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Could You Be A "Silent Gluten" Sufferer? | Sheila Meyer


Bloating, belly pain, diarrhea, constipation .... is this what comes to mind when you hear the word "gluten"? This is just a short list as not everyone reacts to gluten in the same way.  And, to complicate things, there are different gluten conditions: 
  • intolerance or sensitivity
  • wheat allergy
  • celiac disease (classical)
  • celiac disease (non-classical)
  • refractory celiac disease
And, then, there is "silent celiac disease". 

What does it mean to be a "silent gluten" sufferer?
Although, there are truly some people who stay "silent" and say nothing about their condition .... a "silent gluten" sufferer .... or "silent celiac" .... is someone who has no obvious symptoms.

According to the National Celiac Association, approximately 83% of people with Celiac Disease go undiagnosed. Many feel they do not have the typical symptoms and so, do not feel it is relevant.  However, a 2005 landmark study on celiac disease determined that 60% of children and 41% of adults diagnosed during the study were asymptomatic. Clearly, not having any gut symptoms does not mean a gluten sensitivity does not exist.  

There is a 1 in 10 risk of developing celiac disease for all first-degree relatives. First-degree relatives are a parent, brother, sister, or a child.  Whether you are experiencing symptoms or not, it is best to be on the safe side and get tested. Even second-degree relatives are at risk and is recommended to be checked.  Second-degree relatives include aunts, uncles, grandparent, grandchild, niece, nephew and even half-sibling.   

Are gut symptoms the only indicators of gluten sensitivity?
Researchers are discovering more and more that gluten "sensitivity" is more of a neurological disease rather than a gastrointestinal disease. In fact, two-thirds of those with gluten sensitivity experience neurological symptoms rather than gut symptoms.  What are a few of the common neurological symptoms?
  • cognitive impairment
  • neuropathy
  • migraines
  • multiple sclerosis
  • dementia
  • restless leg syndrome
  • hearing loss
  • psychiatric disorders (bipolar, anxiety, etc)
As a health and wellness strategist and a celiac, one of the first things I ask my clients is: "have you been tested for gluten?"  It never hurts to be tested.  However, it is important to be tested with the right method such as the blood test offered by Cyrex labs. 

There, of course, may be other health and lifestyle areas that are needing support and attention.  These can be discovered through these health and wellness scans

The goal is to get you feeling good. These methods will assist you in getting to the root or cause and get you back on the road to a healthier you. 

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My Freedom Journey

 
People, including doctors, thought we were crazy...all in our heads.  After all, how could normal, every day household and personal product smells affect your ability to function, to cause you to be incoherent and feel shaky inside, to have an emotional break-down?  Inside we were dying.  Outside we appeared normal. 
Fragrances were, and are, part of every day, normal life.....candles, laundry, cleaning, perfumes.  Everyone and their neighbor used them.  For us, we either had to isolate ourselves or suffer the following day or two with a toxic hangover.  Isolation is never a good option, especially with children.  During the summer it was impossible to go outside without inhaling someone's laundry or the recent lawn product application.  My husband was so bad one summer that he could eat constantly and, yet, still lose weight.  Every month I would get a sinus infection and/or chest congestion. 
Then came the food sensitivities and autoimmune disorders.  How could food cause my ears to be red and hot, my cheeks to flush, and cause my entire body to break out multiple times in a horrendous, red, itchy, inflamed rash only to burn when scratched and ooze yellow, sticky fluid?  Imagine, every day having gauze pads over the majority of your body under your clothes and hoping the rash doesn't drain so much that it soaks through your clothes.  It would take months to disappear.  People said "just get a cortisone/steroid shot" for relief.  They could not understand why that was not my choice
By discovering and eliminating my many triggers, finding a new, non-toxic way to support my immune system, my liver, and my thyroid, I have not had a major skin breakout for about 3 yrs and have been able to manage my autoimmune disorders without the use of standard medication. 
I finally found a way to acquire "Freedom from Toxins", "Freedom to Achieve Wellness", and "Freedom to Choose". 


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