“Getting diagnosed changed my life”
One woman’s experience after Genetic Coeliac Disease Test leads to long-awaited diagnosis

When Maxine* began suffering with painful symptoms three years ago, including abdominal pain, bleeding, and severe bloating, she was at a loss to explain it.

By the time her pain had worsened, and an ambulance was called to her home, she was hopeful that answers would be found. Sadly, though, this was not the case.

“The day after the ambulance was called, I was taken to hospital for a colonoscopy,” says Maxine.

“Unfortunately, this didn’t reveal any issues, so nothing further was done, although I was given tablets to settle my stomach, which helped for a little while.”

A year later however, Maxine was still having issues.

“I ended up having an endoscopy, which ultimately showed that I have diverticular disease. But even after following a special diet and medical advice, my symptoms were no better.

“Each time I became ill it was attributed to a diverticular flare and I was given antibiotics. I also had major problems with my iron levels and had to be put on medication to keep them stable.”

Not convinced that her symptoms were solely the result of diverticular disease, Maxine began researching online, as well as speaking to family, friends, and colleagues. Soon, she began to suspect that the real issue could be coeliac disease.

However, because Maxine had no family history of coeliac disease that she could recall, and the condition often runs in families, she struggled to get health professionals to consider coeliac disease as a diagnosis.

“I started to feel like a burden and a hypochondriac, going back to my GP with the same symptoms. I also felt like my voice wasn’t being heard.”

What is coeliac disease?

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease that affects around 1 in 100 people in the UK and develops over time because of a sensitivity to gluten: a protein found in certain cereal grains including wheat, rye, and barley, and commonly used in food products such as cereal, bread, and pasta.

When a person with coeliac disease eats gluten, this causes the body’s immune system to attack its own tissue, causing damage to the gut lining and preventing the body from adequately absorbing nutrients from food.

If left untreated, it can lead to severe complications, which can negatively impact on a person’s quality of life.

It is believed that only around 30% of people affected by coeliac disease in the UK are diagnosed, leading experts to believe that there are many more people suffering with it.

This is because milder cases can go undiagnosed or be misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Finding answers

After conducting more online research into the condition, Maxine came across the AlphaBiolabs Genetic Coeliac Disease Test, and decided to give it a go.

“I felt like I had nothing to lose,” she says.

“Once the kit arrived, the test was amazingly easy to take. All I had to do was take a simple and painless cheek swab sample and post it back to the laboratory.”

Within 5 days, Maxine’s results came back.

“The test results showed that I had a high risk of coeliac disease, based on the DNA sample I’d provided. I finally had the proof I needed.”

Maxine took the results to her GP the following day, who reviewed her history, and quickly took notice of the results. With further testing, it was confirmed – Maxine did indeed have coeliac disease.

“I can’t stress enough just how much my diagnosis of coeliac disease has changed my life,” she says.

“With a few lifestyle changes, I’ve been able to control my symptoms. No more suffering or feeling like a burden.

“For anyone suffering with symptoms as I was, I cannot recommend the Genetic Coeliac Disease Test highly enough, especially if you feel you’re getting nowhere with a diagnosis.

“Take the test – less than a minute of your time could change your life. It certainly did for me.”

Where can I buy a test for coeliac disease?

Have you been inspired by Maxine’s story? It’s easy to order a Genetic Coeliac Disease Test online now, for just £99.  

There are many reasons why you might want a genetic test for coeliac disease, including:

• You are experiencing symptoms including diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, flatulence, indigestion, regular mouth ulcers, nausea, and fatigue
• You have a child who is experiencing symptoms that could indicate coeliac disease
• You have a close family member who has been diagnosed with coeliac disease – research shows that people with coeliac disease have a higher risk of passing the disease down to first-degree relatives (i.e. parents to children)
• You have been following a gluten-free diet, and want to rule out the risk of developing coeliac disease, so that you can seek the correct treatment

With only a simple cheek swab sample required, the test can tell you whether you (or a loved one) carry the HLA-DQ2 and/or HLA-DQ8 genes linked to coeliac disease.

Your secure results will be emailed to you in 4-5 working days, and all testing is performed at our accredited UK laboratory, so your sample will never be sent abroad.   

Got a question about our Genetic Coeliac Disease Test? Email health@alphabiolabs.com or call our friendly and knowledgeable Customer Services team on 0333 600 1300 for expert advice.

*Customer’s full name withheld on request.