac disease is not to alarm, but rather to alert those who may be experiencing some of the above described symptoms, to be tested. A simple, inexpensive way of selftesting is to eliminate gluten products from the diet and see if the condition improves.

If you would like further information, or want to join a Celiac support group, you can contact me at 706-781-6636, or email lrcasey@alltel.net.