What Helps You Stay Positive?

[ewalker]

Hi everyone, I've never posted on any kind of Celiacs forum before but I'm really feeling like I need to talk to some people who understand what I'm going through. I went through the typical millions of tests, seeing doctor after doctor until finally after a very long time I was diagnosed with Celiacs Disease in 2003 when I was 17. The past 8 years have definitely had their difficult moments but honestly most of the time I don't feel upset or really think "I have a disease" or whatever. It's only frustrating when I eat out or travel, etc. In general it's been a thousand times easier in the past few years to be gluten-free because it is finally being widely diagnosed and recognized. And there are many gluten-free alternative foods that didn't exist when I first found out I had Celiacs.

With all that said, I feel like I have kept a really positive attitude. I have some other health problems and a lot of friends with more serious illnesses and I know it could be a lot worse than just having to cut foods out of my diet, etc. Ever so often I would be at a party where someone ordered pizza or something and feel like "why do I have to have this disease?!" (pizza is my weakness!) But that didn't happen often, mostly I don't even think of it as an option to have anything with gluten so it doesn't really feel like I am missing anything, it's just a fact of life. And I know that the aftermath is not worth the short moment of pleasure. But the past few months, oh man, I have never wanted to eat foods with gluten in them so badly before! It's always on my mind and I have continually thought "maybe I can just try some, maybe it went away.." haha, sad I know. I just got married 3 months ago and I think it's been harder since then because my husband is not gluten-free and I get foods for him that I can't eat so for the first time I am constantly surrounded by foods I love but will never be able to have again. I just want to be able to order a pizza and share it with him! And I've been feeling SO frustrated!

Do you ever feel like this? What helps you in those times? For some reason lately it's just REALLY been getting to me. Any advice or thoughts are greatly appreciated

[captaincrab55]

I just want to be able to order a pizza and share it with him! And I've been feeling SO frustrated!

Do you ever feel like this? What helps you in those times? For some reason lately it's just REALLY been getting to me. Any advice or thoughts are greatly appreciated

One could just make a Gluten Free pizza....

[sa1937]

With all that said, I feel like I have kept a really positive attitude. I have some other health problems and a lot of friends with more serious illnesses and I know it could be a lot worse than just having to cut foods out of my diet, etc. Ever so often I would be at a party where someone ordered pizza or something and feel like "why do I have to have this disease?!" (pizza is my weakness!) But that didn't happen often, mostly I don't even think of it as an option to have anything with gluten so it doesn't really feel like I am missing anything, it's just a fact of life. And I know that the aftermath is not worth the short moment of pleasure. But the past few months, oh man, I have never wanted to eat foods with gluten in them so badly before! It's always on my mind and I have continually thought "maybe I can just try some, maybe it went away.." haha, sad I know. I just got married 3 months ago and I think it's been harder since then because my husband is not gluten-free and I get foods for him that I can't eat so for the first time I am constantly surrounded by foods I love but will never be able to have again. I just want to be able to order a pizza and share it with him! And I've been feeling SO frustrated!

Do you ever feel like this? What helps you in those times? For some reason lately it's just REALLY been getting to me. Any advice or thoughts are greatly appreciated

We all have our food cravings (pizza is my weakness, too). Is there anyway you could make your home gluten-free and let your hubby have all the gluten he wants when he's out of the house? I agree with CaptainCrab...you need to learn to make your own gluten-free pizza. It'll be so much better than anything you can buy and you can choose your favorite toppings.

My son-in-law has really worked to make a good gluten-free pizza, even though it's my daughter who has celiac. Except for bread for him and my granddaughter, their meals at home are all gluten-free.

While the selection of gluten-free foods has increased dramatically in the past few years, I buy very few processed foods. Just about anything I want, I can make better (well OK...I'm still working on bread ).

Welcome to the forum!

[IrishHeart]

Hi and Welcome!!

First, I want to say your very positive attitude is obvious in your words. Good for you!! You have not let Celiac "own" you all these years.

