My Journey to Going Gluten-Free (And Why I Created Coeliapp)🤳
Living with an undiagnosed health condition is exhausting — physically, mentally, and emotionally. For me, it took 10 years to finally understand what was happening to my body and get a diagnosis: coeliac disease.
The Long Road to Diagnosis
For a decade, I experienced a range of symptoms: bloating, gut discomfort, fatigue, migraines, hair loss, low energy, and anemia. I visited doctor after doctor, often being dismissed as “probably IBS.” I felt like I was a burden on the healthcare system, constantly questioning myself and the symptoms I was experiencing.
It wasn’t until I saw a doctor for fatigue that things began to change. Blood tests revealed I was severely anemic. I started high-strength iron supplements, but after three months, my levels hadn’t improved at all — none of the iron was being absorbed. This triggered further testing for coeliac disease.
By this point, I had been eating low gluten, but not completely gluten-free, under the belief that I had IBS. Even so, I had been consuming enough gluten to keep my body in an autoimmune state, as coeliac disease can be triggered by the tiniest amount of gluten. To get accurate blood test results, I had to introduce more gluten into my diet, which put a real strain on my body. When the results came back, the numbers were alarmingly high, and my doctor suspected coeliac disease. After being referred to a gastroenterologist, a biopsy confirmed the condition — the damage to my small intestine villi was a clear marker that I had the condition.
Life After a Coeliac Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with coeliac disease didn’t come as a huge shock, as my intuition had been telling me for years that there was something other than IBS going on. It still took a toll on me however, both mentally and physically and my gastroenterologists’ warnings didn’t help — my follow up appointment was quite doom and gloom, she talked about the challenges I’d now face with dining out, socialising, travelling (all things I loved) and the likelihood of developing other autoimmune conditions, which is common for those with coeliac disease.
At the time of my diagnosis, I knew very few people with coeliac disease, so I felt isolated and anxious. Social events, work dinners, and travel suddenly seemed overwhelming. I withdrew from situations I used to enjoy because I didn’t know how to navigate them safely.
Learning to Live Gluten-Free
Over time, I began researching and planning. I learned how to read labels properly, discovered venues that could provide coeliac-safe meals, and connected with others online through social media groups and events. Gradually, I regained the confidence to dine out, travel, and participate in social events, but it took a lot of time, effort and preparation, where previously it hadn’t.
Even now, living with coeliac disease is a daily challenge. Every meal requires checking ingredients, asking questions, and assessing risk. But over the years, I built a knowledge base that gave me independence and confidence.
Why Coeliapp Was Born
My experiences highlighted a gap in support for people with coeliac disease. The isolation, anxiety, and difficulty in navigating everyday life motivated me to create something to help others facing the same challenges. That’s how Coeliapp came to life.
Coeliapp is designed to make gluten-free and coeliac-safe living easier and safer. It provides:
A community feed for sharing experiences and tips with others who understand the condition
A map of coeliac-safe venues, rated and reviewed by the community
A marketplace of safe gluten free products and services, saving the community time and energy
The goal is simple: to support people with coeliac disease in living confidently, without the stress and uncertainty I faced for years.
Takeaway: Going gluten-free with coeliac disease isn’t just a diet change — it’s a lifestyle overhaul. It impacts your body, your social life, and even your mental health. But with the right knowledge, planning, and community support, it’s entirely possible to live a full, confident, and enjoyable life.
Written by Rosie Barnes, the Founder of Coeliapp
