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  • Janet Blenner, Professor
    Janet Blenner, Professor

    A Celiac's Quality of Life: Passages

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    Journal of Gluten Sensitivity Autumn 2009 Issue. NOTE: This article is from a back issue of our popular subscription-only paper newsletter. Some content may be outdated.

    A Celiac's Quality of Life: Passages - Image: CC BY 1.0--cogdogblog
    Caption: Image: CC BY 1.0--cogdogblog

    Celiac.com 01/04/2020 - My interest in quality of life and celiac disease originated 4 years ago, beginning with my own diagnosis of celiac disease. I was relieved to finally have an accurate diagnosis after almost 15 years of misdiagnosis by an internist. He was convinced that my lack of energy was due to depression, but another physician, who suspected celiac disease, ran some tests and found that my lack of energy was due to limited absorption of nutrients.

    My psychological and subsequent physical relief over the diagnosis soon turned to frustration. I realized that I needed to adhere to a strict gluten-free diet. To my dismay, I found that many products contained gluten since it is an inexpensive binding agent. I also found it was necessary to be cautious about a variety of food products, vitamins, medications, toothpaste, lipstick and even postage stamps.

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    I initially thought "Why wasn't I taught any of this in my nursing program?" There was a lot of information on diabetic diets but virtually nothing on the gluten-free diet. Of course, I also remembered that the teachers taught us that celiac disease only occurs in children. Being a nursing professor, I was also alarmed at how little my colleagues knew about celiac disease and the gluten free diet.

    After a lot of reading about celiac disease I realized how common it is for physicians to misdiagnose it. Adult celiac disease is not emphasized in medical, nursing or other allied health educational programs. I guess I should forgive my internist!

    I decided to educate every doctor, nurse, student, and anyone else who would listen. I am sure that people whispered "Here comes the celiac advocate again." Educating health professionals was interesting. In fact, one nurse said to me that she could never be on a gluten-free diet.

    I said to her "Like one has a choice".

    In addition, my life as a social butterfly was undergoing a metamorphosis. My pre-celiac diagnosis life consisted of social interaction with friends and associates at restaurants, parties and other social events. My husband and I also enjoyed eating out at good restaurants. In addition, I love world travel and sampling various ethnic foods.

    Passage:

    "Is this GF diet a conspiracy to ruin my life?"

    Compulsive grocery shopping

    I began to see life as having dealt me a nasty card. I do not enjoy grocery stores and I previously spent as little time as necessary shopping for food. I used the get in–get out approach. I rarely looked at food ingredients. Grocery shopping was just a means to an end.

    Now I must compulsively check ingredients for any hint of gluten. It has become the enemy and it is secretly hiding everywhere. And it's not just in the grocery stores. In some restaurants waiters told me that there was no gluten in the food, then arrived with a dish crusted in bread crumbs. I especially enjoyed the time when a waitress said that we do not use wheat in this dish and came out with a flour tortilla.

    I once interviewed a Chef who told me that she was on a gluten-free diet for one year. She said that it was the most frustrating experience of her life. She said that gluten forms the cohesive basis for most foods. It was what made baked goods nice light and fluffy. She was glad that she no longer had to be on the diet.

    Oh yes! Did I tell you that I have a shelf filled with many gluten-free cookbooks? They are busy collecting dust. Good intentions but not one has been opened yet. This is, in part, due to my workaholic schedule but the rest you can attribute to my lack of motivation.

    Health Food Stores and Gluten-free products

    Thank goodness for the celiac support groups. The group in my area has been so active and has encouraged the local health food stores to carry a lot more gluten-free products. To my surprise they sell GF fresh baked goods and other groceries. I was thrilled! However, I also started realizing that these products were often more expensive and some of the baked goods were very dense with calories compared to those that contain gluten. I was consuming a lot more calories than I should eat.

    Weight gain

    The next problem was gaining weight. Being able to absorb nutrients now, and the high caloric content of much of the GF products, caused me to gain weight. I decided to search for weight loss programs that could accommodate a gluten-free diet. Programs such as Jennie Craig do not accommodate GF diets. I finally found an expensive weight loss program that provided a nutrionist to develop a customized program. As with other things in my life, the program closed seven months later.

    Passage: Perceiving the glass is half -full

    Being on a Gluten-free diet has had some positive outcomes.

    Eating healthy and friends

    Shopping in health food stores has made me eat healthier than I have ever eaten in my life. My social life is diminished but I have some really good friends who consciously try to provide gluten free food for me. Others view it as though it is a preference on my part saying: "You can have a little gluten." I now know who my real friends are.

