If you still have symptoms

Information for the public

If you have been advised not to eat gluten but are still having symptoms, your doctor may check that your diagnosis is correct and that you really do have coeliac disease. They might also check to see if anything else might be causing the symptoms, such as irritable bowel syndrome, colitis (inflammation of the colon), intolerance to lactose (a sugar found in milk) or an abnormally high level of bacteria in the intestine. They might refer you to a specialist dietitian to check whether you still might be eating food with gluten in it (for example, you might be eating it without realising).

If the original diagnosis is confirmed, and the symptoms are not caused by other conditions or by any gluten remaining in your diet, it is likely that you have what is known as 'refractory' coeliac disease. Refractory coeliac disease is when a person's condition doesn't respond to a gluten‑free diet, or it does respond at first but then the symptoms return. You should be referred to a specialist for more tests, and you may be offered a steroid called prednisolone to help with your symptoms until you see the specialist.