Senja
In a nutshell, I wasn’t concerned about any gastro-intestinal issues (although in hindsight I was experiencing some) but got concerned about my consistently high heart rate at the gym, and how it sometimes took a long time to settle afterwards. GP ordered generic blood test (but not the coeliac ones), discovered I have low iron, which improved with iron supplements. I also had a full hearth examination (stress test) to confirm nothing was wrong structurally. Low iron levels were put down to my heavy periods.
A year or two later, when my iron levels and post-gym heart rate remained normal, another GP suggested that rather than just keep taking iron tablets, we should do more blood tests to see WHY the levels were low. Coeliac serology indicated only slightly elevated antibodies (perhaps because I’ve never been a big bread and pasta eater), but enough so for the GP to send me for gastroscopy to rule out coeliac disease. Much to everyone’s surprise, the gastroenterologist reported immediately after the scope that I’m a clear case of coeliac disease, with lab test of scope samples really just a formality, as my gut was visibly and obviously damaged.
Many things have improved in my life since diagnosis and following a GF diet. Very grateful to my thorough GP who ordered the tests.