Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Seven Things You Love About Celiac Disease


pedro

Recommended Posts

pedro Explorer

Hello everyone.

We need to vent the frustrations.

Seven things you love about Celiac.

1. I look at my kitchen in a different way now

2. I Like the cooking

3. I like to bake, but don


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



burdee Enthusiast

I appreciate your positive 'count your blessings' perspective. I hope more people will consider the benefits, not just the burdens, of having celiac disease. Here are my '7 things I love about celiac disease':

(1) Because I also have other celiac disease related food allergies (dairy, egg, soy and cane sugar), I'm FORCED to eat a healthy diet of mainly vegies, fruits, meats, nuts and gluten-free grains. No junk food for me! LOL

(2) I've been thin all my life. I'm the same weight I was during college 40 years ago and wear some of the same clothes. I've kept my weight within a 10 pound range for 40 years.

(3) People think I'm 20 years younger than I am chronologically at age 60.

(4) Food reactions give me OBVIOUS symptoms (intestinal cramps, bloating and gas) which motivate me to avoid sources of food allergies and intolerances. I don't have one of those 'silent' diseases which would allow me to mistreat my body until I'm seriously ill.

(5) Since diet is the only effective treatment for celiac disease, I divorced myself from the drug obsessed mainstream medical community and rely on the whole body preventative approach of naturopathic doctors.

(6) At age 60 I take NO PRESCRIPTIONS and only occasional OTC DRUGS (Tylenol for rare headaches).

(7) I control my health, rather then being at the mercy of some clueless doc for drug treatment.

I will add more as those occur to me. Thanks for this thought provoking topic.

BURDEE

Nantzie Collaborator

1) I've learned to cook. Same thing though - like to cook, hate to clean up.

2) I feel better than I ever remember feeling.

3) I don't feel like I'm in a constant battle with my body.

4) I'm not overly concerned that I'm going to die before my kids are grown up.

5) I know that my kids and grandkids will never have to go through years of misdiagnosis.

6) My life isn't driven by cravings anymore.

7) I don't feel guilty eating chocolate and other gluten-free goodies. I figure it's a trade off for what I can't have. Plus, without the cravings, I'm not eating or wanting as much of this as I used to.

Nancy

nikki8 Explorer

I know I can think of seven, but am short on time so I'm going to post the one that keeps me sane:

****Whatever has gluten in it really isn't that good for you anyway.****

I'm trying to lose a little weight. Everytime I face a tempting food that has gluten, I think "well, that isn't healthy anyway. Good thing I can't have it."

Nikki

confused Community Regular

1. I love that i now know what is wrong with me, no longer thinking I am dying from somthing that is not controllable.

2. I love that I have an excuse to eat more organic foods.

3. i love that we know now what is wrong with my Step-son.

4. i love that i can no longer eat fast food stuff that has way too many calories

5. i love that my family has grown closer since being diagnosed

6. i love that when you call manufadtors to see if stuff is gluten free, they will send u coupons lol

7. And lastly I love that i have the energy to keep up with my 5 very active kids.

paula

jerseyangel Proficient

1--I finally know the reason for all of my "stomach flu's" and panic attacks.

2--I eat a very "clean" diet now.

3--I don't wake up depressed anymore :)

4--I get to be a member of celiac.com.

5--I don't have to take any meds for it--so no side effects.

6--I no longer question my own sanity

7--For at last, being able to tell the people in my life who rolled their eyes at me, told me I was just trying to lose weight, it was all in my head, I was just "sensitive", got mad at me for missing functions, thought I was too picky, etc, etc, that this is REAL! (I felt so vindicated :lol: )

1-out-of-133 Newbie

1. I can fix it. The solution to a lot of my distress is simple- I don't eat gluten, I don't feel bad. I don't have to pay big bucks on medication for the rest of my life.

2. Coconut oil. I've learned so many great things about coconut oil from this web site, and use it all the time. I never would have tried it otherwise.

3. My joint pain is a lot better- I didn't even know I had joint pain. I thought I was just getting old!

4. More energy- ok sometimes it's only a 3 or 4 out of 10 but... it used to be a .25

5. Not so anxious/ depressed.

6. Helping others. Hey 1 out of 133. Since I started this last October, I have had so many discussions with other people about their chronic problems and/ or digestive issues. One of my friends I talked to about this said something about getting the fecal test done.

7. My diet is so much healthier. OK- the first month I sulked and ate Fritos and Pepsi, but now I'm into a pretty healthy basic diet.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Creative-Soul Newbie

Here are my first seven... :D

1. I finally know why I was feeling so incredibly crummy for most of my life...yea!

2. The only "prescription" that works is a change of diet - NO DRUGS!

3. I am much more aware of, and in tune with, my body

4. I no longer have those crazy annoying sugar / salt / diary cravings!!!

5. I know even more about diet / nutrition than I did before; and I thought I knew a lot!

6. Rediscovered coconut oil and my cultural - more healthy - way of eating; I've come full circle, so to speak...

7. Losing @ 20lbs of unhealthy weight, especially around the middle!

And...

