Other Hidden Illnesses

Osteoporosis

Time taken to Diagnose: 10-20 years

Misdiagnosed as: Osteomalacia (weakening of bones caused by Vitamin D deficiency)

With osteoporosis, more bone is broken down than replaced, leading to fragile bones that break easily. The first symptom of osteoporosis is often a fracture. It usually takes at least three fractures before doctors question if the patient may have osteoporosis.

When someone - especially a post-menopausal woman, someone who has been prescribed a long-term course of steroids, or a person with Celiac Disease - suffers a break after minimal force, they should always be offered a DEXA or DXA scan (a bone-mineral density scan), which checks for osteoporosis or osteopenia (decreased bone-density, often the precursor to osteoporosis).

It's important that osteoporosis (and osteopenia) is diagnosed early. A hip fracture raises the risk of dying for three whole years after the fracture.

Early diagnosis means that treatment with specialist medication to strengthen bones (such as Risedronate), and potentially Calcium and Vitamin D if the patient is deficient. Early treatment means a reduced risk of future serious fractures.

I think I may have osteoporosis: If you have a fracture following a low-impact injury, such as stepping off a kerb, ask for a bone density scan.

Celiac Disease

Time taken to diagnose: 13 years

Misdiagnosed as: IBS; poor diet; anaemia caused by heavy periods

Celiac Disease affects 1 in 100 people, yet it is one of the hardest hidden illnesses to diagnose. In Celiac Disease, the body can't digest gluten (found in wheat, barley, rye and oats), and treats it like an invader, triggering an autoimmune reaction and causing damage to the intestine.

Symptoms include anaemia (caused by not being able to digest nutrients), malnutrition, fatigue, abdominal pains, bloating and flatulence, and diarrhoea,

One of the problems is that many adult Celiac patients display with very few, often understated, abdominal symptoms. Celiac adults tend to me more affected by anaemia. This means that their mild bloating can be dismissed as IBS, and thought unrelated to the chronic anaemia.

According to Sarah Sleet of Coeliac UK, the problem is that "We have a generation of family doctors who think that if someone has coeliac disease they will have gut symptoms - but the most common symptom is anaemia."

Fortunately, once diagnosed, the treatment is easy. A complete, lifelong diet free of wheat and gluten will lead to you recovering your health and vitality in a period of six months. Even if you don't have gastrointestinal symptoms, continuing to eat gluten will cause serious long-term complications.

I think I may have Celiac Disease: A simple blood-test will detect antibodies to gluten.

READ Celiac Disease Vs. Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity

Hepatitis

Time taken to diagnose: 20-30 years

Misdiagnosed as: Fatigue

Hepatitis C is a virus passed on through infected blood, such as by blood transfusions given before 1991 (when screening began in the UK), or through dirty needles or unsterilised medical equipment. The virus replicates in the liver, and - beyond the early stages - the liver can no longer repair the damage.

One in three people with Hepatitis C have the early symptoms: chronic tiredness, joint pain, and brain fog. However, it's common to be infected for 30 years before being diagnosed. That's partly because it's only in the later stages when symptoms worsen, leading to: nausea, abdominal pain, yellow skin, and itching.

Untreated Hepatitis C will reduce your life expectancy by a decade.

I think I might have Hepatitis C: If these symptoms are ringing bells, ask for a blood test. This is especially important if you had a blood transfusion anytime before the late 1980s, or have had medical treatment abroad, not only in high-risk countries (such as Pakistan or Egypt) but anywhere.