How to Know if Celiac Disease Is Hiding Behind Your Symptoms
🕒 7-8 min read
In a hurry? These are the highlights worth knowing:
Celiac disease could be the hidden cause behind unexplained symptoms like brain fog, bloating, or fatigue, even if you’ve already made healthy changes.
Start by tuning in to your body’s signals and consider specific tests to uncover whether gluten is at the root.
Curious to track your symptoms and meals? Download your free 7-day Food & Symptom Observation Journal to get clear insights.
This blog is for you if you’ve been struggling with mystery digestive or inflammatory symptoms and want to take control of your gut health journey.
📌 Keep reading - or save this post for whenever you’re ready to feel more empowered around your digestion.
You’ve cut back on sugar. You’ve tried eating “clean.” Maybe you’ve even ditched dairy or swapped in a probiotic or two.
But something still isn’t adding up. The brain fog? Still there. The bloating? Comes out of nowhere. Your energy? Up and down, no matter how well you eat.
You’ve started wondering: Could gluten be the problem?
That question has echoed in the minds of so many clients I’ve worked with. Often, gluten is part of the problem whether it’s an allergy, sensitivity, or intolerance.
And sometimes, clients come to me after finally receiving a celiac disease diagnosis, still trying to connect the dots. While I don’t diagnose medical conditions, I’ve seen firsthand how understanding the full picture of celiac disease can be a turning point that helps you heal your gut, calm your symptoms, and finally feel like yourself again.
Let’s break down what celiac disease actually is, why it’s often missed, and how to know if gluten might be part of your gut healing story.
What Is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is a hereditary autoimmune condition triggered by gluten: a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. In people who carry specific genetic markers, gluten sets off an immune response that attacks your small intestine, damaging your villi (tiny finger-like projections responsible for absorbing nutrients). Over time, this leads to malabsorption, nutrient deficiencies, and widespread symptoms across your body.
Unlike food allergies, sensitivities, or intolerances, which can also cause symptoms after eating gluten, celiac disease involves a full immune response and long-term intestinal damage if left untreated.
[Learn more about food allergy, sensitivity, and intolerance here →]
Gluten can show up in many forms. Whether it’s celiac disease, a sensitivity, or a wheat allergy, understanding your body’s response to it is key to healing.
10 Reasons to Take Celiac Disease Seriously
Celiac disease isn’t just a “gluten thing.” It’s not a fad, and it’s not always obvious. If you’ve been dealing with mystery symptoms for a while, or you've already been diagnosed and are still piecing together the bigger picture, these are the reasons why understanding celiac disease can be a game changer.
Here are 10 reasons this condition deserves your attention:
It’s often undiagnosed. Celiac disease affects about 1 in 100 people, but many go undiagnosed for years. That’s because symptoms aren’t always digestive and they don’t always show up the way you’d expect.
The symptoms can seem unrelated. Brain fog, joint pain, fatigue, rashes, mood swings, migraines... when nothing seems connected, it’s easy to think you’re imagining things. You’re not. Celiac can manifest all over your body.
It’s rooted in genetics, but not limited by them. Carrying the HLA-DQ2 or DQ8 gene doesn't mean you'll definitely get celiac, but it does mean you could. If you have a family history of autoimmune conditions, it's worth exploring.
It can mimic other conditions. I’ve worked with clients who were diagnosed with IBS, fibromyalgia, thyroid conditions, or anxiety only to later discover celiac disease was quietly fueling the chaos behind the scenes.
Left untreated, it causes long-term damage. Celiac doesn’t just make you feel lousy. Gluten exposure damages your small intestine, leading to poor nutrient absorption and setting the stage for other issues down the road.
It affects your energy, mood, and hormones. If you're constantly exhausted, emotionally drained, or feel like your body is running on fumes, it might not be “just stress.” Undiagnosed celiac could be part of the reason.
It’s connected to other autoimmune diseases. Celiac often shows up alongside conditions like Hashimoto’s, Type 1 diabetes, and Sjögren’s syndrome, especially in women. That’s no coincidence; they share immune and genetic roots.
Nutrient deficiencies can sneak up on you. Low iron, B12, calcium, magnesium, vitamin D... and yet, you’re eating “healthy”? When your gut can’t absorb nutrients well, no amount of kale will fix it.
Even tiny amounts of gluten can cause setbacks. Cross-contamination is real, and can be serious. The simple act of using the same toaster for gluten and gluten free bread can flare symptoms and prevent your body from healing.
The right diagnosis brings relief and direction. Getting a clear answer, even if it’s a chronic condition, gives you something you can work with. And from there, you can start building a plan that actually helps you feel better.
Understanding these patterns doesn’t guarantee you have celiac disease, but it can help you recognize when it’s time to dig deeper. If these signs feel familiar, it might be worth exploring whether gluten, and specifically celiac, could be part of your story.
Let’s walk through how to get the clarity you need.
Many factors can contribute to digestive or inflammatory symptoms. Taking time to reflect and explore possibilities like ruling out celiac disease is a powerful first step toward clarity and relief.
Getting Answers About Gluten
If you've been wondering whether celiac disease could be behind your symptoms, here's how to get closer to an answer in your story.
