Coeliac UK

A medical diagnosis of coeliac disease not only changed my life but also had a huge impact on my family. A diagnosis of coeliac disease isn't as straightforward as it may seem and in my situation it set off a whole other chain of circumstances. During the testing process and when I was diagnosed, it was discovered I also had osteopenia and was completely deficient in IGA deficiency. Not only had I now to adapt to a completely new diet living gluten free, I also had to process the news that the calcium absorption problems experienced before diagnosis had affected my bone health. This was hard to take when I was still in my twenties. IGA deficiency was also something I had never heard of (IgA deficiency is a condition where the body doesn't produce enough immunoglobulin A (IgA), a type of antibody that helps fight infections. This can make people more prone to infections, ). This caused me lots of worry and affected me mentally particularly in the early days of COVID-19! I adapted though and as mentioned in my earlier post, got back to good health. This is where testing is key though. I noticed after my diagnosis a lot signs similar to my symptoms in my dad. I mentioned to him frequently to get tested as there was an increased chance of family also having coeliac disease. He eventually got the blood test and biopsy and got diagnosed at age 60. Fast forward to last year and my sister has also now been diagnosed. My advice is to persevere with your healthcare professional, push for testing with family members if you recognise symptoms and please try and keep gluten in your diet when in the testing process! We might be struggling for support within the NHS at the moment but the diagnosis is also important if you start experiencing other health issues and on your overall health. I think my story shows how important that diagnosis can be! It could not only impact your life but those who we love around us! #CoeliacStories #CoeliacAwarenessMonth

COELIAC AWARENESS MONTH 🧡 sharing a part of my life that I normally shy away from. Most common symptoms of coeliac disease: abdominal pain bloating and flatulence indigestion constipation vomiting And more general symptoms may include: fatigue, which may be a sign of iron deficiency anaemia or vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia unexpected weight loss an itchy rash (dermatitis herpetiformis) difficulty getting pregnant (infertility) tingling and numbness in your hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy) problems with co-ordination, balance and speech (ataxia) 🧡🧡🧡🧡 Coeliac UK #coeliacdisease #coeliacawareness #presenter

This Coeliac Awareness Month, we want to highlight the importance of a medical diagnosis of coeliac disease. Symptoms can often be mistaken, leading to delays in proper management and care. Remember, It is crucial not to remove gluten from your diet before testing. Visit isitcoeliacdisease.org.uk now to complete our free online self-assessment #CoeliacAwarenessMonth #CoeliacStories #CoeliacDisease #CoeliacUK #GlutenFreeDiet

May marks Coeliac Awareness month 🧡. Those close to me know that food has become a challenging aspect of life in my household this year. Four months on from my daughter’s diagnosis and a month on from mine, we are both navigating our new normal. The chances of having this condition increases from 1/100 to 1/10 if you have a first degree relative with coeliac disease. My daughter’s diagnosis was an incidental finding but without that we both may have gone undiagnosed for many more years. Many of my symptoms listed below were missed or attributed to other things. These included: - Anaemia - Vitamin D and B12 deficiency - Chronic fatigue - Joint pain and stiffness Living with coeliac disease means adhering to a strict gluten free diet for life. It’s not a lifestyle choice. - It is an autoimmune condition where the body attacks itself in response to gluten. It is not an allergy. - Left undiagnosed it can lead to malabsorption and deficiencies in vital nutrients as well as osteoporosis. - It’s estimated that that there are still some 500,000 people in the U.K. living with undiagnosed coeliac disease. Could you be one of them? #CoeliacAwarenessMonth #CoeliacStories

Meet Dawn and Joshua, whose story highlights some of the conditions linked with coeliac disease: Down's syndrome and autoimmune thyroid disease. Dawn knew something was wrong when Joshua started experiencing symptoms like diarrhoea and bloating. But even after discovering the link between his Down's syndrome and thyroid disease and coeliac disease, she still had to push hard for a test. Their story underscores the importance of awareness and advocacy in diagnosing and managing coeliac disease. If you or a loved one are experiencing similar symptoms, don't hesitate to seek support and explore testing options. Visit https://bit.ly/4dlTIVu to learn more and take the online self-assessment. #CoeliacStories #CoeliacAwarenessMonth #DownSyndrome #Thyroid #AutoImmuneDisease

Thank you to Glebe Farm Foods for supporting #CoeliacAwarenessMonth!

