Yet Another.....

[Mal]

Hello All,

My name is Mallory, i'm 20 years old and was diasnosed with Celiac's Disease only 10 days ago. I started getting symptoms in January, when a stressful event that I was going throught must have brought this on, which is what the doctor has said. To put it all plainly, I probibly am one of THE MOST pickiest eaters that you will ever meet, when i was able to eat gluten and wheat foods, my diet consisted of: Cheese, Bread, Pizza, and plain pasta, and a lot of junk food, I dont eat meat, I dont eat veggies, so of course getting diagnosed with this, I was THRILLED with my choices of food being cut down even more, and its not that I havent tired meat or veggies, to me they are just the most horrendous things ever, so ya, food to me WAS the biggest thing, for the past 10 days I cant even tell you the depression I have been in, I feel that reading up on Celiacs has made it even worse for me, today i learned I can't wear certian lipsticks, now im a college student, with a boyfriend and im an actor, i HAVE to wear makeup, and now i have to find special stuff. Also the fact I am SO low on money, but the food that I have been going through my trial and error with, NOTHING is tasting good to me, and I know, please, I KNOWWWW i have to be a bigger person to try other things, but right now I really just wanna curl up with a big bowl of easy mac and some cheese doodle, and I know i cant, now of course all my college friends seem to be flaunting in my face what their eating, while im eating my spectacular gluten free food, and i had really bad symtoms, so im getting sick and tired of people asking if im ok, or if im going to die. I feel like i just want this all to go away, i feel like I want to be on that MTV show MADE, and I want a MADE coach to help me through my days, I cant seem to go a day without bawling my eyes out around food, or just little comments people make, and I know all of this will get better as time goes by, I just wish it could happen....like now.

I dont really know if this is the place to put this post, if its not, i appologize, and if it is..well GO ME!!....

I'm really not sure what else to say, there is soooo much on my mind and I can only think of one thing...

HELP!!!!!!

[Guhlia]

Mal, it gets better. I don't really have any other advice to offer you. The first few weeks after diagnosis are REALLY hard, especially if you're a picky eater. I think I resorted to eating cracker barrel cheese and corn chips for the first few weeks. The upside is, the longer I was gluten free, the better food tasted to me. Now I actually enjoy meat and vegetables (still can't do fruits) and I try new things practically every day. Going gluten free was like opening up my taste buds, literally. I could never taste all the wonderful rich flavors before, now they're delicious. Perhaps the same thing will happen for you.

[tarnalberry]

you could always curl up with some gluten free mac and cheese. you'll have to make it yourself if you can't find the pricier gluten-free stuff, but it's not too tricky. tinkyada pasta is one of the better ones.

[lindalee]

Hi Malory,

This is my first post in a while as I went on a little trip ( in fact I rode thru NY and the folage was beautiful). My heart goes out to you as I know when the realization hits it can be overwhelming. I'm a celiac who was diagnosed as a baby but thought it went away- that's what they used to think.

This is a safe place to come for help because we understand. Eating will be an adjustment and you will start to regard gluten as poison. It just makes us sick. The foods you were eating tasted good because that is what you were used to. Do you like chicken soup? It is easy to make. Starting out with a few foods will help you. You will learn that you may also want to avoid dairy and soy at first also. There is so much to learn here.

Hang in there and it will get better. There are so many here that reach out to help. I started using the smash box lip gloss in a pinkish color that I love. There are regular (cheaper ones too ). You can even use baking soda as toothpaste.

The friends eating gluten issue - is something we all deal with here. Hang in there. Keep singing and dancing. I'm glad you found out and now you can get well. The depression will get better also.

[Nantzie]

Welcome to the board! It will get easier for you as things go on. Your lack of appetite for certain foods may actually be related to celiac, so don't be surprised if things change as your body heals.

Before I found out I had a gluten problem I was always hungry and mostly ate gluten-based things. After going gluten-free, I lost my appetite completely. I pretty much had to make myself eat. I really identified with people who have anorexia at that point because all of a sudden I hated the whole process of eating. My doctor even called it a form of anorexia. Chewing, swallowing, the feeling of the food sitting in my stomach like a lump. It was all just the grossest feeling. That lasted for a few months. Now, close to a year later, I enjoy food a lot but my appetite is just smaller.

More commonly here I've seen people talk about not having much of an appetite before diagnosis, and then finding their appetite increasing or even changing. So it's very possible that that may be something you experience as well.

Nancy

[TinkerbellSwt]

Welcome to the board! I concur with everyone else. It does get easier. I even think a certain brand of cheese doodles are gluten free, someone else with more info on that can post it for you. There are quite a lot of regular foods out there that are just naturally gluten free. This doesnt include mac and cheese though. Annies makes a good mac and cheese, its a bit more expensive, but its good. Otherwise follow what tarnalberry said.. make your own.. you can use Velveeta cheese.. or Kraft Mac and Cheese powder which in a canister is available in the dairy section of your local supermarket (in most cases)

The diet can be overwhelming at first. You will get used to it.. and you will feel better. The depression is normal. I am pretty sure most of us went thru a "greiving" process for our old gluten foods. This is a natural reaction.. let yourself feel what you need to feel. Any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged here. Please.. anything you need.. just pop on and type, someone will answer you. This is the best place to meet friends.. and yes everyone becomes a friend, and find out more about your diet.

I wish you the best of luck for your start. Just know you will begin to feel better, it may take awhile.. but stick to it.. you will be happy with the rewards in the end..

[tarnalberry]

btw, you had noted that you're a picky eater. my husband is also very picky - though he's not celiac. he's learned, over the past 10 years, to slightly broaden his horizons in food. it's been slow, and it's required coming to understand, and really introspect, on what it is about food he doesn't like, so that we can find other foods he will, but it's getting somewhere. (for instance, he hates broccoli, but broccolini in a stir-fry is good because not only does it not have as much of the bitter chemicals that regular broccoli has, but it has a much higher ratio of stalk to florette, having more of the crunchy texture that he prefers.) he's not 'not picky' at the point at all, but you can expand your taste buds, without having to try nasty foods, if you do it carefully and scientifically.

[Mal]

Thank you all!! I'm glad I found this place, already in a day I fell 9586044564985% better then I did!!! I get to go shopping tomorrow and try some other kinds of foods, so we will see how that goes, also my chef here at my college is aware of my problem and is working with me to make a special menu, and he already made me try Pesto sauce...which was HORRID, but i have a feeling that wayyyy more is to come.

thank you all again!!!

::HUGS::

[daffadilly]

Try some 100% Welch’s grape juice diluted with water over ice with some popcorn.

Take a B12 everyday

Grab a bag of fritos when about on campus

Snickers bar when you need the chocolate or a regular size hershey’s bar or a butterfinger, Candy is easy 

On average you have to taste something 16 times before you like it.

Your taste and food cravings will change once you go gluten free. Gluten is addictive and once you get it out of your system (a couple of weeks) it will be a new awakening for you.

Most people get depressed at first – it is a loss & a shock that food is making you sick.

Make a list of all the foods that you can have that you like. Make a second list of things you want to work on to add to your diet. I am a recent broccoli convert & I now cannot get enough of the stuff!!! Take carrots, grated they taste entirely different than sticks etc.

Welcome to the boards & I hope you are feeling better soon.