Tanya’s Gluten Free Journey 
Tanya has been involved with health and wellness as a practicing dental hygienist since 1994 and a professor in the Dental Hygiene program. She has been part of the Barrie yoga community since 2006. Her joy is in raising a family of three sons. With the diagnosis of herself and her son Owen with celiac disease in 2000 she continues her journey incorporating gluten free holistic nutrition, meditation, nia, yoga, and dancing through life with possibility, courage, love and joy.
Pregnancy, surgery, infection, or emotional stress can trigger the immunologic response of genetically predisposed people. Pregnancy was my trigger with my first son Connor in 1997. Soon after his birth, my health began to fail, with extreme fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, abnormal liver enzymes, anemia, thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, edema of feet and hands, and recurrent aphthous ulcers and more. The birth of my second son Owen brought the diagnosis of celiac disease. Owen was a healthy baby boy, up until the age of 6 -8 months.That was the time I started to introduce grains into his diet. Between 8-12 months Owen’s health deteriorated. Owen had chronic diarrhea, stopped gaining weight, stopped developing teeth and hair, he stopped thriving. we saw 7-8 doctors before Owen was diagnosed. It was actually my sister, Lisa who saved his life. At that time my sister was going through school to become a holistic nutritional practitioner. In her studies she learnt about celiac disease, and informed me the symptoms Owen and I were experiencing were the same. I took the information and asked the doctor I was seeing at that time to test myself and Owen for celiac disease. I feel deep gratitude towards my sister and belive we were blessed to be diagnosed, as we now are able to live a normal life while on a strict gluten-free diet. There are so many people suffering ill health as a result of undiagnosed celiac disease.
The beginning of switching to a strict gluten-free diet for Owen and I was a challenge. In 2000 there was only a small amout of information about a gluten free diet and a limited variety of foods you could order from Sick Kids Hospital. I was forced to make everything from scratch: breads, muffins, pancakes, all meals. It is amazing but gluten can be be found in almost everything canned or packaged. Again I was blessed to have my sister as my guide, as she taught me about gluten free flours and how to create whole nutritious meals and snacks from scratch. My family has been a wonderful support system, especialy since my sister, mom, and grandmother have also learned to be fantastic gluten free bakers. A gluten free diet has not only been beneficial for myself and Owen, it has been healthy for my whole family. Today a gluten free diet can still be a struggle, even though there are aisles in the grocery store filled with gluten free items, they have little nutritional value.
What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac Disease is a genetically-based autoimmune disease in which ingestion of gluten causes destruction of the villi in the small intestine. Consumption of gluten ( a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley ) results in damaged villi which cause the inability to absorb nutrients from food. Inability to absorb nutrients leads anemia-iron, folate acid, B 12 , deficiencies in calcium, and the fat-soluble vitamins ( A, D, E, & K ) and risk of bone disease, muscle wasting, thyroid disease and specific cancers of the intestines to name a few.
Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH) is another form of celiac disease resulting in a blistering rash on elbows, knees, buttocks, and upper back. The villi are damaged in the majority of cases from the ingestion of gluten.
How Common is Celiac Disease?
Between 1:100 and 1:300 people in North America have celiac disease. It is now one of the most common inherited diseases. Therefore first-degree and to a lesser extent second-degree relatives are at higher risk of having celiac disease.
What are the Symptoms of Celiac Disease?
“The number and severity of symptoms associated with untreated celiac disease vary greatly from person to person”
Symptoms
- abdominal pain, bloating/cramping/gas
- diarrhea
- anemia-iron, folate, vitamin B12
- deficiency of vitamines A, D, E, K
- anorexia
- irritability
- weight loss, failure to thrive in children
- indigestion nausea
- muscle wasting
- dermatitis herpetiformis
- lactose intolerance
- irritable bowel syndrome
- fatigue and weakness
- delayed puberty
- aphthous ulcers (cancer sores)
- persistent vomiting
- bone/joint pain
- edema
- chronic constipation
- menstrual irregularities
- infertility men and women
- miscarriage
- depression
- migraines
- abnormal liver enzymes
- arthritis
- dental enamel defects
- unexplained ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, epilepsy with occipital calcification
Associated Conditions:
- type 1 diabetes mellitus
- other autoimmune diseases (eg., autoimmune hepatitis, thyroid disease)
- down syndrome
- turner syndrome
- lymphoma
- igA dificiency
How is Celiac Disease Diagnosed?
Please speak to your family doctor if you suspect celiac disease. Diagnosis is completed by a serological blood test, a (TTG) antibody test, and intestinal biopsy while the patient is on a gluten-containing diet, can please see more web-sites below for more information.
How is Celiac Disease Treated?
The only treatment for celiac disease, including DH, is a strict gluten-free diet.