In 2021 I was diagnosed with coeliac disease, which is a lifelong autoimmune condition where the body attacks itself when gluten is consumed. I was surprised at the diagnosis, as my symptoms weren't typical. May is coeliac awareness month so I'm sharing my story to raise awareness of the symptoms and how you can support people with coeliac disease.   One in 100 people are thought to have coeliac disease, but only 36% are diagnosed. The symptoms aren't always obvious; for me it was years of unexplained migraines and only in the months before diagnosis did the symptoms become more widespread. Other lesser-known symptoms can include dermatitis, unexplained infertility, anaemia and extreme fatigue.   The treatment for coeliac disease is a diet completely free from gluten. Although the treatment sounds simple, the reality can be much harder particularly when travelling or in unfamiliar places. Symptoms vary from person to person, but for me a few rogue crumbs can be the difference between a nice meal out and a 5 day migraine. Coeliacs can never have a 'day off' and decide that the cake looks too good to say no to, the gut will still be damaged and the recovery will take weeks.   Here are a couple of ways you can help support coeliacs or people with dietary needs in the workplace: 👉 Involve us - if you're planning an event, make sure there's food we can eat. I'm grateful that at WWF-UK events are always inclusive and I never have to miss out, but I know other people aren't so fortunate. It can be incredibly awkward standing around while other people are eating, and naturally gluten free food and gluten free alternatives aren't hard to come by with a bit of forward planning. 👉 Help keep us safe - for coeliacs, a rogue crumb or a misread food label can be a big problem. Cross-contamination is also a huge concern - shared utensils, cooking gluten free foods in the same oil as gluten containing foods and shared food prep spaces are all a red flag. If you're catering for coeliacs or those with dietary needs, make sure food is prepared and served separately. If you're eating out, when choosing a venue make sure you ask questions and ensure they're clued up on dietary needs.   Coeliac disease is something I've learned to live with now, although I still miss croissants on an almost daily basis. If you think you might have coeliac disease, take an assessment with Coeliac UK and speak to your GP 👉 https://lnkd.in/dTX-3zmF #CoeliacStories 📸 proof that coeliacs can never have a day off - our incredible gluten free wedding cake

Meet Dawn and Joshua, whose story highlights some of the conditions linked with coeliac disease: Down's syndrome and autoimmune thyroid disease. Dawn knew something was wrong when Joshua started experiencing symptoms like diarrhoea and bloating. But even after discovering the link between his Down's syndrome and thyroid disease and coeliac disease, she still had to push hard for a test. Their story underscores the importance of awareness and advocacy in diagnosing and managing coeliac disease. If you or a loved one are experiencing similar symptoms, don't hesitate to seek support and explore testing options. Visit https://bit.ly/4dlTIVu to learn more and take the online self-assessment. #CoeliacStories #CoeliacAwarenessMonth #DownSyndrome #Thyroid #AutoImmuneDisease

I'm proud to be supporting Coeliac Awareness Month this May! 🧡 Coeliac disease affects 1 in 100 people, so it’s not rare, yet only 36% of people with the condition in the UK are medically diagnosed. It’s time for that to change. I want to help Coeliac UK raise awareness and get more people on the road to recovery – it all starts with a simple free online self-assessment.  My symptoms started in 2013 shortly after my wife and I sadly lost our daughter when she was only five weeks old in November of 2012. 💔   At the time I thought the way I felt could be related to my grief. As time progressed my wife fell pregnant again and we had had a healthy baby boy in 2014. At a time of such happiness, when my son was born, after the devastating loss of our daughter, I realised I just didn't feel 'right'. I was only 26 but would feel exhausted very easily, my brain would shut down half way through the day and walking up stairs felt like I had cement in my shoes. I was just so fatigued all the time. I went back and forth to my GP and he identified that I was deficient in, -Vitamin D -Calcium -Iron/folate After being put on medication, things didn't improve and after a period of two years of continued back and forth, I started experiencing symptoms that I would relate to IBS such as diarrhoea, stomach cramps and what I would describe as a feeling of seasickness. After a positive blood test for coeliac, I then got a biopsy eight months later and was diagnosed in 2016. 8 years on I am doing well, I have some other unrelated health issues that are under investigation but I am healthy, happy and in the fittest physical condition that I have probably ever been. My wife and I have two amazing kids who keep us smiling and coeliac disease hasn't stopped me living life. I now work at Coeliac UK after a career change and it is my mission to help contribute to changing the future for those diagnosed, especially our kids. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms or those highlighted in the Coeliac UK Awareness Campaign, please visit https://lnkd.in/ejBGnwAH and speak to your healthcare professional. #CoeliacStories #CoeliacAwarenessMonth See less

A Little Pitta Love 💜 Throughout the month of May, BFree is proudly supporting Coeliac UK by donating 20p per pack for every limited-edition purple pack of stone baked pitta sold. Coeliac disease affects 1 in 100 people, so it’s not rare, yet only 36% of people with the condition in the UK are medically diagnosed. It’s time for that to change! We want to help Coeliac UK raise awareness and get more people on the road to recovery – it all starts with a simple free online self-assessment. Click the link to find out more https://bit.ly/47PobqX This May, help us reach our goal of raising £26,000 for Coeliac UK - supporting those with coeliac disease, one pack at a time! 💜 #spreadalittlepittalove