Secondly, it is difficult sometimes when I am around GEs (gluten eaters ) but only because of the convenience factor. I NEVER, ever feel the urge to cheat because the horrifying symptoms I have suffered for 4+ years are not worth it. This thing tried to kill me and caused dozens of symptoms that crippled me. My brain, muscles, joints, bones, hair, skin---everything was impacted deeply. That's how I stay focused and positive. Because I still have excruciating bone/joint/muscle pain and burning nerve pain and I am in rehab to get my muscles back, I have a different motivation to avoid gluten at all costs. I think of it as my kryptonite. and Super Girl can't fly when kryptonite is around.

How I remain positive is a mystery that I cannot explain. I certainly have had very dark moments while very ill pre-DX, but what kept me positive and searching for why I was so ill was my desire to live fully and take back what I had lost to this disease. My life--and my husband's too-- was put on hold and no one could tell me why. My husband is my best friend and my rock-- and he is mostly the reason why I fought so hard and was FINALLY properly Dxed.

He went gluten-free with me (he did not need to and I did not ask) because he thought the risk of cross contamination in the house was keeping me ill during the first few months after DX, despite how careful we were.

That said, I wonder if your cravings are not the result of being inadvertently CCed? (Just throwing that out there.)

Many people live successfully with GEs in their homes and I am not at all suggesting it is necessary for everyone to go gluten-free for you to remain safe. I am just suggesting (as Sylvia did) that perhaps hubs can eat gluten-free while at home with you??

I am thinking if there are no gluten-filled foods in the house, it may reduce your desire to cheat and the chances of CC. We used to make our own pizza and breads (before I got ill with celiac disease) and now, we have revamped nearly every recipe and are learning to deal with what is our "new life." We mourned it all, believe me, and we had to replace so many kitchen appliances and cutting boards, rolling pins, etc...arrgh!.

I second Capt. and Sylvia---Make pizza for the two of you to share!!! Make some bread or muffins and waffles and treat yourselves-- so you can both see that you DO have options to eat the foods you love. There are gluten-free alternatives for everything!!! Start googling, kiddo --- and get baking!! Jules Shepard and Mary Capone and Annalise Roberts and soooo many others have awesome recipes for Pizza crust, bread, cookies, etc.

If you have a few of these treats in the house, you and hubs can enjoy them together and keep you healthy and strong. Once I was able to eat and keep food in after five months or so, I started to introduce some of these gluten-free delights into my diet and I do not feel deprived any more. A yummy muffin is a positive boost, for sure.

What I think you may be missing more than the gluteny foods--is what I miss--the CONVENIENCE of foods that are so prevalent in our society--and unfortunately, they are mostly wheat-based.

Stay strong, hon! Eat some homemade gluten-free pizza with your man and have fun!! And best wishes on your new marriage...congrats!

Cheers!

[ewalker]

Thanks so much everyone! Those ideas are definitely helpful. I am torn because I don't want to make him eat gluten-free and I don't even really want to ask him to. He pretty much lives on bread and chicken tenders, etc and has hated every gluten-free thing he has eaten, haha. And I want to encouraged him so I make stuff especially for him, just have to find the balance I guess. Maybe if the recipe is really good he won't even notice the difference

Mostly I just do unprocessed foods as well, I pretty much cook some type of meat and a veggie for dinner and sometimes rice or whatever else. It's funny, even when I have some good gluten-free bread in the house I don't really eat it much, I guess I'm just so used to not having it.

You're definitely right IrishHeart, it's the convenience AND I want to be able to share with him. I know that sounds so silly, but I want to be able to steal a bite off his plate! Or split a meal when we eat out if I'm not very hungry. Sometimes we can but the foods he loves are the foods my body hates, ha. Guess I'll get used to it and find a good middle ground.

Oh and I am SO making a pizza tonight!

[IrishHeart]

Thata girl!!! and..there are ways to make chicken tenders, too!! Just have to use your imagination and creativity and hopefully, hubby will like them just as much. Have you checked the famous Glutenfreegirl's website? she may have a recipe for that. Really, there are so many good bloggers out there and I am betting someone has a good recipe. Someone may have posted one in the cooking section on here!

