Young Woman’s Battle with Mystery Fatigue Leads to Life-Changing Diet Revelation
At 23, Lauren Harber was a young professional on the rise, but her life took a dramatic turn as she was plagued by relentless fatigue that no amount of sleep could cure. Despite rest, Lauren found even simple tasks exhausting, and her daily commute became increasingly difficult. “I couldn’t get to work without having to stop. I was so tired, even after a great night’s sleep,” Lauren shared, told the Express. By her early 20s, she was grappling with symptoms like unexplained exhaustion, skin flare-ups, and intense brain fog, which deeply affected her career and social life.
Lauren recalls feeling defeated, uncertain of what was wrong: “The fatigue was overwhelming. It wasn’t just being tired; it affected my life so much. I couldn’t go out with friends or show up fully at work”, Gloucestershire Live reports Her symptoms worsened over two years, eventually including acne-like skin problems, swelling around her eyes, and significant, unexplained weight loss.
Doctors initially recommended lifestyle changes, including reducing sugar and alcohol, but relief only came when a colleague suggested she cut out gluten. “I suddenly felt amazing,” Lauren shared. Although coeliac tests later came back negative, her body’s reaction to gluten-free living was undeniable. Lauren explained, “The doctors eventually agreed it was the coeliac disease, even though the tests were negative. Once people realize the impact gluten has, they don’t want to reintroduce it just for a formal diagnosis.”
Navigating a gluten-free world was challenging. “Free-from sections in supermarkets were few and far between,” Lauren recalled. Eating out became daunting, as she feared hidden gluten. “If I hadn’t made it myself, I didn’t trust what was in it. Eating out lost spontaneity,” she admitted, noting how gluten-free meals often came with a small flag, which felt embarrassing. Thankfully, the availability of gluten-free options has improved in recent years, but Lauren emphasizes there’s still progress to be made.
Now 34 and an advocate for gluten-free living, Lauren has found a supportive online community and even began sharing her journey on Instagram. After returning to the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic, she joined Genius Foods, a gluten-free company, using her experience to connect with others facing similar challenges. “The gluten-free community is unique because we’re unified by a medical need, not by choice,” Lauren noted. “In product development meetings, I’m always challenging people to keep the consumer at the heart of what we do. Just because we’re gluten-free doesn’t mean we should sacrifice taste or quality.”
The Coeliac Society of Ireland notes that nearly 2 in every 100 people have coeliac disease, yet 75% remain undiagnosed. With Coeliac Awareness Month focusing on symptoms and testing, nutritionist Sarah Keogh emphasized the need for proper diagnosis and support, encouraging anyone with IBS-like symptoms to get tested. Lauren’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of listening to your body and the relief that can come from a diagnosis, even when it requires significant lifestyle adjustments.