To think she doesn't *really* have coeliac disease?

I know someone like this. It's exhausting especially cos others in our group have legitimate food needs including anaphylactic allergies so it really severely limits our already limited options (absolutely no issue with legit food issues but I hated that mine were always trumped by the clearly fake one!)

@Luminousalumnus for your nephew 😀www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/shop/drinks/beer-and-cider/gluten-free-beer

She can watch the same foods but it will cause her to have a sore tummy and need to go to the loo. I know someone with it who pretty much ears what he wants and it's not pretty.

CD is an autoimmune condition - the body's immune system attacks the intestinal lining causing inflammation, malnutrition, and 300-odd other symptoms including neurological/skin issues and bowel cancer. You can't be 'a bit' coeliac - even a molecule of gluten can set off a reaction, snd sometimes even proteins that the body mistakes for gluten, like avenin.
Going by her behaviour, she is more likely to be gluten intolerant, which causes IBS-like symptoms.
Having said all that, some people have silent CD, where symptoms aren't obvious but damage is being stored up for later, so if she does really have CD, she needs to be more careful!

I will say - it doesnt make me violently ill as in diarrhead/vomiting but I am very bloated all the time and have nerve damage in my lower legs and hands, chronic anaemia, dizziness fatigue and chronic pain.

I have been completely gluten free for 7 years after being diagnosed with coeliac disease. (DNA and biopsy) if I eat even a tiny bit I vomit. Horrible. My DS also has it and can eat gluten without any symptoms. My dad who also has it is the same as me, if he eats gluten he is very ill. But dad can eat oats and I absolutely can’t. Everyone is different I think.

I have diagnosed coeliac and don't eat gf at all because I can't afford it.
What people do/do not choose to put into their own bodies is their concern and nobody else's.

This is not true for all coeliacs!

Absolutely. It's not an allergy. Nephew was biopsy diagnosed 25 years ago. Usually he is very stringent. Occasionally he will have a beer. And get somewhat ill.

You can have coeliac disease and not be violently ill after consuming gluten. It's still doing damage internally but there can be no apparent external symptoms.

To be honest I wouldn’t give it head space.

Testing for CD doesn't include poo samples being tested.
They do blood tests, a Coeliac panel. Then if that shows positive an endoscopy to get biopsies from the stomach lining.
My CD didn't cause any of the usual gastric symptoms. After years of being GF I now get stomach ache when glutened.

Coeliac disease is a serious bowel condition where gluten damages the bowel. Even a molecule of gluten causes damage.

If she says she had it, believe her. If she's stupid enough to continue to consume gluten, that's on her. The point is, it's her choice to do so and to live with the resulting consequences and even if you see her snaffle an entire pack of hobnobs it's not ok to give her something containing gluten.

She's probably finding it difficult to make the dietary switch, some people do.

She should also have completely different cooking implements, pans and preparation area which never come into contact with gluten (since molecules can stick into miniscule scratches for a long time).

As someone who has a different condition resulting in a severely restricted diet, its bloody hard, especially when out at restaurants or other peoples home. I can understand why she might sometimes think its easier to put up with pain than make a fuss

If she was celiac eating a biscuit or fish batter would make her incredibly unwell. No celiac would ever choose to do that.
She could have a wheat or gluten intolerance. That means you get varying degrees of bloating/discomfort but often can tolerate small amounts, like maybe one biscuit.
Id take her word for it she feels gluten doesn't agree with her, and politely serve non gluten food if she does eat at yours.
But she sounds awful tbh. Food habits non withstanding. I'd just keep minimal contact bc she's an arse, rather than worry about the sensitivity of her bowel. Haha.

It’s called ‘being glutened’ and is unpleasant.

Coeliacs cannot just eat a biscuit. They would be very ill.

Forget the coeliac disease: what on earth did she want with your wedding To Do list??? I can’t think of a single reason a MIL would want that!

one of my DSis has gluten intolerance, the other has CD. Very different! The Sis with coeliac has to be super careful.

CD is tested for in a lab. They send your poo away I think and then have to try and culture it over several weeks to see if you have CD. I was tested and didn't have it.

I do however sympathise - a lot of wheat containing foods are highly processed e.g. British bread (its an embarrassment compared to other cultures). Gluten free bread simply contains other highly processed ingredients. Whereas sourdough is usually just wheat and flour. However these options are more expensive.

I've flip flopped into telling people I'm gluten free in the past but now I just buy the more expensive breads like sourdough and Crosta Mollica. Its helped my gut health a lot such that I don't have to super strict at all times as the bulk of my diet is free of ultra processed ingredients.

In short diet is confusing about what we should be eating and it takes a while to figure out what works for you and it may change over a lifetime.

I have non coeliac gluten allergy. I can get away with eating a couple of chips that have been fried in oil and with malt vinegar on them but a biscuit would have me breaking out in hives with skin swelling and joints swelling, along with a digestive system that slows to a crawl. The last time I had gluten I also had a sense of impending doom and panic.

what I’d give to be able to enjoy a Chinese takeaway.

Some people with coeliac don't adapt too well and occasionally can't resist a taste of the things they're missing, even though it has consequences you won't be there to witness. This is even more common with what's called silent Coeliac, where there's no direct observable impact from eating something, as all the damage is happening inside.

I worked with somebody like that - very occasionally, she'd have an I HATE THIS DISEASE moment and eat a packet of Mini Cheddars. I don't, because although it's a bastard of a disease, I have symptoms following cross contamination far too frequently to deliberately do that to myself.

She might have coeliac disease. Some people are asymptomatic. She absolutely shouldn’t be eating gluten but some people can get away with small amounts. (I also projectile vomit with any accidental ingestion more than a crumb) Has she had biopsies/blood tests?

Its not important whether she has it - the issue is that shes a crappy bossy friend and you dont really like her?

I have coeliac disease, if I have gluten I come out in a severe rash,blisters, feel/can be sick, literally feel awful.
My friend has gluten intolerance, she is to have no or low levels of gluten as advised by Dr, she becomes bloated, constipated, feels nauseous, but will on occasion have a some gluten ,if she feels its worth the risk, doesn't get a reaction with small amounts really.
So there are wide and varied reactions to gluten.