Derry farmer who thought he had ‘iron guts’ on coeliac diagnosis

A Co Derry farmer who was diagnosed with coeliac disease in his 70s says it’s never too late to get tested for the condition and says he feels as healthy as ever.

Robin Moran, 73, said he had always kept himself relatively fit and healthy, even after retiring his job as a construction engineer.

The part time farmer had experienced some minor symptoms including pins and needles and fatigue two years ago, which he put down to old age and had some routine blood tests done.

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The tests revealed he had coeliac disease, a condition which leads to your immune system attacking your own stomach lining when you eat gluten. It’s believed there could be as many as 10,000 people in Northern Ireland living with undiagnosed coeliac disease.

“I am retired and being a small farmer, I keep myself active and have always been relatively fit,” Robin says.

“I prided myself on being “iron guts”, being able to eat almost anything and very seldom had tummy upsets. Following a set of routine blood tests, my first signs of general and muscle fatigue which I had put down to my age, were diagnosed as very low foliate and a course of folic acid did the trick.

“Six months later, the fatigue symptoms returned along with pins and needles in my arms, legs and abdomen. The doctor had actually tested for the disease without telling me and later my wife actually had to twist my arm to ring and get the results.

“Now that I know that’s what the problem is I’m able to look after it really well. It just means being a bit more careful with the shopping and looking for gluten free alternatives.

“All the pins and needles and tiredness have gone. That’s two years ago now and I feel as well now as ever and at 73 that’s hard to believe."

Robin said some attitudes towards those dealing with the impact of coeliac disease make it less likely that people will come forward to get tested and are pushing through the discomfort.

“I think part of the problem is we have become a society where people don’t think enough about what they put in their bodies,” he says.

“I know plenty of people who wouldn’t really take this type of thing seriously. Even a lot of cafes and restaurants still don’t really cater for people like me. It’s certainly an uphill battle in some respects.”

Figures suggest only 36% of people who have coeliac disease are being diagnosed. Robin first spoke about the issues he was having with his GP and was then referred on to a gastroenterology specialist in the Western Trust who continues to help him today.

“It has really helped me, firstly to come to terms with having a disease, secondly helping me with the practical dietary stuff but more than that, I can now get a phone or personal appointment with Joy within a few days of one phone call.

“If you have any symptoms which you think may be caused by a disease like this, speak to your GP sooner rather than later.”

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