I didn’t get diagnosed until I was 30, after I’d had no period for 2 years. I experienced a lot of other health issues too, and really wish I was diagnosed earlier.
Being diagnosed early is so important. Particularly children or siblings of people who have coeliac disease – as they are 10% more to develop Coeliac Disease.
I had years of health problems before I understood that I had coeliac disease and that I can’t tolerate gluten. I didn’t want that to happen for my daughter Ashley.
It wasn’t stomach issues that alerted me to the fact that Ashley might have coeliac disease. The first thing I noticed was unusual bruises on her legs just from climbing around at kindy.
Then when she was about three or four, she started having really intense tantrums, she started developing anxiety, she started developing phobias of things.
I knew something wasn’t right.
My instinct as a mum, as someone with coeliac disease and as a trained dietician, was that something wasn’t right with her health, and it could be coeliac.
And it was.
But it took three different tests before we go the diagnosis and confirmed she had coeliac disease.
That’s why it's important to screen children regularly - especially children who have relatives with coeliac disease. It can help them avoid a lifetime of pain and illness.
If you’re a parent of a child who you think might be having any issues with food or they’re just not a happy child at the moment, I really encourage you to get them screened for coeliac disease as soon as possible, especially if someone in your immediate family has Coeliac Disease.