Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is found mainly in foods but may also be found in everyday products such as medicines, vitamins, and lip balms. Undiagnosed Celiac disease can lead to many very damaging disease, including type 1 diabetes, auto-immune diseases, and lymphoma. More than 2 million people in the United States have the disease, or about 1 in 133 people. Those numbers are astounding to me!

My mom was diagnosed with lymphoma about a year and half ago. She had been having problems with her stomach aching when she ate and many other symptoms too. Someone told her, "It sounds like you have Celiac disease. You should try a gluten free diet." So about 6-8 weeks ago, she went on a gluten free diet. She started feeling better almost instantly. When she had a check-up with her oncologist last week, he concluded that her lymphoma is a result of un-diagnosed Celiac Disease. Now that she is on a gluten free diet, she should be in remission the rest of her life! Praise God!!!!

Celiac disease is hereditary, so the oncologist wants the family to be tested. So, today I have a doctor's appointment to talk with her about this disease and then in a week with my kid's pediatrician. I am hoping to find out everything is A-Okay, but if not what a blessing to find out early in my life before other problems develop.

So be praying for us on this journey and check out more information on Celiac disease...I think you will be surprised.