Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com!
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Is It Normal?

AfterAll

By AfterAll
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

AfterAll Apprentice
AfterAll
Posted

to have a hard time adjusting to having Celiacs on an emotional level? I feel like I am almost in mourning sometimes. I never got to say goodbye to my favorite foods before cutting them out forever. Don't get me wrong... I am living my life, and most of the time I am fine, but sometimes I just don't want to be "different"... I want to be me, just a version of me that is more like everyone else.

I hate that my dietary needs and restrictions are constantly a topic of conversation among friends, family, and coworkers; that I need to think and plan ahead no matter where I go or what I do; and that sometimes if I don't plan ahead, I end up eating nothing and pretending that I am fine with it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

Yes, it is normal. Grief or mourning is a normal reaction to the diagnosis. You will move through the stages. You seem to currently be at the anger stage. You will reach acceptance and recovery. It will take time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

Welcome AfterAll!

Yes, what you are feeling is completely natural. It is important to give yourself time to adjust. Time does makes it easier - time allows those around us to adjust, eventually your diet will not be the focus of conversation - the amount of time differs for everyone. While checking every label never ends it does become second nature and far less time consuming.

Hang in there - we've all gone thru it so feel free to come here to vent, ask questions and find some helpful hints to shorten the duration of transition frustration!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
shadowicewolf Proficient
shadowicewolf
Posted

Very, but you'll find replacements or gluten free items that you can eat.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
gfcolorado Newbie
gfcolorado
Posted

It's totally normal and it does get better. For me, the first year was really hard. I wanted to eat everything that I couldn't eat. And the first of everything is hard....first dinner party, first vacation, first Thanksgiving. But, it does get easier and I really feel fortunate that I can control my health through my diet. I have several friends with cancer and I look at what they have to go through. It also has made my life more interesting. I have tried restaurants that I never would have gone too and when I travel I get to see areas I would never have gone to because they have a #gluten-free restaurant.

Another important thing is to always have emergency food with you. And eat before you go to parties so you don't get sad when you can't eat anything...and then you are pleasantly surprised if you can.

It's an adjustment but it gets easier! Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
flowerqueen Community Regular
flowerqueen
Posted

I agree, it's completely normal. Having said that, things do get better as you learn to adjust. I have adopted the 'attitude of gratitude' though, it makes me appreciate what I have got and not what I don't have. It's probably done me a favour, as I look very carefully at what I am eating now, and my diet has improved immensely - I didn't realise how much I'd let my diet 'slide' until I had to examine everything I ate. I eat food mainly prepared from scratch now and make healthful choices. Eleven months in and I still can't tolerate dairy and a lot of sugar but I'd much rather be healthy than indulgent, even if I have to remind myself of that fact ;) It will get better with time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Celiac Mindwarp Community Regular
Celiac Mindwarp
Posted

I am still doing anger and denial (though still gluten-free!!!) fairly regularly.

Seeing folks here who have got through it gives me hope though.

Good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


AfterAll Apprentice
AfterAll
  • Author
Posted

Thanks everyone! I wouldn't say that I am angry- anger is a strong word. I am just annoyed, haha.

I am also adjusting to people saying to me "My God, what DO YOU eat?"..."You mean you can't eat bread? I'd kill myself"... and the blank stare that ensues afterward when I am trying to contemplate what to say in response. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

I am also adjusting to people saying to me "My God, what DO YOU eat?"..."You mean you can't eat bread? I'd kill myself"... and the blank stare that ensues afterward when I am trying to contemplate what to say in response. :)

The adjustment will come. Soon you'll your answers will roll off your tongue with a smile on your face.

"Well, I eat wonderful foods and have replaced bread quite nicely - I feel much better and know I can manage a serious health condition with the food I eat rather than with harsh medications - I feel lucky, not punished - there really is no reason to feel sorry for me, but I do appreciate your concern"

edited to add - yes I actually say things like this all the time - but it didn't come easy, naturally or quickly - it all took time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      120,987
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    happydays
    Newest Member
    happydays
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • TessaBaker
      Hair loss

      By TessaBaker · Posted

      It sounds like you're dealing with a complex situation, and I can understand how frustrating it must be not to have a clear answer. Gut health can indeed play a significant role in various aspects of our well-being, including hair health.
    • Celiac16
      Thiamine supplementation

      By Celiac16 · Posted

      I have found similar benefits from thiamine. I was diagnosed with celiac at 16 and never really recovered despite strict gluten and dairy free diet and no detectable antibodies on checkup bloodworks. I’ve tried stopping the b1 but start to feel bad again- I wanted my doctors to do more extensive testing for the different thiamine transporters and enzymes which would be a better indication if I was deficient or dependent on it but everyone dismisses it (there are know genetic mutations where you need to take it daily for life). I have looked into Thiamine Responsive Megablast Anemia and I have a lot of the more mild symptoms of the disease that manifest when thiamine isn’t given to the patient such as optic neuritis… I just find the parallels interesting. i think that celiacs could be a side issue of inflammation that resulted from vitamin deficiencies. I was eating a lot of sugar leading up to my diagnosis and since eating gluten free didn’t make me feel much better, I’m wondering if this was more the underlying issue (sugar heavily depletes b1). I usually take 1.5g thiamine a day.
    • Fluka66
      Waiting for urgent referral.

      By Fluka66 · Posted

      Thank you for your welcome and reply.  Yes I've been carefully reading labels looking for everything in bold and have been amazed by what I have seen. However Heinz tomato and basil soup is wheat free so I m thinking I already have ulcers?  The acid could be causing the pain . My pain always starts in one place then follows the same route through me . GP confirmed that is the route of our digestive system.  So much pain from stabbing to tearing. If I throw in milk with lactose it's horrific.  Many years of it now, won't go into details but been seeing a consultant for a supposedly different problem . Wondering what damage has been done over the years. Many thanks for your reply. Wishing you the very best.    
    • trents
      Waiting for urgent referral.

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum community, @Fluka66! Did you realize that the vast majority of all canned soups use wheat starch as a thickener, including such common commodities as Campbell's tomato soup?
    • Fluka66
      Waiting for urgent referral.

      By Fluka66 · Posted

      Hello. Any help would really steady my nerves right now. I realised recently that certain food left me in agonising pain so eliminated from my diet. I also have a swollen lymph node. My very caring Dr did some blood tests and I went back the other day to see another equally caring Dr . She looked at the test results one result has come back with something wrong. It came very fast so I'm afraid I didn't catch what it was. Anyway the urgent referral to ENT. She did say as I had already eliminated gluten it wouldn't say anything on the results and neither Drs nor I were prepared to reintroduce gluten . I've just had some tomato soup and again in agony only thinking this must have aggravated maybe existing problems. Does anyone know what I'm facing now ? My swollen lymph node , pain when eating gluten and lactose and I'm assuming the acidity of tomatoes triggering pain.  I'm trying to stay calm and to be honest I've been in intolerable pain at times rendering me unable to stand up straight but I've always just got on with it . Guess I'm reaching out and would really appreciate any wise or unwise words at this stage. Wishing you all the very best as you live with this illness. Fluka66  
×
×
  • Create New...