I was the all-time "can I just have a little bite?" off my guy's plate too.... and because I like to experiment in the kitchen, he has had to sample every darn thing I made for the last 15 years. (gluten-free cooking has been a bit daunting, but I never give up. ) Luckily, I am a pretty good cook and we never go hungry I used to make 6-8 course dinners for friends and that took a back seat when I became ill. I am making it my goal to resume all that creativity when I am better.

There's something about sharing food that is intimate and comforting and I do know what you mean about "missing " that !

Best wishes!

[IrishHeart]

Here are some chicken tenders that look amazing--

Open Original Shared Link

[Katrala]

My husband eats gluten when he's either away from home or eating by himself, but when we're eating a meal together (or as a family,) he generally eats gluten-free. This is really more about convenience of only fixing one meal rather than two and avoiding CC than it is about cravings, though.

Maybe slowly introduce him to gluten-free foods or, more easily, meals that are naturally gluten-free?

Or possibly ask that 1 meal per day that you guys share be gluten-free and experiment together to see what kinds of gluten-free meals you can come up with?

My husband and I loved reality food network shows before I was diagnosed and we still watch them, but now have fun asking, "That looks GOOD - how are we going to make it gluten-free?"

[Meatballman]

Hi everyone, I've never posted on any kind of Celiacs forum before but I'm really feeling like I need to talk to some people who understand what I'm going through. I went through the typical millions of tests, seeing doctor after doctor until finally after a very long time I was diagnosed with Celiacs Disease in 2003 when I was 17. The past 8 years have definitely had their difficult moments but honestly most of the time I don't feel upset or really think "I have a disease" or whatever. It's only frustrating when I eat out or travel, etc. In general it's been a thousand times easier in the past few years to be gluten-free because it is finally being widely diagnosed and recognized. And there are many gluten-free alternative foods that didn't exist when I first found out I had Celiacs.

With all that said, I feel like I have kept a really positive attitude. I have some other health problems and a lot of friends with more serious illnesses and I know it could be a lot worse than just having to cut foods out of my diet, etc. Ever so often I would be at a party where someone ordered pizza or something and feel like "why do I have to have this disease?!" (pizza is my weakness!) But that didn't happen often, mostly I don't even think of it as an option to have anything with gluten so it doesn't really feel like I am missing anything, it's just a fact of life. And I know that the aftermath is not worth the short moment of pleasure. But the past few months, oh man, I have never wanted to eat foods with gluten in them so badly before! It's always on my mind and I have continually thought "maybe I can just try some, maybe it went away.." haha, sad I know. I just got married 3 months ago and I think it's been harder since then because my husband is not gluten-free and I get foods for him that I can't eat so for the first time I am constantly surrounded by foods I love but will never be able to have again. I just want to be able to order a pizza and share it with him! And I've been feeling SO frustrated!

Do you ever feel like this? What helps you in those times? For some reason lately it's just REALLY been getting to me. Any advice or thoughts are greatly appreciated

May sound silly.When I get down I think to myself it could be a lot worse.I Could have one of the other horrible things the doctors thought I had originally.As far as the Pizza goes.Try AGAINST THE GRAIN PIZZA.You can even buy the shells and make your own.This Italian boy thinks they are pretty good.Good luck and keep your chin up.

[IrishHeart]

My husband and I loved reality food network shows before I was diagnosed and we still watch them, but now have fun asking, "That looks GOOD - how are we going to make it gluten-free?"

You sound like us!! and working TOGETHER in the kitchen is still romantic and fun. BTW, nice looking piece O'cake, there lady!! (drool) looks YUMMY!!!!!

[GlutenFreeManna]

Here's a pizza crust thread to help you find the perfect crust:

When you find a really good recipe, don't tell your husband it's gluten-free right away, just give it to him and see what he thinks. Then when he says it's good take piece yourself and tell him it's gluten-free. He might be hung up on the idea of gluten-free not tasting good and so he's hesitant to try things.

Also if you are in the US glutenfreeregistry.com has an "I want pizza" button for finding out if any restaurants in your area make gluten-free pizza.