1. Notice what your body is already telling you
Bloating, brain fog, low iron, joint pain, fatigue after eating certain foods may seem random, but they aren’t. Your body is already offering clues. The first step is simply paying attention.
Trying to make sense of your symptoms? Download your free 7-day Food & Symptom Observation Journal to uncover patterns.
2. If you're still eating gluten, ask your doctor for specific blood tests
Timing matters. For these tests to be accurate, you need to be actively consuming gluten:
Total IgA
tTG-IgA (anti–tissue transglutaminase)
EMA (anti-endomysial antibodies)
DGP-IgA and DGP-IgG (deamidated gliadin peptides)
These tests can indicate an immune response to gluten, but they’re not perfect. If you’ve already gone gluten-free, the results may appear normal even if your gut is still affected.
Advocating for yourself in a medical setting can feel intimidating, but asking for the right tests is a powerful act of self-care. When it comes to celiac disease, requesting specific bloodwork can help you get the clarity you deserve.
3. Consider genetic testing
Testing for the HLA-DQ2 and/or DQ8 genes can reveal whether you’re genetically predisposed to celiac. While having the genes doesn’t guarantee you’ll develop it, not having them makes it very unlikely. This can be especially helpful if you’ve already removed gluten and don’t want to do a gluten challenge.
4. In some cases, a small intestine biopsy may be needed
If your blood or genetic tests suggest celiac, your doctor may recommend an upper endoscopy to look for villous atrophy, the hallmark of celiac damage. This remains the gold standard for diagnosis.
5. No celiac, but you still don’t feel great eating gluten?
If gluten makes you feel awful but you don’t meet the criteria for celiac disease, you’re not imagining things. You could be dealing with a non-celiac gluten sensitivity, intolerance, or even a wheat allergy. Each of these works differently in your body and requires a different approach.
Learn more about food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances here →
Even if you don’t have celiac disease, your body might still struggle with gluten. Whether it’s sensitivity, intolerance, or something else entirely, paying attention to how you feel after eating gluten-rich foods can lead to powerful insights.
Navigating Celiac With Confidence
Getting a diagnosis can bring a wave of relief. Finally, you know what’s going on.
But let’s be honest: the next wave is usually,
Wait… what now?
Living with celiac disease means making some pretty big shifts, and in the beginning, it can feel overwhelming.
Grocery shopping changes.
Eating out changes.
Even your own kitchen might need a bit of a reset.
But here’s the good news: with the right tools and a little time, these changes become second nature. I’ve seen clients go from feeling discouraged and restricted to empowered, energized, and in control again.
Here’s how to start living well with celiac:
1. Commit to a 100% gluten-free lifestyle
Celiac disease isn’t something you can “mostly” avoid. Even small amounts of gluten can restart the damage, whether or not you feel immediate symptoms. This is a lifelong condition and removing gluten completely is what allows your gut to finally heal.
2. Focus on what you can eat
Start with whole, nutrient-dense foods: fresh produce, wild-caught fish, pasture-raised meat and poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds, and quality dairy (if tolerated). Naturally gluten-free grains like rice, quinoa, millet, and oats (certified GF) can round out your meals.
This isn’t about restriction, it’s about rebuilding your gut with foods that support your body and don’t trigger inflammation.
3. Be aware of cross-contamination
This is one of the trickiest parts at first. A shared toaster, cutting board, or even double-dipping in the peanut butter jar can expose you to more gluten than you think. Start learning where those risks hide and how to confidently manage them.
Creating a safe kitchen space is one of the most impactful ways to support healing with celiac disease. From clean surfaces to separate utensils, even the smallest adjustments can help prevent cross-contamination and keep your gut on the path to recovery.
4. Support your healing with key nutrients
Even after removing gluten, your gut may need extra help. Talk with your healthcare provider about:
A high-quality multivitamin
Probiotics and digestive enzymes
Nutrients like glutamine, zinc, and omega-3s
Soothing herbs like slippery elm and aloe vera
These can help repair your intestinal lining and support you as your body recovers.
5. Reassess your prescriptions and supplements
As your gut heals, you may absorb medications and nutrients more efficiently. If something feels “off,” talk to your doctor about adjusting dosages or checking inactive ingredients for hidden gluten.
6. Give yourself grace (and space) to learn
There will be moments of frustration. Restaurant menus that feel like a minefield. Well-meaning friends who don’t quite get it. But over time, you’ll build confidence, find your go-to meals and products, and feel more at ease navigating everyday life.
Final Thoughts: A Clearer Path Forward
Whether you're just starting to ask questions about gluten or you're years into navigating symptoms that don’t quite add up, know this: there’s a path forward and you deserve to feel better in your body.
Understanding celiac disease, how it shows up, and how it’s diagnosed is one powerful piece of that path. And if it turns out celiac isn’t the root cause? You’ve still taken a meaningful step toward clarity. Every layer of awareness gets you closer to better energy, digestion, and confidence.
If you’re ready to explore more or need tools to support your journey, check out the resources I’ve linked above.
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© Stephanie Walsh and Walsh Approach, 2025. I pour a lot of care into creating this content, so please don’t copy or reuse it without permission. You’re always welcome to share excerpts or links if you give clear credit back to Stephanie Walsh and Walsh Approach.