My symptoms at onset of the disease were loss of bone density, loss of muscle mass, 0% body fat, dermatitis herpetiformis, depression, muscle weakness, weight loss, diarrhea, daily vomiting, iron-deficient anemia, low calcium and vitamin D counts, B-12 and Vitamin K anemia, headaches, urticaria and fatigue. I was 21 when diagnosed, and had these symptoms for 6 years, escalating in severity. I was diagnosed by a collective team in the hospital after having full body muscle spasms that were mistaken for epileptic seizures. The gluten-free diet has cleared all of the symptoms and improved my overall mental and physical health!

My experience of bulimia is that of a mother who found out about her own daughter through her friend. It was the most crushing news I've ever received in my life. The death of my parents and three siblings did not hit me as hard as this did. I blame myself because I have been weight obsessed all of my life and through research discovered that I probably suffered the non-purging type of bulimia myself. I obsessed about weight, bragged about my successes, boasted about the attention I was getting, etc. I glorified the use of alcohol, made every excuse under the sun for my behaviors, and all the while, not once did I ever think my daughters might copy my behavior. They were always so concerned for my health and well-being and continually asked me to seek help. You will never know how much my heart hurts knowing that I may be the cause of this for my beautiful 26-year-old daughter, who also has a daughter. This has to end now with help from a professional for both of us.

With my celiac disease, I had heartburn, gas, and bloating, especially after eating pizza. I thought the pepperoni was the cause, so I would pick it off. However, I continued to experience the same symptoms. I took a lot of antacid tablets. After a couple of months, I began to experience abdominal pain and diarrhea. I mentioned it to my doctor, and she had my blood tested. When the results came back, she said I had a high celiac panel reading. She then referred me to a gastroenterologist. He mentioned a probability of having celiac sprue. He said a definitive answer would be reached by performing a biopsy of my small intestine. It came back positive for celiac sprue. I was diagnosed at the age of 58. I am now 61. It has been a challenge finding affordable restaurants that carry a gluten-free menu.

I had intestinal symptoms for years and years (gas, diarrhea, abdominal cramping), but wasn't diagnosed with celiac disease until I broke out with dermatitis herpetiformis all over my body at about age 50.

Personally, I had no diarrhea, gastrointestinal symptoms or weight loss (I have a BMI of 30) and was not short in stature: all classic symptoms. Due to these factors, celiac disease was dismissed as a possibility for seven years while my symptoms worsened. My main symptoms at diagnosis were: extreme fatigue, dementia (brain fog), anemia, migraine, vertigo, peripheral neuropathies, nausea, anxiety, ataxia and bone pain. I would sleep 22 hours a day, I was too tired to chew food, I didn't have the strength to break the seal on a refrigerator, and I regularly soaked my sheets with night sweats. My celiac disease was confirmed with a small bowel biopsy. I've been on a strict gluten-free diet for five years, which has resolved my anemia, anxiety, peripheral neuropathies, severe dementia and migraine. An accidental ingestion of gluten results in explosive diarrhea, cramping, nausea, brain fog, anxiety, ataxia, vertigo, night sweats and bone pain. I still require an average of 12 hours of sleep, and fatigue is still a daily battle.