[rainer83]

I find it hard sometimes to stay positive, myself. Especially around holidays. My parents have been accepting of the disease, but my sister (whom I don't get along with whatsoever) ops to make holiday dinners, and because of that, she doesn't make anything I can eat and doesn't even bother to let me volunteer to make anything extra. I haven't had an Easter or Thanksgiving dinner with my family in about 3 years because of her. Christmas is another thing, my mom will usually make dinner, and things I can eat. I'm usually depressed because of this, and her attitude towards me makes me feel like I'm never gonna be good enough for anyone, and I might as well stay used to being alone, cause no one's gonna want to "date someone with such an inconvenient diet"... according to her. It has not been an easy journey for me, but I have good friends who support me, and my parents do, and other people in my family who have been considerate towards me as well. Just a few months back, I had a going away party to attend, and a bachelorette party to attend, both occasions which someone had ordered gluten free pizza for me, and made gluten free dessert snacks. It's times like that I feel better, that people actually care... and all the snarky servers and my sister's attitude towards me and the other crap I've had to deal with, doesn't seem that significant anymore, because there are good people who don't people like me feel like crap.

[Takala]

working in the kitchen together is romantic and fun

.....whoever said this hasn't tried this in our kitchen

I used to have a farm kitchen the size of an airplane hanger. Now I have one half the size of a horse stall, in an otherwise normal sized ranch house. WTF were they thinking. And I have ideas on how I could change this workspace around a bit, and beloved will not cooperate. If we are both in it at the same time (shudder.... not often ) I will keep on hand on him to let him know where I am located, the way you do with an animal with a split brain perception, so we don't kill each other or ourselves. OKAY I AM TAKING THE PAN OUT OF THE OVEN, AND PUTTING IT DOWN ON THE STOVETOP TO YOUR RIGHT, OKAY? DON'T MOVE.

I JUST TURNED ON THE LEFT FRONT BURNER, OKAY? DO NOT SET IT THERE. I AM GOING TO OPEN THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR, MOVE THE DOG, OKAY ? Mission control, are we cleared for placing the baking soda on the counter.... HEY DON'T TOUCH THAT I'M NOT DONE YET. DO NOT BREAK THE EGG INTO THE BOWL FIRST, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT RAW EGG SPLAT THERE. NO! NOT THAT ONE. WASH IT FIRST. WAIT, I NEED TO SEE THE LABEL, what brand is this, I didn't buy it, dammit, where did this come from (muttering under my breath). No, you must have bought this, who cares, just let me see the label. I NEED SOMETHING OUT OF THE GARAGE, (storage area) BRB.

[GlutenFreeManna]

I find it hard sometimes to stay positive, myself. Especially around holidays. My parents have been accepting of the disease, but my sister (whom I don't get along with whatsoever) ops to make holiday dinners, and because of that, she doesn't make anything I can eat and doesn't even bother to let me volunteer to make anything extra. I haven't had an Easter or Thanksgiving dinner with my family in about 3 years because of her. Christmas is another thing, my mom will usually make dinner, and things I can eat. I'm usually depressed because of this, and her attitude towards me makes me feel like I'm never gonna be good enough for anyone, and I might as well stay used to being alone, cause no one's gonna want to "date someone with such an inconvenient diet"... according to her. It has not been an easy journey for me, but I have good friends who support me, and my parents do, and other people in my family who have been considerate towards me as well. Just a few months back, I had a going away party to attend, and a bachelorette party to attend, both occasions which someone had ordered gluten free pizza for me, and made gluten free dessert snacks. It's times like that I feel better, that people actually care... and all the snarky servers and my sister's attitude towards me and the other crap I've had to deal with, doesn't seem that significant anymore, because there are good people who don't people like me feel like crap.

