by Dr. Emily Martin, ND
I’m currently practicing as a naturopathic doctor in Ontario and my journey to becoming an ND started with my celiac diagnosis. I was diagnosed with celiac disease when I was 19 years old, after my first year of university. I had always had a sensitive digestive system but my symptoms got significantly worse when I went away to university. I had the classic symptoms of celiac disease, including frequent diarrhea, gas and bloating, stomach pain and feeling tired all the time. Unfortunately, it can take some people a long time to get diagnosed with celiac, especially if they don’t have the classic symptoms or a family history. Luckily, I was able to see my doctor and get tested quite quickly. I do have a family history of celiac. My grandmother (on my mom’s side) was diagnosed about 10 years prior to me. This helped speed up the diagnosis for me.
I started with the blood test for the tissue transglutaminase (TTG) antibody and it was positive. Based on this result, my symptoms, and my family history, my family doctor diagnosed me with celiac disease and told me to start a gluten free diet. I knew how to follow a gluten free diet because of my grandmother following one so I went ahead with it on my own. In hindsight, it would have been beneficial to get the support of a dietitian or naturopathic doctor, as well as a gastroenterologist. I did the gluten free diet for about 6 months and I felt better but I was still experiencing a lot of the same symptoms (just to a lesser degree). My doctor referred me to a gastroenterologist at this point. The gastroenterologist wasn’t convinced that I had celiac disease since my TTG test had only been borderline positive and I hadn’t seen significant enough improvements from the gluten free diet. It was decided that I would go back on gluten (do the “gluten challenge”) for 3 months and then we would do an endoscopy and small intestine biopsy. This is the gold standard method for diagnosing celiac disease.
The gluten challenge had its pros and cons. I definitely had worsened symptoms again but I did get to enjoy many of the treats that I had missed in my time on the gluten free diet. After the 3 months, I did the endoscopy and it confirmed that I had celiac disease. The gastroenterologist said I would just need to continue with the gluten free diet. I likely needed more time for my small intestine to heal completely and my symptoms to improve more significantly.
I was glad to have the official diagnosis but I wasn’t satisfied with just waiting and hoping my symptoms would get better with more time. This is when I discovered naturopathic medicine. I found a naturopathic doctor who had a focus in digestive health and I enlisted her support in finding ways to improve my symptoms. It turns out that I likely have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) in addition to celiac disease. I did the low FODMAP diet to figure out other food sensitivities, I added probiotics and peppermint oil, and I did a variety of other things to support my digestive health and my mental health (anxiety is common for people with celiac disease and it was definitely part of my story).
I am so grateful that my story has come full circle and that I now get to work with patients who have celiac disease. I love being able to support these patients in their health journey and make the diagnosis of celiac disease a little less overwhelming.
Meet Dr. Emily Martin, a caring and passionate naturopathic doctor who knows firsthand what it’s like to live with celiac disease. After her own diagnosis at 19, she made it her mission to help others with digestive issues, offering expert support for conditions like IBS and IBD. Emily also loves working with families, guiding women through preconception, pregnancy, and beyond. Whether you're looking for digestive help or family wellness support, she’s got you covered with in-person and virtual appointments across Ontario!
Connect with Dr. Emily Martin
Website: https://emilymartinnd.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dremilymartin.nd/
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