Celiac Symptoms - How I Got Diagnosed

A couple years ago at age 26, I was diagnosed with Celiac. I was shocked. No one else in my family had Celiac! And my symptoms weren’t the hallmark ones you often hear.

My main symptoms at the height of being ill and not knowing why were:

⚖️ weight gain (weight loss is common, I was the opposite and no amount of exercise, healthy eating did me any good - especially since gluten is part of a balanced diet for a normal person)

🎈 severe bloating (I looked heavily pregnant by the end of most days and it was painful)

🩹 horrible itching but no rash (debilitating itchiness where I had to take scalding showers and use anti itch cream and no visible skin changes)

💤 insomnia and night terrors (I was barely getting a few hours of sleep a night and if I did it was interrupted with me jolting awake soaked in sweat screaming)

🧠 brain fog and anxiety that was different than what I’d experienced before

I never would’ve suspected celiac if a friend hadn’t shared that her dad had similar symptoms and got diagnosed with celiac.

If you’ve been diagnosed with celiac, did you have any surprising symptoms before diagnosis?

#celiac #celiacdisease #celiacjourney #glutenfree