Celiac Disease Specialist

What is celiac disease?

Celiac disease is an immune disorder that's triggered by eating gluten. The gluten damages your small intestine. If you have celiac disease, you shouldn't eat foods containing gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and products containing these grains.

Gluten is also found in some vitamins, other dietary supplements, hair and skin products, lip balm, and some kinds of toothpaste.

What are the symptoms of celiac disease?

Symptoms of celiac disease differ from one person to another. They can range from mild to severe. These symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Unexplained weight loss
• Gas
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Irritability
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Bone density loss
• Mouth ulcers
• Malnutrition

Adults with untreated celiac disease can also experience headaches, blistery skin rashes, numbness, tingling, joint pain, infertility, balance problems, and cognitive impairment.

What are the risk factors for celiac disease?

While the exact cause of celiac disease isn’t entirely clear, your genetic background plays a role in its development. Risk factors include a family history of celiac disease and having Type 1 diabetes, Down syndrome, a thyroid disease, or another autoimmune disorder.

How does my provider diagnose celiac disease?

To diagnose celiac disease and develop a treatment plan, your gastrointestinal specialist reviews your symptoms and medical history. They complete a physical exam and often recommend that you undergo blood tests, endoscopy, and/or capsule endoscopy.

During an upper endoscopy, your doctor runs a thin, lighted tube with a camera on its end down through your mouth and into your throat. Your doctor slowly moves the tube down your esophagus into your stomach and small intestine.

The endoscopy provides your doctor with an in-depth view of your upper digestive tract. They can take a tissue sample (biopsy) during the procedure if needed.

With a capsule endoscopy, you swallow a vitamin-sized capsule containing a tiny wireless camera that takes pictures as it moves through your GI tract.

What are my celiac disease treatment options?

If you have celiac disease, follow a lifelong, gluten-free diet to properly manage your condition and prevent complications. Steer clear of the following gluten-containing products:

• Wheat
• Rye
• Barley
• Bulgur
• Malt
• Semolina
• Spelt
• Triticale
• Durum
• Farina
• Graham flour

Look for foods and drinks that state they are gluten-free on food labels.

Your specialist might recommend taking vitamin and mineral supplements to prevent or treat anemia and other nutritional deficiencies that celiac disease can cause. Taking medications can help control intestinal inflammation and skin rashes associated with celiac disease.

Don’t live with the unpleasant symptoms and dangerous complications of celiac disease when simple treatments are within reach at North Texas Gastroenterology Associates PLLC. Call the office today or schedule an appointment online.