I would not let just one person's attitude keep you from being able to enjoy Thanksgiving with your family. Most thanksgiving dishes are quite easy to make gluten-free. Last year, I made my entire Thanksgiving meal the day before thanksgiving then made myself a plate and took it to thanksgiving the next day. All I had to do was heat it up in a microwave and I was eating almost the same meal as everyone else, just gluten-free and safe for me to eat. I read on here recently someone saying they finally felt less depressed about having to be gluten-free when they realized they have to take responsibility for themselves and stopped expecting people to accomodate them. I find that to be true for me as well. If I don't expect to be accomodated then it is a happy surprise when someone does go the extra mile to have food I can eat. Oftentimes I also find that the people that don't want to accomodate at all are just scared they will do something wrong and make me sick (and that's also the main reaosn I don't eat much that other people prepare) Or they think gluten-free food is too complicated or expensive to make. I've seen at least a few people that have come around when they saw me eating normal stuff (like salads or a baked potato) and asked me if I had to do anything special to make that food gluten-free.

[GlutenFreeManna]

.....whoever said this hasn't tried this in our kitchen

I used to have a farm kitchen the size of an airplane hanger. Now I have one half the size of a horse stall, in an otherwise normal sized ranch house. WTF were they thinking. And I have ideas on how I could change this workspace around a bit, and beloved will not cooperate. If we are both in it at the same time (shudder.... not often ) I will keep on hand on him to let him know where I am located, the way you do with an animal with a split brain perception, so we don't kill each other or ourselves. OKAY I AM TAKING THE PAN OUT OF THE OVEN, AND PUTTING IT DOWN ON THE STOVETOP TO YOUR RIGHT, OKAY? DON'T MOVE.

I JUST TURNED ON THE LEFT FRONT BURNER, OKAY? DO NOT SET IT THERE. I AM GOING TO OPEN THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR, MOVE THE DOG, OKAY ? Mission control, are we cleared for placing the baking soda on the counter.... HEY DON'T TOUCH THAT I'M NOT DONE YET. DO NOT BREAK THE EGG INTO THE BOWL FIRST, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT RAW EGG SPLAT THERE. NO! NOT THAT ONE. WASH IT FIRST. WAIT, I NEED TO SEE THE LABEL, what brand is this, I didn't buy it, dammit, where did this come from (muttering under my breath). No, you must have bought this, who cares, just let me see the label. I NEED SOMETHING OUT OF THE GARAGE, (storage area) BRB.

Hilarious and true when you have tiny kitchen. I had one like that for two years and about killed my hubby several times. We could not open the oven, dishwasher or fridge at the same time. All the doors hit each other so it was like doing gymnastics if you needed to get a drink of water from the fridge while unloading the dishwasher. If we halfway closed the dish washer we could open the fridge about four inches and get out a water bottle or a narrow britta pitcher. Everything had to be closed though and no one could even stand in front of the kitchen sink if we wanted to get something out of the oven. I'm convinced that whomever designed that kitchen had never been in a kitchen before in their life. That or they have a very sick sense of humour.

[IrishHeart]

.....whoever said this hasn't tried this in our kitchen

I used to have a farm kitchen the size of an airplane hanger. Now I have one half the size of a horse stall, in an otherwise normal sized ranch house. WTF were they thinking. And I have ideas on how I could change this workspace around a bit, and beloved will not cooperate. If we are both in it at the same time (shudder.... not often ) I will keep on hand on him to let him know where I am located, the way you do with an animal with a split brain perception, so we don't kill each other or ourselves. OKAY I AM TAKING THE PAN OUT OF THE OVEN, AND PUTTING IT DOWN ON THE STOVETOP TO YOUR RIGHT, OKAY? DON'T MOVE.

I JUST TURNED ON THE LEFT FRONT BURNER, OKAY? DO NOT SET IT THERE. I AM GOING TO OPEN THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR, MOVE THE DOG, OKAY ? Mission control, are we cleared for placing the baking soda on the counter.... HEY DON'T TOUCH THAT I'M NOT DONE YET. DO NOT BREAK THE EGG INTO THE BOWL FIRST, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT RAW EGG SPLAT THERE. NO! NOT THAT ONE. WASH IT FIRST. WAIT, I NEED TO SEE THE LABEL, what brand is this, I didn't buy it, dammit, where did this come from (muttering under my breath). No, you must have bought this, who cares, just let me see the label. I NEED SOMETHING OUT OF THE GARAGE, (storage area) BRB.

