Happy Saturday, Friends! This may seem a little receptive by now, but I promise come May and we have this great resource where everyone shares their thoughts/feelings… it will be so wonderful! 🙂 (Don’t worry, there is only one more after this!)
With that being said… it’s that time again… I want to hear from YOU! Thanks to everyone who answered my first two questions about the challenges living with celiac, as well as tips when you get “glutened”. If you haven’t answered yet, I’ve got you covered… just click HERE and HERE!
If you’re new around here and have no clue what I’m talking about… that’s okay too! Here’s the deal…Â May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month, so I want to compile YOUR thoughts and feelings regarding the illness and share (anonymously) with everyone in order to help shed light and build a community together!
I want YOU to share YOUR feelings about living with the disease… this way we can see we’re not alone!
On to the third question:
“Something positive that came out of my celiac diagnosis is _____.”
The obvious for everyone is most likely FEELING BETTER! But, how about other ways it has impacted your life for the better? When I first got diagnosed, I couldn’t begin to imagine anything positive about celiac other than feeling better… but surprisingly there are many positives for me! I will share my thoughts with you when I post everyone else’s.
Your answers will be published in a blog post in May and will be anonymous, so if you’re uncomfortable leaving a comment here, please feel free to email me (kristina@msmodify.com).
I LOVE hearing from you and I know that your responses truly help others living with celiac!
Thanks for your help and have a fantastic weekend!!
xo, Kristina
The best thing for me is that I know if not eating something makes me feel better, I won’t eat it. I know I am in charge, and not my stomach. Since going gluten free, I’ve had to give up dairy. That was harder, but not impossible. When something doesn’t make you feel well, why would you want to eat it? I have been listening to my body more and lately there have been a few foods that I’ve always eaten, that no longer appeal to me, and in fact, the idea of eating them was unappetizing. I’m not sure what that’s about, but I no longer use pickles, olives, or anything with a lot of vinegar. I have had to make my own mayo and things, which is fine, and I enjoy it. If you know you have to make it, you tend to eat smaller portions, so double win! I have recently made it through a nearly two year battle with gastroparesis, which entails eating five very small, limited meals a day, and cutting way back on fiber, and even having to eliminate certain foods. It is finally showing major signs of improvement. My next endoscopy should confirm it. I am one of the lucky ones. This has all combined to make me more aware of what I eat, and to make more informed and thoughtful choices. Having gone gluten free made it easier to go dairy free and to be realistic about the gastroparesis. I knew that would be a short term sentence compared to celiac disease and casein intolerance. It has all made me realize that nothing is impossible, and that I am strong and determined enough to overcome some major challenges. i dontnconsider being gluten free a negative, but a positive.
Of course, feeling better is the #1 reason. But, I have met interesting people and received helpful information from the people and nutritionist at the Celiac Support group I attend. After eating pretty much what I wanted for 65 years, it was difficult to change my eating habits. But, having Celiac has opened the door to new recipes, grains, and in general a wider variety of foods. I think the most important thing I have learned is how our microbiome affects our health. Trying to learn as much about this as possible has influenced the way I eat and the attention I pay to the effect, even gluten free foods have on my intestines, which results in how I feel.
Peace. Of. Mind! For years I wrestled with so much pain without understanding why. Every time the doctors thought it was one thing, treated me, and it failed, I became more and more disheartened. By the time I got diagnosed with Celiacs I was set that it would be my final visit to the doctor and I would just live with the unknown. As hard as living with Celiac is, I am forever thankful to finally know what harms me and how to take care of myself. I don’t have to live with so much fear anymore and nothing can replace that peace of mind.
getting glutened when one has CD is not just about feeling miserable for a day, it is a cascading effect of new autoimmune diseases. Celiacs add a new autoimmune illness to the mix every so often. Having a diagnosis alterts a celiac to what we have to do to try to prevent future problems.