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I first heard of Celiac when I was in college.

I never knew what Celiac disease was. I recalled hearing the term "Celiac" but never quite understood it or that there even was such a illness. I thought it was just sensitivity to gluten or a slight allergy to wheat products. I didn't become fully aware of how Celiac can affect someone until I saw it first hand.

My roommate at Boston University started to become ill on a regular basis after eating a meal. Now just so you know, Boston University has a fantastic meal plan -- so her symptoms certainly weren't due to the quality of food served in the dining hall. She also saw a doctor and was told it wasn't anything pathogenic so she was advised to simply rest and the ill feeling would pass.

But it never did.

She continued eating the way she normally did, and the way any regular college kid would eat. She experienced the same symptoms whether all of our dorm hallmates went out to an Italian restaurant in the North End or had a pizza night in Allston. At one point I remember teasing her that it was caffeine withdrawal, because we frequently would go get a Starbucks and she had tried quitting coffee cold turkey right before she started feeling sick. I told her it's probably because her body was craving one of those devilishly delicious pumpkin spice lattes with whipped cream -- but we eventually realized, after weeks had gone by without coffee, that it probably was much more serious that that.

I never understood how difficult it could be to diagnose and illness like Celiac disease. Having been blessed with good health throughout my life, I naively thought that any time you have an ailment that is worthy of seeing a doctor, you simply make an appointment, he or she figures out what's wrong, and you are medically advised and treated. But I learned quickly from this experience that it's not always that simple.

An autoimmune disease like Celiac is not always easy to diagnose. Yes, there are blood tests for Gliadin and Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) -- the antibodies that can be expressed when a person has a gluten condition, -- but that doesn't also indicate Celiac disease right off the bat, not to mention that those antibody tests are awfully expensive and not always covered by insurance. It may take a doctor a number of tests and a number of needle sticks until some conclusion is finally reached.

Luckily for my roommate, she knew that Celiac disease was something that ran in the family. Her father had suffered with it for years and it was in the back of her mind that she could possibly have the same thing. Eventually, her doctor determined the diagnosis and she had to begin the gluten free dieting right away, which was a rough transition for a person who loved having beer, wine, and all sorts of Italian pasta dishes.

Now that I have been working at SeraCare Life Sciences, I have learned much more about the immunology of various autoimmune conditions. I have had the opportunity to speak with many who suffer from Celiac and learn their personal stories. Most importantly for me, I have been able to regularly share with them a little bit of encouragement -- any time I find a new gluten free recipe or any news article I come across related to celiac research I share with my Celiac contacts. I feel as though I'm honoring my roommate and friend, by helping to promote Celiac awareness and provide fun gluten free ideas to the Celiac community. I can also encourage Celiac diagnosed people to donate plasma and provide important antibodies like Gliadin and tTG that are needed for SeraCare controls and other products that we manufacture that are necessary for medical research & development.

This is all part of my career. This is another reason why I strive to work hard, and this is why I love doing what I do.

If you are Celiac diagnosed, please contact me and donate your plasma! donate@seracare.com

Spread Celiac Disease Awareness for More Gluten Free Options

If you have Celiac, researchers need your help. Donate plasma and receive $400/donation for your time. Visit www.idonateplasma.com for details.

from my blog: http://idonateplasma.blogspot.com/

Why Celiac Awareness is so Important