    Making new friends

    I was on a movie set a couple of months ago and a well known actor was there. I found out that he has celiac disease. It was like meeting an old friend. We talked for over an hour about gluten free diets, and the impact it has had on both our lives. You see, being a celiac helps you make new friends!

    A New focus for my life's work

    Being a celiac has also provided a new focus for my research. I am trying to help better understand the quality of life issues for those of us with celiac disease. I feel like I have this "inside" perspective.

    In conclusion

    Someone asked me the other day "If you had a week to have whatever you want, what would you choose?" I surprised myself by saying "To eat regular food for one week. That would be my dream."

    She laughed. Then she realized that I was serious. Maybe I haven't come as far in my passages as I thought.



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    AnonyousCda

    CDC/regional health agencies need to take a more proactive/preventive care in testing everyone for Cediac/gluten allergies.  What a failed health organization.  How many people with Cediac/Gluten allergies committed violence, suicide, just plain homeless.  We must protect those just growing up without the knowledge we all suffered threw without knowing. 

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    Guest Marie

    I was asked how long I had to be on this gluten-free diet.  My answer....The rest of my life!!  I had a heart doctor tell me that I taught him something about medicine since there are so many that I can not use because they either have gluten in them or the companies cannot or will not tell what is in the meds.  I ended up writing my own cookbook because a lot of recipes, while gluten-free,  do not fit my other food problems.  I do not sell my cookbook, but share it with others just getting started.  There is so much stupid out there associated with gluten-free diets.  One has to be very careful...especially things like pre-sprouted grain or some of the lesser known grains.  I always end up with a long discussion with someone getting started.  I suggest fresh foods.  But, meat from grain fed animals can cause problems for some people. I can understand a person's frustration having to get started on a gluten-free diet.  I have created a couple of pages of helps I usually share with newbies.  After 18 years of doing this gluten-free thingee, people are accustomed to me arriving at fancy banquets with my cooler, or asking for strange things such as don't use iodized salt, please; or don't put any cheese, tomatoes or cucumbers on my salad, please!  But that's not a salad!!  To me it is!!!  I understand the dread in starting out.  I have several tried and true homemade breads I now use and I have adapted many of my favorite recipes to gluten-free successfully with my husband's help.  One of my favorites is calorie loaded....Biscuits and Chocolate Gravy Yum!  I did not mean to write a book, but I just wanted to say I understand the frustration of many. BTW I was diagnosed at 60 yrs old.

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    Guest Pam

    I was diagnosed at age 65 (two years ago)after a lifetime of wondering why I hurt after I ate, bloated and no energy! I also have lactose intolerance and hypothroidism. I take Tirosol-sol  for my hypothroidism , yet the medicine is quite expensive. I cannot take many anitbiotics that are pills as most have gluten binders.  I have many food allergies and have only gained 2 pounds in the two years I have been struggling to eat clean.  I only weigh 94 pounds. My problem has been trying to find a toothpaste that does not have ingredients I cannot have.  My mouth gets ulcer sores, which are also on my tongue along with a red throat.  I have tried Crest and Colgate products, many other supposedly gluten-free but many have carrageenan which is not good.  I say everyday to myself 'I am blessed that I am here'.  Many people do not understand it and wonder why I don't go to their houses to eat.  I tell them to look up your website to learn about it.  I thank your site for all the information I can amass!

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    Guest Mandy

    Posted

    I am a complete newbie to Celiac. I was tested positive a couple months ago and told that with my higher levels of certain antibodies I most likely am Celiac. I am still waiting to see a Gastroenterologist for possibly an upper endoscopy to be officially diagnosed. I am 35yr old mother of 4, and have been on a journey for a decade at this point with one doctor or another either saying maybe I just needed to be more physically active,( that just wipes me out like no other ), maybe I had thyroid problems, every single time a ew doctor would have me tested it was always negative. No one could explain why my hair is falling out, why I’m constantly anemic, why I have condromelasia, (that may be spelled wrong, my cartilage in my body is already deteriorating), which happens when I was having a dance party in the livingroom with my kids and as a result of my deteriorating joints the tendon in my hip tore clean off the bone. That’s how I found that little nugget out. I was diagnosed with that 4 yrs ago now. I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Along with my constant exhaustion, I sometimes am the only one in my house sick and I will be sick for weeks at a time and then it takes me another week or more to just recover from that. I would get extreme lethargy after eating meals. At times so bad my eyes would be involuntarily closing on me as my body was forcing itself to sleep. Finally I had gotten a new doctor who looked at my background asked me a series of questions NO ONE as previously asked and said she feels strongly I may have Celiac. Well we did the blood work and here we are. Finally, yet it is such a bittersweet thing. I finally know what is wrong with my body, however I have now been put in a box that the rest of the world is not on board with yet. My husband is trying his hardest to be supportive. But I must say this feels like an impossible task to accomplish with four children in tow who touch everything and try as I might, I just simply can’t get upset with them for not understanding how serious this is. They can’t see, touch it. It’s hard for me to understand let alone my children. I won’t lie and say sometimes I feel like I am floundering and just want to give up.