:lol: I just read this out loud to hubby--who said " HEY!! has she been spying on us? " ..yup, this could be a scene from OUR kitchen too :lol:

Thanks for the near pee- in- my- pants moment just now--- as you described some of our adventures in the kitchen to a tee. We also have a small ranch house country kitchen with a limited area to work. One butcher block table in the middle for the both of us to use....my sweetie--a big, tall guy who always manages to fling flour everywhere (but makes such good bread and pizza crust that I cannot get angry at him)...add in a dog and a few cats --all of whom manage to get flour on them as well (what the hell? ) --and well, I GUESS that's what I meant about the FUN part ....

I was trying to convince the newlywed it is romantic and fun to work in the kitchen....but OMG...I'm still laughing. Maybe her kitchen is bigger.......Thanks for the giggle, Takala!

[IrishHeart]

I find it hard sometimes to stay positive, myself. Especially around holidays. My parents have been accepting of the disease, but my sister (whom I don't get along with whatsoever) ops to make holiday dinners, and because of that, she doesn't make anything I can eat and doesn't even bother to let me volunteer to make anything extra. I haven't had an Easter or Thanksgiving dinner with my family in about 3 years because of her. Christmas is another thing, my mom will usually make dinner, and things I can eat. I'm usually depressed because of this, and her attitude towards me makes me feel like I'm never gonna be good enough for anyone, and I might as well stay used to being alone, cause no one's gonna want to "date someone with such an inconvenient diet"... according to her. It has not been an easy journey for me, but I have good friends who support me, and my parents do, and other people in my family who have been considerate towards me as well. Just a few months back, I had a going away party to attend, and a bachelorette party to attend, both occasions which someone had ordered gluten free pizza for me, and made gluten free dessert snacks. It's times like that I feel better, that people actually care... and all the snarky servers and my sister's attitude towards me and the other crap I've had to deal with, doesn't seem that significant anymore, because there are good people who don't people like me feel like crap.

Oh kiddo, I am sorry your sister is not only non-supportive, but downright cruel. Do NOT let her comments get to you!! Her ignorance of celiac disease is a shame. Given the genetic component, she should be careful she isn't "inconvenienced" herself in the years to come.

Unfortunately, we hear stories of family members with this snarky attitude all the time on here.

I am glad you have supportive parents--can't they speak to your sister on your behalf?

You are welcome to come to my house for Thanksgiving. All gluten-free --all the time!!

I am not kidding. I'm in NY.... You shouldn't have to put up with that kind of abuse. Boo on her.

Stick to the people who "get it" and who love you for who you are!

Cheers,

IH

[Strawberry-Jam]

How do I stay positive?

To be honest, I stay positive only with a heckuva lot of prayer.

My health remains rather poor (for my age--I'm 22) even after over nine months gluten-free and soy-free and about a month of a backwards elimination diet (eliminating suspected foods one at a time until you're left with the failsafe diet or 5 food elimination diet or something like that). I have daily headaches, reflux after every meal, in the mornings, and even on an empty stomach during a fasting day. My energy level is crap so I have to carefully ration out my energy and activities, forgoing fun for sleep and so on. Interestingly enough, the only time I actually feel "well" is when I am walking somewhere, so I make sure to get in at least 45 minutes of walking a day, but it usually ends up being two or three hours of walking in total.

So I pray a lot and I whine at God for giving me these troubles and then I remember that he had his own share of troubles as a human that were probably much worse than mine.

It also really helps me to write, draw, and otherwise be creative. I can funnel negative energy, sadness, melancholy, etc. into short stories and poems, and it really helps me to get it off my acid-burnt chest. And when I write fiction I make sure that the characters in my stories eat gluten free, darn it!

[IrishHeart]

I have daily headaches, reflux after every meal, in the mornings, and even on an empty stomach during a fasting day. My energy level is crap so I have to carefully ration out my energy and activities, forgoing fun for sleep and so on. Interestingly enough, the only time I actually feel "well" is when I am walking somewhere, so I make sure to get in at least 45 minutes of walking a day, but it usually ends up being two or three hours of walking in total.

