Kimberley shares one of many personal stories of celiac disease symptoms

Kimberley's story of celiac disease symptoms

Kimberley from Australia has been gluten free for 12 years. I asked her about her celiac disease symptoms:

"When I was in year 7 I would get the worst stomach aches ever! I would have severe runs all the time and the pains were unbearable. I would wake my Mum up every night in agony. I was very, very, skinny yet I was eating an amazing amount of food. The doctors at first thought I was anorexic!

I found it hard to concentrate and my life was suffering from it. I was always tired and grumpy and I found it hard to concentrate at school and my ballet was suffering. I was depressed which was not usual for myself."

Kimberley went on to explain how the gluten free diet had alleviated her celiac disease symptoms:

"Since being on a gluten free wheat free diet my life has changed. I have put on weight and I feel amazing. I feel happy, healthy, no longer tired and moody.

I think my growth was stunted from all of this and I think I grew up later then all my peers but it was all worth it going off the wheat and gluten.

If I accidentally eat wheat or gluten now, it is not good. In fact it is almost worse than before due to the fact it is all out of my system. Even the smallest bit causes the biggest pains. And it doesn't last for a few hours either... more like a few days! But when off the wheat and gluten I feel GREAT!

Kimberley wanted to share some words of encouragement with others suffering celiac disease symptoms.

"For me, it is better to be off the wheat and gluten than on it! It makes you feel alive again. It is a healthy diet and it is so easy to buy a wide variety of special food now. My family evens eats most of what I do, and we are all healthier.

I cope fine with eating a wheat free/gluten free diet. I was so sick that I don't give it a second thought. It was definitely worth it.

If I am ever naughty and stray to the wheat or gluten I regret it big time. The fatigue, bad stomach aches, runny tummy, depression and moodiness all come back. It is way better being on the diet!

It is so common now, that people know about it and restaurants understand. Sometimes it is a hassle, but its not the end of the world and I think there are people out there with far worse problems."

Have you been diagnosed with celiac or gluten intolerance? Why not share your story. As celiac disease symptoms vary so much, your story could help someone else.