I was tested for coeliac disease at my annual review and was then referred to a gastroenterologist. He asked lots of questions and eventually said that, along with my osteoporosis diagnosis, the fact that I had to defecate 6 or 7 times per day (not diarrhoea) told him I was most likely coeliac. He said he would confirm this with an endoscopy and I should eat the equivalent of 2 slices of bread each day. I normally only had 3 or four slices per week, so that was a big change. If I had pasta, I could cut out a slice of bread. I was lucky that the increase in gluten didn't affect me.
I went gluten free a couple of weeks after the endoscopy, as my consultant told me that, from what he had seen, he was sure I had CD, even without the lab results (he was right.)
I've now been gluten free for 18 months and have noticed no change whatsoever. I had hoped that I would feel less tired but my DSN said the tiredness could be due to diabetes and not CD.
I'm still going to the toilet as often as before, which seemed to bother my consultant, as he asked if I was sure I was totally gluten free.
Being GF isn't a problem at home. Cafes and restaurants are getting better but even if the ingredients are gluten free, there is the risk of contamination (e.g. being fried in the same oil as gluten food, like battered fish).
I miss bread, especially in Italian restaurants. The best GF bread I've found is from M&S but I must admit that I generally have GF oatcakes instead of bread.
Being GF has made no difference to my blood sugars/insulin doses (other than initial tweaks when my gut started healing.)
Remember, if you've to have an endoscopy, don't reduce your gluten intake beforehand, or it'll be a rather unpleasant waste of time.
I went gluten free a couple of weeks after the endoscopy, as my consultant told me that, from what he had seen, he was sure I had CD, even without the lab results (he was right.)
I've now been gluten free for 18 months and have noticed no change whatsoever. I had hoped that I would feel less tired but my DSN said the tiredness could be due to diabetes and not CD.
I'm still going to the toilet as often as before, which seemed to bother my consultant, as he asked if I was sure I was totally gluten free.
Being GF isn't a problem at home. Cafes and restaurants are getting better but even if the ingredients are gluten free, there is the risk of contamination (e.g. being fried in the same oil as gluten food, like battered fish).
I miss bread, especially in Italian restaurants. The best GF bread I've found is from M&S but I must admit that I generally have GF oatcakes instead of bread.
Being GF has made no difference to my blood sugars/insulin doses (other than initial tweaks when my gut started healing.)
Remember, if you've to have an endoscopy, don't reduce your gluten intake beforehand, or it'll be a rather unpleasant waste of time.