Living With Celiac Disease: One Woman’s Story
July 9th, 2009
Author: adminGluten Intolerance Increasingly Common, According to New Mayo Clinic Study
By LINDSEY ELLERSON
Abc News
Migraines, skin irritation, seizures — you name the symptom, Vanessa Maltin experienced it growing up.
“I was sick my entire life from when I was a little baby until I was 21 and got diagnosed with celiac disease,” she said.
It has been five years since Maltin was diagnosed with celiac disease, a genetic, digestive disorder that affects both children and adults. People with celiac disease are unable to consume foods that contain gluten, a protein which is found in wheat, barely, rye and other grains. For these people, gluten sets off an autoimmune reaction that causes damage to the small intestine and in turn, prevents vitamins and nutrients from being absorbed.
“They thought I was faking having headaches and didn’t want to go to school, but I was really in so much pain,” said Maltin, who took prednisone, an anti-inflammatory steroid, for most of college and was forced to have a nurse come to her dorm room to administer tests through an intravenous line. “None of the medicines worked, no one could figure it out.” Read more…
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