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    cristiana
    3 minutes ago, Guest Mandy said:

    I am a complete newbie to Celiac. I was tested positive a couple months ago and told that with my higher levels of certain antibodies I most likely am Celiac. I am still waiting to see a Gastroenterologist for possibly an upper endoscopy to be officially diagnosed. I am 35yr old mother of 4, and have been on a journey for a decade at this point with one doctor or another either saying maybe I just needed to be more physically active,( that just wipes me out like no other ), maybe I had thyroid problems, every single time a ew doctor would have me tested it was always negative. No one could explain why my hair is falling out, why I’m constantly anemic, why I have condromelasia, (that may be spelled wrong, my cartilage in my body is already deteriorating), which happens when I was having a dance party in the livingroom with my kids and as a result of my deteriorating joints the tendon in my hip tore clean off the bone. That’s how I found that little nugget out. I was diagnosed with that 4 yrs ago now. I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Along with my constant exhaustion, I sometimes am the only one in my house sick and I will be sick for weeks at a time and then it takes me another week or more to just recover from that. I would get extreme lethargy after eating meals. At times so bad my eyes would be involuntarily closing on me as my body was forcing itself to sleep. Finally I had gotten a new doctor who looked at my background asked me a series of questions NO ONE as previously asked and said she feels strongly I may have Celiac. Well we did the blood work and here we are. Finally, yet it is such a bittersweet thing. I finally know what is wrong with my body, however I have now been put in a box that the rest of the world is not on board with yet. My husband is trying his hardest to be supportive. But I must say this feels like an impossible task to accomplish with four children in tow who touch everything and try as I might, I just simply can’t get upset with them for not understanding how serious this is. They can’t see, touch it. It’s hard for me to understand let alone my children. I won’t lie and say sometimes I feel like I am floundering and just want to give up.

    Hi Mandy

    It is often quite a journey, as you have already discovered, to get to a diagnosis.   Your new doctor should be congratulated.   I'm so sorry you have had to go through so much but hopefully now you know that the problem is gluten, you can start to make changes that will really improve your health.  It can feel very overwhelming at first but just take one day at a time, you'll get there - as will your family.

    Don't hesitate to start up a new thread if you have any particular questions.  There's lots of really good information on this website, and this in particularly is a good place to start (see link below).

    Welcome to the forum!

    Cristiana

     

     

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    trents

    Pam,

    The best way to protect yourself from accidental gluten exposure and cross contamination in the home is for the rest of your family to commit to gluten free eating, at least when not dining out. The second best option would be to keep gluten free food items sequestered in a separate part of the kitchen or the house and make them off limits to others in the household. Make sure you are not using the same toaster as the rest of the family and make sure you do not use the same utensils that others are using to stir, serve or slice their gluten food until they have been thoroughly washed. And wash counter tops well.

    Please hear this because it's important! You must not start eating gluten free until after your endoscopy/biopsy. If you do, you will invalidate the test. You must be on regular amounts of gluten for at least two weeks before that test.

    Edited by trents
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  • About Me

    Janet Blenner, Professor

    Janet Blenner is a nursing professor at San Diego State University School of Nursing. She is currently developing a new celiac disease quality of life scale (CQOL). She educates all of the nursing students, physicians, practicing nurses, and patients with certain diseases such as Crohn’s to get tested for celiac disease. Although she already has tenure and a full professorship (she no longer needs to do research), living with celiac disease has made her want to study the quality of life issues that surround living a gluten-free life. She has developed a Celiac Disease Quality of Life Scale (CQOL), to enable health professionals, researchers and others to better study and document the quality of life issues in those with celiac disease. In addition, all the celiac research has had to rely on generic measures of quality of life, and these scales don’t begin to captivate our unique needs.


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