Coeliac Disease

There was an online test mentioned on telly yesterday - Caroline Quentin was being interviewed - but I can't find it.

I've noticed that since giving up wheat based products I only have to walk down the bread aisle in a supermarket to feel bloated and have stomach cramps.

merlotg The test I used was a kit from the chemist in town - a reputable kit! Simple to use blood test and the results are ready within five minutes.

OK. Thanks, MiniMouse

That sounds good, minimouse. Maybe I will be able to persuade DD, then.

nannieroz I love you! I want to be able to eat one sweet a week, and one cake. I'm on a diet anyway, so being gf suits me very well, but I don't want to feel totally miserable about it. My favourite sweets are maltesers so it came as a huge blow. What on earth am I going to have for breakfast in bed at 6am on xmas day in future? They were the perfect start to a day of non-stop small-child frenzied activity. Along with the small bottle of prosecco or buck's fizz supplied by DBH in my stocking. Turkish delight, maybe...

The only sure diagnosis is by a blood test which gives an indication, then an endoscopy would show definitely, with an indication whether or not the villi have been destroyed by gluten.

To find out from a proper medical diagnosis you have to eat gluten products or else the test will be inconclusive.

I do think that if you fear you have coeliac disease it would be better to go to the GP than self-diagnose from a kit bought from the chemist. .

There are lots of good cookbooks out there, janer - for gf cakes etc!
The only thing is that I found the pastry I made for DD could have knocked someone out as it was so heavy and hard. You can buy gf pastry in the frozen section of most supermarkets, I think!

Thanks, I shall try that I think. I hadn't thought of buying it ready-made, it's bound to be better than my experiments.

Cookery books - I find I have loads, but always use recipes from the internet instead. However this is a whole new world. Also, many use ingredients that simply aren't available nearby. I would never buy a Jamie Oliver cookbook because his ingredients simply don't exist out here in the sticks.

rosequartz The kits are blood tests and clearly state that, if a positive result shows, then you should see your doctor. They also tell you to make sure that you are still eating 'normal' foods and not gluten-free.

They are just a starting point for you to decide whether to take matters further.

As GP appointments are often unavailable for two or three weeks, then there's the further wait for the test to be carried out and for the results to come through, the kits are a way of finding out the result more quickly.

As I am seemingly super sensitive I'm not able to eat out unless I have booked in advance and been reassured that they understand about cross contamination! The slight thing upsets my tummy.

I was wondering how many people on here have been diagnosed with Coeliac Disease?