CaliSparrow

Your best is YOUR BEST regardless of what anyone else does!  It is a difficult lesson to learn but an important one.  Trust me, I've spent a lot of time wondering why I seemed to struggle more than my colleagues until this was uncovered.  You might read The Four Agreements.  It's a short, simple read but such wise life information.

Be sure to check your vitamins, toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, etc.  If you can make it to a nutritionist who KNOWS Celiac, do so.

Many Celiacs don't make it to college.  I think of all my experiences there while not understanding why I was always sick or having accidents.  oy!  A counselor told me to turn each negative I said about myself into two positives i.e. instead of berating myself for being late to class, acknowledge myself for GOING to class or even for being at school at all.

I don't think you're experiencing anything all of us haven't gone through at some point.  Don't be too hard on yourself.  Most of us would never talk to a friend the way we talk to ourselves.  Learning to treat ourselves with compassion is a lifelong journey.

Keep your chin up and congratulations on your schooling.  You may have to work harder but you are stronger for it.  Remember that because it's true even if you don't yet realize it.  Hang in there.

Blessings,

Cali

I think anger should be put back under control here.  This is a support group.  That means it's here for everyone who is hurting to get things off their chest especially to not burden friends & family.  Not quite sure what po'd Gemini off so much here.  It must be personal.  Do some work with the shadow and forgive others who are learning or on their own path.  They represent a part of you.  No one has the same story and this isn't a place to compare how great you are to others who are suffering. When I feel good, I don't come here.  When I don't, I do.  It's a place of discovery or just a place to vent.  All should feel welcome especially when they don't feel well.  Especially then!

Hi folks,

I am so happy!  Went on the gluten-free diet in October (to feel better like everyone talks about) and was that ever an eye opener!  I honestly had no idea that this could be my problem and really knew nothing about Celiac AT ALL!

My labs just came back since going gluten-free (albeit that is a struggle all it's own) and my Ferritin and Hemoglobin is rising with NO iron supplementation! It's a miracle!  My hematologist of three years (who has been pressing me about my GI doc missing something) just called THRILLED.  When I told him I was not taking supplements but had merely gone gluten-free, he said, "I hear you, I hear you.  Happy New Year dear!".

This journey has been so long.  I've spent so many years sick and, no, I don't have a crystal ball but just to THINK this is the answer, well, I am doing cartwheels (in my head because, Lord knows I don't feel well enough for the real ones YET).  But I finally have hope.

I'm sure I'll have more to share as the days go by but thank you for your support during this process so far.  It is quite the crazy journey at the beginning (WOW what a life changer) but I am so looking forward to continuing the healing process.  Thank God for the "fad diet"!  It ain't a fad to me.  It's a gift.

Sorry for blurting but today is a good day

Cali

I'm so glad it worked out for your son.  It's always uplifting to read that someone's health is doing better!

This helps me during flares:  http://www.livestron...-a-celiac-flare

Good luck!

Hi everybody,

I'm going to visit family out of town.  Does anyone have any tips on how to handle food?  There's a health food store in their town.  I've been gluten-free (for the second time) since the day after Thanksgiving and was glutened eating a gluten-free meal in a restaurant on Sunday.  It's easy to forget how lousy this is when you feel good and I don't want to "cave" and end up sick while visiting family.

Any advice would be appreciated since my experience is beginner level.  Do I have to worry about plates and utensils?  Do you eat before going out to eat with everyone to avoid restaurant eating?  I've eaten in two restaurants and was glutened once.  I want to avoid any possibility of getting glutened.

Can anyone advise?

On a side note, how do you turn down food someone offers you?  I'm seeing a lot of hurt expressions these days.  People like to share their food with each other!  So far the responses, "no thank you" and "does it have gluten in it?" elicit the hurt look... like their food isn't good enough.  It's a drag.

Thank you!

Cali