Why It's Worth It

[lpellegr]

I'm coming up on two years of gluten-free life on 9/13, and as I look back I see it was worth it. The moment the doctor suggested that it might be celiac disease, a light bulb went off as all the symptoms fell into place. I thought it was irritable bowel, but he got it right. Here's what I haven't had in two years:

No more waking up in the middle of the night to lie on the bathroom floor trying to decide which end of my GI tract to hang over the toilet, waiting for the nausea to pass.

No more cold urticaria (exposed skin would itch and get hives from being even slightly cold or wet)

No more gut cramps and aching

No more constant copious foul gas that could repulse a hyena - no more hoping I wouldn't have to expel when it was just me and one other person, no more running out into the hall to try to leave the stench somewhere other than my lab, no more trying desperately to hold it in to avoid killing the people around me

No more sitting on the toilet feeling like an elephant was trying to pass, only to have a slow pasty ribbon that took forever (I know this is gross, but I'll bet some of you know exactly what I'm talking about)

I do miss some things - I liked making bread and pizza dough, but I don't do that for the rest of the family any more to avoid contaminating my kitchen. I was hoping this big round belly would flatten out once my intestines were healed, but no luck so far. I miss the freedom of eating whatever I wanted wherever I was. But I wouldn't trade all the soft pretzels, pizza, Triscuits, Cheerios (3 bowls every day!), and homemade cookies from my grandmother's recipes for my original symptoms. I've gotten comfortable with what I can eat and can manage to figure out food to take along when I travel (I have one big honkin' fanny pack), so mostly I'm content. If you're new to this, be strong, be vigiliant and careful, be persistent, and you'll really appreciate the improvements. And use this forum a lot! It's the best!

[myserenityprayer]

Thank you so much for your encouragement. i am new here and have been gluten free for almost a month. So far I'm feeling pretty down in the dumps. Between my anxiety about being glutened and my stomach trying heal, I'm a nervous wreck more days than not. But surprisingly, my stomach issues have gotten a TON better in just the one month. I was hoping I would lose weight (I have struggled with being about 20-30lbs overweight and have been on a diet my entire life), but no luck yet. I think thats what is getting me depressed the most. i started off gluten free and still eating dairy but I decided to drop the dairy after getting really sick in the begining of this week. I am also trying to avoid soy products as they seem to bother my stomach also. I love going out to eat and will miss eating pizza when I'm drunk with my friends!! But I am trying to stay optimistic and hopeful. My main concern is how unhealthy I actually am. All along I thought I was eating healthy, with all of my whole wheat products and oatmeal every morning for breakfast. Clearly, that wasn't a healthy lifestyle for someone with Celiac. Now I know better. I just want to be healthy and live a healthful happy long life. I have been reading a lot on here about older Celiac's who have so many different other related medical issues and about premature death. I am really scared about that. I'm 25 and my GI doctor said after doing the biospy that I have at least 8 years of damage to my intestines, if not more. Is that a lot? A little? Will I ever be healthy? Will my stomach ever heal and be normal? Will I be normal? Whatever the heck normal is!!!

[kbtoyssni]

I'm coming up on my one year September 15, and I agree with everything lpellegr said. Life really is great when you're gluten-free!

[HillaryT]

thank you. seriously. i was diagnosed a bit over a year ago now and have been off and on gluten free. recently i have been going over the top with "cheating". i've stopped myself for almost the past week now (i've been gluten free for much longer intervals before), because i was getting these welts on my forehead. at first i was just thinking i was breaking out, but turns out they are going away now, and i realize that those were not normal pimples by any means.

anyway, i want to thank you for making me laugh so hard when i read the part of your post saying 'trying to pass an elephant but all i got was a ribbon'. i know exactly what you mean and i just sat here alone laughing. i havent been to this forum in awhile but it really does help. goodluck with keeping up your good work.

hillary

[lpellegr]

Marissa, keep at it! You will heal, and with time you will have as much chance at "normal" as anyone else, and will be healthier than all those people who have it and don't know it. To keep your weight down try cutting out most of the carbs and stick to protein and fruit and vegetables - don't bother replacing bread and cereal and cookies - just avoid them. Think South Beach and Atkins. And don't give up! There are lots of us here for advice and comfort!

[munchkinette]

Yes, thanks! I sometimes wonder if I really do have problems with wheat if I haven't been glutened in a while. Then I get glutened and remember that I do. I've only been gluten-free for about 6 months but I just got my first "normal" ferritin test results, so I must be doing something right. (It was still really low, but in the normal range.)

I'm still having problems but it helps to hear from people who have been gluten-free for a year or two years who finally feel good.

[myserenityprayer]

Marissa, keep at it! You will heal, and with time you will have as much chance at "normal" as anyone else, and will be healthier than all those people who have it and don't know it. To keep your weight down try cutting out most of the carbs and stick to protein and fruit and vegetables - don't bother replacing bread and cereal and cookies - just avoid them. Think South Beach and Atkins. And don't give up! There are lots of us here for advice and comfort!

thank you. thank you. thank you. i really appreciate your support.