We all know coeliac disease has many ‘faces’ - it can affect anyone from any walk of life and has a wide range of symptoms that aren’t always easy to see or explain. Throughout Coeliac Awareness Week we’ll be sharing stories  about our people who are living well with coeliac disease and inspiring others to do the same (thanks to the generous support of Bennetto Natural Foods Co).

We’ll also encourage those who might have the condition or is at risk to follow their gut feeling and take the online self-assessment and get diagnosed so they can live well too.

Margaret Watson, CNZ volunteer coordinator for Nelson shares her experience with coeliac disease.

I was only diagnosed with coeliac disease at aged 55. I had been ill most of my life, as was my  mother who was never diagnosed, with anaemia. I was a very small child unable to put on weight. I lived in England at this time and moved to NZ in 1995 to be with our family. In NZ I got a new doctor who went through my notes and not long after that he rang me to ask if I would go and see him. He said I know whats the matter with you. He had read an article in The Lancet, and was sure that I had coeliac disease. I said what is that and he replied I don't know- never heard of it.

Next day I went to Auckland Hospital for a gastroscopy and the diagnosis confirmed coeliac disease.  They sent me down to the dietitian who gave me a piece of paper with two columns

(1) can eat - rice, fruit, vegetables and meat

(2) cannot eat - bread, cakes, savouries or anything which may contain gluten.

There were not a lot of things in the supermarkets at that time that were gluten free, so life was quite difficult. I was advised to join the Coeliac Society and have been with them ever since - and now am an active volunteer coordinator in the Nelson region.

At first I did miss out on a lot of things but not anymore. I was lucky I had support from my family from the start and still do.

The best tip I can give is to read every label of every thing you buy. I now put more items back on the shelf than in my basket.

"Today I am fit and healthy and enjoying life in beautiful Nelson."

Stronger Together

If you would like to share your story for Coeliac Awareness Week please send your article to admin@coeliac.org.nz