I started with acid reflux disease in 2004. I was in Pennsylvania visiting my sister and woke up in the middle of the night with a terrible attack of acid reflux. I was put on Nexium, which controlled the symptoms for a while.

A few years later, I had blood drawn for routine checkup and learned I had high cholesterol and a borderline iron level. I was feeling depressed and fatigued with no energy. I was put on medication for cholesterol and told to take iron supplements.

About 6 months ago, my acid reflux went out of control. I was taking two Nexium a day and still woke up at night with acid reflux. I would eat a turkey sandwich on a wheat sandwich thin for lunch and wake up at night with acid reflux so bad I had to sleep in a recliner. This was happening every night.

I finally went back to my doctor, and he referred me to a gastroenterologist. He did an upper GI endoscopy (EGD) and found that I had a hiatal hernia and flattened villi. He sent a piece of the villi/small intestines for biopsy, which came back as celiac disease. He then sent me for blood work, which confirmed my celiac diagnosis.

I really did not believe my symptoms were consistent with that of celiac disease. However, immediately after starting a gluten-free diet, my symptoms were gone. I have not had a single acid reflux attack since starting my new lifestyle, nor have I had any heartburn. I still take one Prevacid a day, but plan to wean myself off of it soon.