Jackie Rosenblum always had stomach problems. On the worst days, a rumbling, burning, stabbing sensation in her abdomen could fold her over in pain.
For years, the Bell Canyon resident had written it off as simply nerves or cramps. But during her second pregnancy a little more than seven years ago, the now 36-year-old developed another symptom, a scorching rash over much of her body, including her eyelids.
"I had one dermatologist tell me I was allergic to being pregnant," said Rosenblum, who delivered a healthy baby in spite of her complications.
After a host of incorrect diagnoses, Rosenblum finally found out what was behind her troubles -- celiac disease, a condition that is estimated to afflict 1.5 million people nationwide. Also known as celiac sprue or gluten-sensitivity enteropathy, celiac disease is a lifelong digestive disorder caused by the body's reaction to gluten, a substance found primarily in wheat products.
The symptoms of the autoimmune disease can vary greatly; they include severe diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal pain, gas and bloating. But whether the symptoms are mild or intense, bodily damage is still being done, according to the Celiac Disease Foundation, a nonprofit group based in Studio City. The disease can harm tooth enamel, bones and joints and cause fatigue, infertility and depression. It also increases the risk of anemia, intestinal lymphomas and other autoimmune diseases such as Type I diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.
"Some can eat gluten and not have symptoms. Others eat it and within hours they are vomiting," said Michelle Pietzak, the director of the Center for Celiac Research-West at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. "For some patients, it can be similar to having an infection with cholera."
The disease's destructiveness is made worse because it frequently goes undiagnosed. Medical schools usually dismiss the disease as either a passing condition of childhood or a rarity among adults. Further, its symptoms are similar to those of more common disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, making diagnosis difficult. The average diagnosis time is 12 years, according to the foundation.
"It's one of the most under-diagnosed diseases there is," said Elaine Monarch, executive director of the Celiac Disease Foundation, who estimates that more than 22,000 people in the Los Angeles have the condition but are unaware of it. "Doctors just aren't looking for it."
