Celiac Disease Symptoms

Have you ever thought [after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance] “Wow, THAT explains it!!”?  This remark may come up after you’ve thought back to a memory of eating certain foods, or how you felt a certain way at sporting events, or maybe even the post-holiday blues.

I have had A LOT of these ah-ha! moments. When I look back onto my childhood, there were so many times where it was completley obvious I had something wrong with me, but I didn’t realize it.

For instance – The “nervous” feeling I had before sporting events:

Before any cross country race, or big swim meet, I would carbo-load. What does that mean? -  I eat nothing but carbs for dinner the day/two days before an event. These carbs consisted of spaghetti, lasagna, subs, texas toast, bagels…all foods that are now my kryptonite. Then, my routine race-day morning was to either eat 2 slices of toast + a granola bar, OR an assortment of mini-bagels. [I get sick just thinking about it!]

After loading up on that now lethal portion of the food pyramid, I would be confident I had the fuel I needed to kick some major butt. I would warm up & get all hyped..& then  I’d dissapear shortly before the start of the race. Where would I dissapear to? I think you all know the answer to that one. [nearest restroom pleaseeee!] I thought I had this “urge” because I was just nervous, which may be true, but there were definitely some other factors affecting me!

Another example – Knowing where every restroom is located on campus:

This symptom did not arise until I was a freshman in college  – a time when my Celiac symptoms were really coming out of the woodworks. I knew the blueprint of my University’s plumbing system better than the contractor did. I had a schedule: After swim practice I hit the locker room restroom. I then would enjoy breakfast at “The Bagel Stop” [great choice, huh] & would visit the nearest restroom shortly after. Inbetween my first and second class I would stop halfway across campus at the deserted restroom [I liked my privacy]. Then, before swim practice I would occupy the team’s toilet. During swim practice [yes, it did come to that] I would get out of the pool [my coach HATED me] to relieve myself. Then of course after dinner at the University’s dining hall, which is my worst nightmare now, I would make a pot stop. FOLKS, THIS IS NOT NORMAL. Why did it take me so long to realize?

Being forced to leave the room:

Now, my roommates are not mean people, they’re actually quite amazing, BUT there were many, many, MANY occassions where I was forced to leave the room due to my…flatulence. It was to the point where I carried a Febreze bottle with me at all times to try & cover my trail [it didn't work too well]. So, I would often simply walk away, my friends knowing the reason, and I would stand in the next room for 5 minutes or so. I would return when I thought the scene was safe [which sometimes it wasn't...woops].

I’m sure there are many other instances where if I knew then what I know now, it would have been obvious I had a case of Celiac Disease. Now, I just look back and am grateful that life still isn’t like that. I often laugh about these hard times as well, because let’s be honest – who in the world carries around a febreze bottle in their own apartment?

Tagged celiac, celiac disease diagnosis, celiac disease symptoms, diagnosis, gf, gluten free, gluten intolerant, symptoms