IBS/cealiac

[greensmurf]

I know you can have tests but what is the differences between IBS and cealiac (sp)?

IBS is Irritable Bowel Syndrome - a condition in which foods can caused discomfort, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, etc. Some foods are much more common in causing these problems but they can vary fairly widely from person to person.

Coeliac is a condition in which the body cannot tolerate foods containing gluten. As gluten is present in most/all grains this pretty much means you can't eat bread, wheat based products, drink beer etc. Some coeliacs can tolerate oats whilst others can't.

As far as I understand it - IBS can come and go whereas coeliac is permanent.

That's my take anyway. Why do you ask? Do you think you have coeliac?

Thankyou roguepixie

I thought what I'd been suffering from for years was IBS but recently thinking maybe more like coeliac.

Is it true that this can cause long term damage like cancer?

I have an intolerance to pastry and floury products and my pain has got more intense recently. It gets so severe and I have to poke my tummy to get to the air bubble. One time when I found the air bubble, I heard it go pop, then it was instant relief.

I am not sure of the cancer/coeliac connection or if there is one. However, anything like this that is left untreated can caused massive problems and things like ulcers etc which can cause extreme pain and further problems down the line. It is also best to know what you are dealing with.

If you suspect coeliac then it is important to get a proper diagnosis. Your doctor can arrange it or you can get a home test kit - however these cost.

I am gluten intolerant (not coeliac) and have found that following a paleo lifestyle helps - no wheat, grains, legumes, diary, sugar. My symptoms have all but disappeared. However, in the past, during flare-ups I have have inflammation in my gut which takes time to heal. I had a sip of wine the other day and it flet like someone had lit a furnace in my chest so it is still a case of trial and error for me.

A site to look at regarding coeliac is www.coeliac.org.uk/