Celiac Disease: Know the Signs!

Pfizer’s chief medical officer Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall joins The Doctors to discuss celiac disease along with Alice Bast, who was diagnosed with the disease. This auto-immune disease makes it hard to eat common foods and can damage your immune system.

About The Doctors:

The Doctors is an Emmy award-winning daytime talk show hosted by ER physician Dr. Travis Stork, plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Ordon, OB-GYN Dr. Jennifer Ashton, urologist Dr. Jennifer Berman and family medicine physician and sexologist Dr. Rachael Ross.

The Doctors helps you understand the latest health headlines, such as the ice bucket challenge for ALS and the Ebola outbreak; delivers exclusive interviews with celebrities dealing with health issues, such as Teen Mom star Farrah Abraham, reality stars Honey Boo Boo and Mama June and activist Chaz Bono; brings you debates about health and safety claims from agricultural company Monsanto and celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy; and shows you the latest gross viral videos and explains how you can avoid an emergency situation. The Doctors also features the News in 2:00 digest of the latest celebrity health news and The Doctors’ Prescription for simple steps to get active, combat stress, eat better and live healthier.

Now in its eighth season, The Doctors celebrity guests have included Academy Award Winners Sally Field, Barbra Streisand, Jane Fonda, Marcia Gay Harden, Kathy Bates and Marisa Tomei; reality stars from Teen Mom and The Real Housewives, as well as Kris Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner, Melissa Rivers, Sharon Osbourne, Tim Gunn and Amber Rose; actors Jessica Alba, Christina Applegate, Julie Bowen, Patricia Heaton, Chevy Chase, Kristin Davis, Lou Ferrigno, Harrison Ford, Grace Gealey, Cedric the Entertainer, Valerie Harper, Debra Messing, Chris O’Donnell, Betty White, Linda Gray, Fran Drescher, Emmy Rossum, Roseanne Barr, Valerie Bertinelli, Suzanne Somers; athletes Magic Johnson, Apolo Ohno and Danica Patrick; musicians Tim McGraw, Justin Bieber, Clint Black, LL Cool J, Nick Carter, Kristin Chenoweth, Paula Abdul, Gloria Gaynor, La Toya Jackson, Barry Manilow, Bret Michaels, Gene Simmons and Jordin Sparks; and celebrity chefs Wolfgang Puck, Guy Fieri and Curtis Stone.

[rachelhudson]

At last. Someone talking sense. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder and not an allergy.

[MrHaydin]

I have celiac disease and it is horrible. Now since I have been gluten free for a year I feel amazing. It does annoy me how many doctors just blow it off. There have been constant times that my doctor tells me that I can eat gluten and the discomfort isn't too bad. For me if I even eat a few crumbs I become very ill.

[dianewilliams]

I was diagnosed with celiac about four years ago and it is wicked but I deal with it. Had no idea it stunted my growth…and to think without it I might have been a model. Dang.

[Cyanopteryx]

The unexpected symptoms are no joke. I couldn't walk in a straight line because my balance was so bad. I would get up some mornings and fall over. I lost my job because of the cognitive impairment, I often couldn't comprehend what people were saying to me and I couldn't communicate properly at all. I was losing weight like crazy and constantly felt like I had battery acid flowing through my guts. Periodic episodes of psychosis, paranoia and panic which took a huge toll on my relationships. My joints constantly swelled, ached, and cracked. I always had GI issues growing up, but in the months leading up to diagnosis felt like I was dying. So grateful to be healthy and alive now.

[sdlane]

I was so relieved when I got my diagnosis. My doctor told my I was a hypochondriac for years. I finally got fed up and drove 5 hours each way to see a new doctor at the university hospital nearest me.

[ps]

I have just been diagnosed with this and I am amazed at how many products contain gluten that I’ve been using. Not just food… Wow it’s very eye-opening I’m hoping to feel better after some time gluten-free.

[bingeyeat]

ive just been recently diagnosed with celiacs. people think we’re being overdramatic but being in a constant state where your gut feels like it’s being smooshed is so uncomfortable, and not to mention the bloating is even more uncomfortable. when i bloated it looked like i was legit pregnant.

[kathrinedw]

I wish there was some kind of medicine to take instead of having to go gluten free 😕

[beverlythacker]

My daughter has Celiac disease. And now she is gluten free everything. She was just in the hospital tonight because of it. it's so heartbreaking

[ccm]

Being coeliac has changed my life for the better. I only eat whole fresh foods so I don't need to buy 'gluten free'. I'm healthier and happier.

[samm.]

Where’s all my Celiac fam? What’s up with the true struggle bus

[Kiara-jwvg]

I have celiac disease and I’ve had it since march lockdown in 2020 but it’s horrible and I hate the fact that shops and stuff make the gluten free stuff so so so expensive

[emilyluther]

I have celiac disease, and doctors thought I had epilepsy and said going gluten free wouldn't help! I proved them wrong. After going gluten free I felt awesome!

[ErinDavila]

gluten isnt just in food! its in almost everything. Lotions, shampoos, makeup, toothpaste, deodorant

[sineadbarnett]

I competed in triathlon. For the past 3+ years I went to 6 physios, 1 orthopedic surgeon, 3 doctors for sever joint pain which has gotten worse and debilitating - none of them suspected. Finally I begged my doctor to test for an autoimmune disease. It came back positive for ceoliac disease. I'm still waiting for my biopsy. It's been a frustrating journey. And I'm too old now to reach the level in triathlon I had dreamed.

[teddy]

I had been small and very skinny my entire life, when I was 9 they discovered that I had celiac. When I started eating gluten free I got more energy, gained a lot of weight and grew a lot. So you don’t always know if you have celiac bc the symptoms are very diverse. I had no stomach issues or anything

[emilycreations]

i have celiac and ever since I found out life has been a lot better and i have made frends through having celiac

[ladyfrederick]

It needs to mentioned that it only shows up on blood testing in it's advanced stage

[anaterra]

I got a high blood test, and I had all these symptoms, so I stopped eating gluten for two years and my life was horrible as a teen, I wish people could be more understanding about this, my endoscopy is today and I cried in my room for hours, who is reading this as a teen?

[angel_existential]

I was sick for years. I thought it was candida. If my uncle hadn't have had a medical emergency which led to the celiac diagnosis, I may have never figured out what was wrong with me. I'm now dealing with the weight gain associated with the healing of the intestines. Hopefully I can get back into shape. I feel a million times better.