Woman Discovers She Was Poisoning Herself After ‘Misdiagnosis’ Decade Ago
For a decade one woman thought she was free from the condition that had dogged her adult life, but then the truth emerged.
A woman has recently found out she had been poisoning herself for ten years due to a misdiagnosis of her celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition caused by consuming gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, which leads to the body's immune system mistakenly attacking the small intestine. Symptoms include diarrhea, bloating, stomach pain, fatigue, headaches, anemia, and weight loss.
According to the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, approximately 2 million Americans have celiac disease, while about 1 percent of the global population is affected.
The woman, who goes by the Reddit handle u/rebelnori, was initially diagnosed with celiac disease at the age of 12. However, a blood test a decade later, ordered by her doctor, indicated she had slightly elevated levels, which led her to adopt a strict gluten-free diet. Despite following the diet, her symptoms remained unchanged.
She then consulted a gastroenterologist, who performed a series of tests, including blood tests, fecal testing, and an upper endoscopy with biopsies. The results, however, showed no evidence of celiac disease, leading her to believe she had been misdiagnosed.
Seeking reassurance, she contacted her gastroenterologist's office, and a nurse confirmed there were no signs of celiac disease. She was then told she could resume eating gluten. However, she returned to the specialist a few years later, when she experienced new gastrointestinal issues and developed additional symptoms. Upon conducting blood tests, an upper endoscopy, and a colonoscopy, the results strongly suggested she had celiac disease.
Confused by the discrepancy, the woman questioned why her earlier tests had not detected the condition and why she was allowed to consume gluten again. Her gastroenterologist explained that the initial testing had been performed while she was strictly adhering to a gluten-free diet, which had healed her intestines and prevented the tests from showing active celiac disease.
The lack of visible evidence did not mean she had never had the condition. The woman expressed her frustration that she was not given clearer guidance at the time and wondered why the nurse told her she could eat gluten.
Now a baker, she acknowledges that she will need to modify her recipes once more. In response to her story, many people on the Reddit post offered support and shared their own experiences. One user clarified that celiac disease cannot be lost and that the antigen blood test is only a screening measure, not a diagnostic tool. Another user emphasized that a definitive celiac diagnosis requires an upper endoscopy, a type of intestinal biopsy.
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