Describe your life prior to diagnosis:
I was diagnosed with celiac disease around two years ago. Before I had celiac disease, I often consumed gluten-containing foods. I didn’t have a problem with gluten back then.
How did you come to know (or suspect) that you have celiac disease?
My symptoms were swelling and pain in my gut. I also felt sluggish and tired. I had rashes and bruises on my body. In blood tests, my iron and vitamin D were always lower than they should have been.
How long did it take for you to get diagnosed since your first symptoms and what (if any) challenges did you face along the way?
It took about 6 to 7 months. I had to go to many units of the hospital: internal medicine, hematology, allergy and immunology, gastroenterology, etc.
Describe your experience with living with celiac disease:
Being a college student with celiac disease is really tough. My social life is greatly affected by this situation. Most of the time I can’t find a place to eat out. The number of restaurants offering gluten-free menus in Turkey is very few and very expensive. The variety of gluten-free products in the markets is also very few and expensive.
