If you or someone you love has been recently diagnosed with coeliac disease, you could be eligible to receive gluten free foods on prescription. Simply select your country of residence, and, if you live in England, fill in your postcode to check if your area is prescribing.
Your country is prescribing gluten free foods*. Request your Glutafin Taster Box by clicking the button below to sign up.
* Please note: local policies are constantly updated, and issuing a prescription is at the discretion of your GP.
If you have unexplained symptoms, such as stomach-ache, bloating or diarrhoea, then it’s possible that you may have coeliac disease. In this article, we’ll look at the kind of symptoms to look out for, and walk you through the process of finding out whether you have coeliac disease or not, including when to visit your GP, the initial blood test and how the results may be confirmed using endoscopy.
It might feel a bit intimidating at first, but bear in mind that being diagnosed with coeliac disease is an important step in understanding your condition. Once you have your diagnosis, you can start to treat it with a gluten free diet and look forward to feeling so much better.
The symptoms of coeliac disease are sometimes dismissed as irritable bowel syndrome, both by sufferers and by their GP. However, the NHS recommends that you get tested for coeliac disease if you have any one of the following symptoms:
It is also important to get tested for coeliac disease if you have any of the following:
If you think you may have coeliac disease, use the Glutafin symptom checker for expert advice on whether you should ask your GP for a test.
If your symptoms do suggest coeliac disease, then you should make an appointment to see your GP, who will arrange for a blood test to assess your condition. You need to be formally diagnosed with coeliac disease in order to access the support of a registered dietitian, and to receive gluten free foods on prescription (where available).
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition in which the body reacts to the consumption of gluten. The gut produces an immune response, in the form of antibodies, which damage the gut. The blood test looks for these antibodies, so
it is important to continue to eat gluten for at least six weeks before testing, even though you suspect that this is what’s making you feel ill. If you cut out gluten to ease your symptoms, then your blood test may show a false negative, as there are no antibodies being produced.
If your blood test is positive, you will often be referred to a gastroenterologist to confirm the diagnosis. This is done using endoscopy, in which a small tube is passed down your throat, under local anaesthetic and sedation, to examine the lining of the small intestine. Biopsies, or small tissue samples, will be taken during this procedure.
However, during the Covid 19 pandemic, fewer endoscopies could be performed, and patients with high levels of antibodies were diagnosed with coeliac disease based on a blood test alone. Many areas still follow this approach; your GP will be able to advise which diagnosis pathway is most appropriate for you.
Once your blood tests and endoscopy results have been received, your GP or gastroenterologist will be able to confirm whether or not you have coeliac disease. At this stage, they may arrange further blood tests to check for iron deficiency or to check the levels of other vitamins and minerals in your blood. You may also need a DEXA scan to check for any issues with bone density.
If you are diagnosed with coeliac disease, you’ll be referred to a dietitian who will help you to get started on a gluten free diet, which is the only treatment for the condition. Being formally diagnosed with coeliac disease also means you can claim your free Glutafin Taster Box, and you may be able to access gluten free foods on prescription, depending on where you live.
Understanding the coeliac diagnosis process will help you to work towards getting a timely diagnosis. There’s no need to just learn to live with inconvenient, uncomfortable or painful symptoms. Check out our free symptom checker now to see if you may have coeliac disease, and take your first step towards feeling better and enjoying your life again.
Q. How long does a coeliac disease blood test take?
A. A blood test for coeliac disease takes just a few minutes to collect the sample, and one to two weeks to get the results. This will vary between different testing centres depending on issues such as demand and staffing levels.
Q. How long does a coeliac disease diagnosis take?
A. There are three stages to getting diagnosed with coeliac disease. 1. Consuming gluten for at least six weeks prior to testing. 2. A coeliac disease blood test, which takes one to two weeks. 3. Endoscopy, which should be performed within six weeks (although this may take longer, depending on NHS waiting lists in your area)
Q. Can I use a home test kit for coeliac disease?
A. We would advise visiting a GP for a diagnosis of coeliac disease. You need to be formally diagnosed with coeliac disease by a GP or gastroenterologist in order to access services such as dietitian appointments and gluten free food on prescription.
Q. How can I tell if I might have coeliac disease?
A. You can use the free Glutafin symptom checker to assess your symptoms. You can take the results to show your GP to support your request for a test.
If you or someone you love has been recently diagnosed with coeliac disease, you could be eligible to receive gluten free foods on prescription. Simply select your country of residence, and, if you live in England, fill in your postcode to check if your area is prescribing.
Your country is prescribing gluten free foods*. Request your Glutafin Taster Box by clicking the button below to sign up.
* Please note: local policies are constantly updated, and issuing a prescription is at the discretion of your GP.
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