Hello. I just got diagnosed with Celiacs this week. I'm 28 and the oldest of 6 kids. No one in my family had even heard of this disease before now, and apparently it's genetic. We've had our share of indigestion and gas, I suppose, but no one besides me showed any real symptoms. Should they all be getting tested?
Josiah
Hi, Josiah. Yes, all your first degree relatives should be tested (parents, siblings, children). Their chance of having celiac disease is approximately 1 in 22. General population has a chance of 1 in 133. I had my children tested after I was diagnosed. My daughter was negative, but my son was positive. He had no obvious symptoms other than a slowdown in his growth. He had no GI symptoms other than occasional "D". Absence of symptoms is not necessarily a good indicator of having the disease.
I haven't been able to convince my parents or sister to get tested yet. I hate that I am not the boss of them!
I haven't been able to convince my parents or sister to get tested yet. I hate that I am not the boss of them!
Yes. All Celiac experts recommend that all first degree relatives, regardless of symptoms, are tested via bloodwork.
Something to keep in mind....just because they test negative now doesn't mean they are "free" of Celiac for life. If symptoms arise later, it is worth it to be tested again.
Here is some info you might find helpful, from a very well respected source. http://www.celiacdiseasecenter.columbia.ed...nts/A02-FAQ.htm
"Q: Why do my family members need to be screened for celiac disease?
When the diagnosis is established in one family member, their first- degree relatives (parents, siblings and children) should have blood tests for celiac disease. This is because at least 10% of family members will have the disease, even if they are asymptomatic. Screening is also recommended for second-degree relatives (grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles and cousins) as they are also at an increased risk for celiac disease. Family members who already have an autoimmune disease are at a greatly increased risk to have celiac disease (25%).
The reasons to diagnose family members prior to the development of symptoms include the prevention autoimmune diseases and malignancy."
Something to keep in mind....just because they test negative now doesn't mean they are "free" of Celiac for life. If symptoms arise later, it is worth it to be tested again.
Here is some info you might find helpful, from a very well respected source. http://www.celiacdiseasecenter.columbia.ed...nts/A02-FAQ.htm
"Q: Why do my family members need to be screened for celiac disease?
When the diagnosis is established in one family member, their first- degree relatives (parents, siblings and children) should have blood tests for celiac disease. This is because at least 10% of family members will have the disease, even if they are asymptomatic. Screening is also recommended for second-degree relatives (grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles and cousins) as they are also at an increased risk for celiac disease. Family members who already have an autoimmune disease are at a greatly increased risk to have celiac disease (25%).
The reasons to diagnose family members prior to the development of symptoms include the prevention autoimmune diseases and malignancy."
yes you should get everyone in you imediate family screened and it would be a good idea to get less imediate family checked as well (cousins, aunties uncles)
experts say that if one person has coeliac every one in ten people in that family will also have it.
and as for not having many symptoms i was asymptomatic until about a month before i was diagnosed the only sign that i had coeliac was anemia
experts say that if one person has coeliac every one in ten people in that family will also have it.
and as for not having many symptoms i was asymptomatic until about a month before i was diagnosed the only sign that i had coeliac was anemia