Monday, May 18, 2009

Diagnosis.

Friends, family, readers...

I have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease. It's been confirmed and my lifestyle change is in progress!! This is definitely a life change, but a blessing as well. (To follow my gluten-free eating adventures click here) It's a relief to finally know what has been causing me pain and discomfort as well as illness over the past year and a half. Changing my eating and lifestyle will definitely be a challenge but one I'm willing to tackle with the support of my family and the necessity to avoid further health complications.

I am gluten-intolerant. Allergic to wheat, barley, and rye. Gluten is in many more foods than anyone would think. Apart from breads and the obvious, gluten is hiding in foods like soy sauce, tortilla chips, candy, cold cuts, hot dogs, gravy, imitation fish, sauces, french fries, soup broths even cooking oil for grilling meat or spraying pans. Avoiding gluten is a tremendous challenge. 

The past two weeks have been a nightmare. I've been scared to eat anything and starving all the time. However, there are so many resources out there, so many things I can eat, safely. I have been eating really well this week and am already feeling better. 

While this will be difficult, it will be worth it! This disease is something I'll deal with for the rest of my life, as it has no cure, BUT!  If you know me well, you know I have a sweet tooth that must be satisfied! As I search for great gluten-free food, you can follow my findings (if you are so inclined) at my new gluten-free blog: 
I'll still be blogging here, don't worry ;)

I have a feeling gluten-free food is going to get better and better!


2 comments:

  1. UGH!!! That sucks! I have ALL of the symptoms... but when I went in last year and they did a stomach/esophageal/bowel biopsy, they found nothing.... so i have been trying to live gluten free... i can totally attest to how bad the food tastes at first! I'm praying for you! I would get in contact with Alyssa Fought, her and her son have celiac - she has some amazing recipes!

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  2. I have celiac disease too! I have had it about 4 years. You will get used to it, it really isn't so bad & you will always stay super skinny! But really it does kind of suck:)

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