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Hotel Babylon star Michael Obiora has revealed his personal story of living with lactose intolerance and Coeliac disease, a condition which This Morning Doctor, Chris Steele, has also recently spoken out about.

Coeliac disease, which is often related to lactose intolerance, is a common bowel condition caused by intolerance to gluten, found in wheat, rye and barley. Coeliacs can experience similar symptoms to lactose intolerance, including stomach pain, bloating, diarrhoea, tiredness and anaemia.

And while Coeliac disease affects approximately one in 100 people in the UK, like those with lactose intolerance, many are unaware that they have it, which was exactly the case with both Michael Obiora and Chris Steele. Although he suffered from the age of seven, Michael wasn’t diagnosed until just two years ago thanks to a simple blood test. Dr Chris suffered for years and was misdiagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome before he was diagnosed as a Coeliac.

In their interviews, both featured on DailyMail.co.uk, they have spoken openly about their experiences.

After his diagnosis of lactose intolerance and coeliac disease, Michael attempted to follow a strict diet, but was prone to binging on his old favourite foods until it all became too much for him. He now sticks to a good diet and says that it is the best thing he has ever done. “I feel so much stronger. I run five miles a couple of times a week,” he said, “I want people to realise coeliacs haven’t got a food intolerance or allergy. Even friends will say: ‘Go on – eat it, it won’t kill you.’ They don’t realise that gluten is poisonous to me.”

Dr Chris urges others with similar symptoms to seek help: “I am worried that many people will continue to suffer as they won’t say to their GP “you’ve got this wrong”. They could feel so much better with just a simple change of diet.”

We’d love for you to share Your Story (link to Your Story page) of lactose intolerance or any other related conditions (link to related conditions page) to help others, all those who send their stories will receive vouchers to enjoy Lactofree on us!

Read Michael Obiora’s and Dr Chris Steele’s full stories, both at DailyMail.co.uk.