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Dealing With Celiac

roxanne40

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roxanne40 Newbie
roxanne40
Posted

I just had my 3 year anniversary of being diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I have a family and I am so tired of dealing with this disease and all of its ramifications on a daily basis. How do I get over this hump? I am gluten free but feel so tired a lot of the time. Do other people feel this way? Any ideas would be helpful.

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kbtoyssni Contributor
kbtoyssni
Posted

By tired do you mean emotional or physical fatigue? If it's physical, maybe you still have some underlying health conditions that you haven't discovered yet. If it's emotional, I'd recommend seeing a therapist.

Is your entire family gluten-free? I now live alone. My entire apartment contains no gluten so I don't have a daily struggle with the disease. When I go to visit my parents I constantly have to be thinking about it because there's gluten in the house. I don't think it's too much trouble for an entire family to have gluten-free personal care products and for food to be mostly gluten-free. Maybe have one shelf of gluten food for the other family members. I also wouldn't make gluten food for the rest of the family. If they want it, they can prepare it themselves.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

part of it depends on how often it's hard to deal with it. if I'm having to go out all the time, I get tired of it too. if I'm just operating under a normal schedule and cooking at home like I prefer to, I hardly notice a difference. adjusting a bit to make it a more normal aspect in your life can help make those things easier. (of course, it depends on the cooperation of those around you - if they're not cooperative, you get to start practicing 'no'. :-/)

Mayflowers Contributor
Mayflowers
Posted
part of it depends on how often it's hard to deal with it. if I'm having to go out all the time, I get tired of it too. if I'm just operating under a normal schedule and cooking at home like I prefer to, I hardly notice a difference. adjusting a bit to make it a more normal aspect in your life can help make those things easier. (of course, it depends on the cooperation of those around you - if they're not cooperative, you get to start practicing 'no'. :-/)

I thought that when you go gluten free your energy returns? I thought the lack of energy is from eating gluten? Some docs believe people shouldn't eat any grains. Our bodies weren't design to eat grains.

Sarah8793 Enthusiast
Sarah8793
Posted
I thought that when you go gluten free your energy returns? I thought the lack of energy is from eating gluten? Some docs believe people shouldn't eat any grains. Our bodies weren't design to eat grains.

At times when I have felt drained, a little closer examination upon my eating habits usually reveals 1 of 2 problems. Not enough protein or not enough complex carbohydrates. I am hypoglycemic also so I have to eat for energy. So I have learned some things about this. Check how many grams of protein you are getting and compare it to the reccomended amount for your weight. If you are getting adequate protein, next check your carbs. Are you eating enough vegetables and fruits and gluten-free carbs like rice etc.? Make sure when you snack you are getting a protein and a carb together. For example, a handful of peanuts with some raisins. Hope this helps!

Sarah

Rikki Tikki Explorer
Rikki Tikki
Posted

To me it's just like I would imagine any chronic condition would be. There are going to be some good days and some not so good days. I think it has probably taken me about 3 years to feel pretty healthy. Is there something going on in your life that is making things difficult now? Are you 100 % sure everything is gluten free?

roxanne40 Newbie
roxanne40
Posted
  • Author
To me it's just like I would imagine any chronic condition would be. There are going to be some good days and some not so good days. I think it has probably taken me about 3 years to feel pretty healthy. Is there something going on in your life that is making things difficult now? Are you 100 % sure everything is gluten free?

I think you hit it right on. There are good days, and bad days. I think I am going through bad days. I think I was feeling really good and then I started a new medication for something else and perhaps that is what is bringing on the mood swings, b/c I think I am gluten free. Thanks.

At times when I have felt drained, a little closer examination upon my eating habits usually reveals 1 of 2 problems. Not enough protein or not enough complex carbohydrates. I am hypoglycemic also so I have to eat for energy. So I have learned some things about this. Check how many grams of protein you are getting and compare it to the reccomended amount for your weight. If you are getting adequate protein, next check your carbs. Are you eating enough vegetables and fruits and gluten-free carbs like rice etc.? Make sure when you snack you are getting a protein and a carb together. For example, a handful of peanuts with some raisins. Hope this helps!

Sarah

Thank you for the tips. I think my protein consumption is definitely down. I am not a big meat eater so I look for other sources, and lately, have been slacking on them. It's summer and we are just running around and I have been slacking! Thanks.

By tired do you mean emotional or physical fatigue? If it's physical, maybe you still have some underlying health conditions that you haven't discovered yet. If it's emotional, I'd recommend seeing a therapist.

Is your entire family gluten-free? I now live alone. My entire apartment contains no gluten so I don't have a daily struggle with the disease. When I go to visit my parents I constantly have to be thinking about it because there's gluten in the house. I don't think it's too much trouble for an entire family to have gluten-free personal care products and for food to be mostly gluten-free. Maybe have one shelf of gluten food for the other family members. I also wouldn't make gluten food for the rest of the family. If they want it, they can prepare it themselves.

It is physical fatigue. I have started thyroid medication and it is stabilized now. But I am still so tired. I'm puzzled by it, because I want to feel good and get on with life!

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zip2play Apprentice
zip2play
Posted

I try to look at it like an extreme allergy, much like Peanut allergy! It is difficult at times, especially when on vacation or such, eating out is difficult. That is when I feel sorry for myself too!

If you energy is really bad, keep with your DR! I felt better initially but my energy never came back up. They just found I have issues with my thyroid! I have a cyst and nodules on it. That doesn't help me either!

Heck, if it isn't one thing, there seems to always be something else! ;)

hez Enthusiast
hez
Posted

You might want to have your thyroid levels checked. I am on synthroid (do not have a thyroid due to cancer) and if I have too little medication I am tired. Just a thought?

Hez

roxanne40 Newbie
roxanne40
Posted
  • Author
You might want to have your thyroid levels checked. I am on synthroid (do not have a thyroid due to cancer) and if I have too little medication I am tired. Just a thought?

Hez

I am on thyroid medication, and maybe it needs to be adjusted again. I will have another check-up since I just started 6 months ago. Thanks.

I try to look at it like an extreme allergy, much like Peanut allergy! It is difficult at times, especially when on vacation or such, eating out is difficult. That is when I feel sorry for myself too!

If you energy is really bad, keep with your DR! I felt better initially but my energy never came back up. They just found I have issues with my thyroid! I have a cyst and nodules on it. That doesn't help me either!

Heck, if it isn't one thing, there seems to always be something else! ;)

I am already on thyroid medication but I think I will go and have it re-checked to make sure I am getting the correct dose. And you are right-- if it's not one thing it's another. I spent half of last night in the bathroom and don't know why. I cooked my own meal and it was all gluten free. Go figure.

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