I feel for you and your BURNING...I was burning constantly from my mouth, tongue, lips right down to my rectum (sorry to be graphic, but it's true) & wide awake for hours every night for 2 years with a burning chest, stomach and pain that is unimaginable. I cried every night and after almost every meal. One thing that really helped me was using digestive enzymes and probiotics. Drink a lot of water. No dairy.

I have no acid reflux disease now (they told me I had GERD back in 1999!) and I can even....gasp!!!....drink Orange Juice!!! Never thought that would happen again in this lifetime. I recently ate pasta and SAUCE!! I haven't had tomato sauce or citrus in 2 years either.

I humbly suggest you try the probiotics & digestive enzymes for a few months, if you haven't already. See if that helps?

Not sure that fasting is at all beneficial with reflux disease as the stomach acid will just increase. (I tried that, too--to no avail)

Best wishes!

[Strawberry-Jam]

Enzymes really help, I've noticed. I had been cutting back on my usage of them to save money and that is part of why, I think, my reflux worsened. It also helps a lot to maintain a perfectly straight spine for at least a few hours after eating (no reclining and NO SLOUCHING!!!!argh. I need to listen to myself)

probiotics seemed to make me gassy last time I tried them and I don't think I could afford them AND enzymes at the moment.

sigh...

[rainer83]

Oh kiddo, I am sorry your sister is not only non-supportive, but downright cruel. Do NOT let her comments get to you!! Her ignorance of celiac disease is a shame. Given the genetic component, she should be careful she isn't "inconvenienced" herself in the years to come.

Unfortunately, we hear stories of family members with this snarky attitude all the time on here.

I am glad you have supportive parents--can't they speak to your sister on your behalf?

You are welcome to come to my house for Thanksgiving. All gluten-free --all the time!!

I am not kidding. I'm in NY.... You shouldn't have to put up with that kind of abuse. Boo on her.

Stick to the people who "get it" and who love you for who you are!

Cheers,

IH

Thank you for the kind words They are always appreciated

My sister is actually adopted, and so far she doesn't seem to have anything that's been genetically predisposed to her (meanwhile my family has heart disease, high cholesterol, celiac/crohns, breast cancer). She's very over weight and eats very unhealthy, and she recently had to undergo testing for Diabetes. According to my mom, she's too scared to get her results, so she's been avoiding the doctor's phone calls. I honestly don't wish bad things upon people, no matter how much they've wronged me, but I just wish I had the chance to just rip on her if she ever said anything about her diet and no one caring. I'm still waiting for the day, and that's bad, but it's from 20 years of something that goes beyond sibling rivalry.

My group of friends I'm around for the most part have all been understanding, and my best friend of 10 years has Crohns, and has been helping me. It's nice to be surrounded by positive people!

[IrishHeart]

Thank you for the kind words They are always appreciated

My sister is actually adopted, and so far she doesn't seem to have anything that's been genetically predisposed to her (meanwhile my family has heart disease, high cholesterol, celiac/crohns, breast cancer). She's very over weight and eats very unhealthy, and she recently had to undergo testing for Diabetes. According to my mom, she's too scared to get her results, so she's been avoiding the doctor's phone calls. I honestly don't wish bad things upon people, no matter how much they've wronged me, but I just wish I had the chance to just rip on her if she ever said anything about her diet and no one caring. I'm still waiting for the day, and that's bad, but it's from 20 years of something that goes beyond sibling rivalry.

My group of friends I'm around for the most part have all been understanding, and my best friend of 10 years has Crohns, and has been helping me. It's nice to be surrounded by positive people!

There's nothing worse than someone who is NEGATIVE all the time. I know many people like this and after a while, I just had to curtail how much time I spent with them. I mean, really, I was so sick and in constant pain for nearly 4 years and I still managed to find humor every day---something that some of the negative sad-sacks I know cannot possibly do.....geesh

They suck the air out of the room, don't they? Avoid them.

I wonder....diabetes is OFTEN associated with gluten intolerance....

Here's what I know about human nature. When I wondered where some of the people in my life disappeared to when I became quite ill and incapacitated ...I would cry and ask my husband: Why don't they care--where is their compassion?.... and I realized, you cannot give what you do not have.

Human nature. Always interesting.

Best wishes, hon! keep your chin up!