I've met a great group of people here... you guys rock!

loco-ladi Contributor

keeping in mind I diagnosed myself (and so far appear to be right, not that I will gloat next time I see the Dr who said I am nuts)

#1 I feel so much better

#2 I feel better without the handfulllllllllssssssss of pills "he" wanted me to consume daily

#3 I have lost 5 yes people count each one of those 5 pounds in about 2 months time

#4 I am once more allowed to get creative when I have time to bake

#5 I ate a dang chocolate chip cookie (yes it was indeed gluten-free!) for the first time in 3 years and dang it all it tasted awesome!!!!!!!!!

#6 My husband is so very supportive and jumped for joy with me this morning at my bathroom scales!

#7 To heck with it next time I see the "Dr" (and I use that term loosely) on the street (cause I will be danged if I pay for another visit) I am gonna gloat to the tops of the trees!

pedro Explorer

You guys reminded me why I need to keep the gluten-free diet going.

Thank you for all you support.

I am here to stay!!!!!!!!!

Kaycee Collaborator

1 I have a better awareness of food and particularly additives. I make informed choices.

2 I have learnt how to put myself first for a change. But I don't forget the rest, I just have a bit more respect for myself.

3 I have learnt how to cook from scratch again. I knew how to do it once before, but the skill went out the door when I discovered frozen packaged food.

4 I am feeling healthier.

5 I don't ever have to eat another mcd's hamburger. I can now go to posher restuarants if I want, but I don't.

6 For me, being a coeliac does not entail having to take drugs. I thank my lucky stars that I have no other diseases to contend with.

7 Can I say I have become fanatically passionate about gluten free and everything about it. Finally I have found something that gets me going. It sounds strange and probably not really a good place to be, but I have never been passionate about anything else in my life before.

Cathy

happygirl Collaborator
4--I get to be a member of celiac.com.

Patti, you get the award for best celiac.com moderator for the above post :)

jerseyangel Proficient
Patti, you get the award for best celiac.com moderator for the above post :)

:lol: I'll take it! ;)

Judyin Philly Enthusiast

hi

I was just cking to see what Patti had posted re: Laura post

This is wonderful Patti.

I hope to get there someday too.

Can you copy and put in your d/s journal.

It is just the best.

I printed it out and will add to my journal when I remember the '''sunday debacal"'

I am so greatful to know I've some so far in almost 2 years even tho i still have a long way to go.

Alot of answers are clearned now.

OK LETS JUST SAY THE LAST SENTENCE 7 TIMES.

:lol:

pedro Explorer

7 Can I say I have become fanatically passionate about gluten free and everything about it. Finally I have found something that gets me going. It sounds strange and probably not really a good place to be, but I have never been passionate about anything else in my life before.

Cathy

Kaycee Collaborator

Pedro, you may have my number 7 on your fridge (it should be number 1), but thanks to you I have just realised what having coeliac has done for me. By addressing the problem and going gluten free it has given me a passion, and this passion is for my life. I have found life again, and I am enjoying it.

Thank you for this reality check.

Cathy

Karen B. Explorer

Do I have to stop at 7? In no particular order...

1. So few of the people I work around bake that they think I'm a genius because I can make a cake or bread -- much less one without wheat!

2. gluten-free baking satisfies my inner geek because experimenting with recipes is like a science experiment. Being able to surprise a gathering of other Celiacs with a treat like powder sugar donut holes make you feel really good!

3. I'm losing weight for the first time in my life! It never worked before, but since going gluten-free I'm able to lose weight.

4. I know what goes into my mouth (and body) now.

5. Finding the answer to the muscle cramps and potassium depletion my Mom has suffered from for years that her docs couldn't solve and helping my sister heal after neck surgery #4 so she won't have to have a #5.

6. Having my broken wrist heal so well (95% usage returned) that my doc was surprised. One of the people in our Celiac group was referred after his broken bone wouldn't heal. Fortunately, my wrist broke 3 years after my diagnosis!

7. Having a health issue that doesn't require pills or treatments, just eating right. The initial tentative diagnosis was bleeding ulcer or colon cancer. Celiac was good news!

8. Having my hubby love me so much that he charted the days of an unexplained reaction against his breakfast of a gluten-free cereal or raisin bran and convinced me that it was his morning "Goodbye" kiss that was giving me problems. (I didn't think it could be that sensitive) At his insistence, we now have a gluten-free kitchen.

9. Not having to drink a Vente (20 oz) at Starbucks in the morning and another one in the afternoon to be able to function at work.

10. Discovering Chebe bread, Tinkyada pasta and quinoa hot cereal.

Jo.R Contributor

1) I can now enjoy my children.

2) I have been forced to deal with carb addiction.

3) I am forced (thankfully so) to cook and creat healthier meals for my family.

4) I have a good doctor.

5) I had to learn what a message board was, liked it and the people on it.

6) I have become more aware of my body.

7) I have Celiac Disease A Hidden Epidemic as a bathroom reader and no longer need a bathroom reader.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,547
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    gizmo1jazz2
    Newest Member
    gizmo1jazz2
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.