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

Back To School Tonight... 10 Yrs Later

ravenwoodglass

By ravenwoodglass
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Well I am a bit nervous. I know I shouldn't be but I am. I am not nervous about school, I know I can do well and finally get that degree finished. What I am nervous about is that this is the first time since diagnosis, yep in almost 6 yrs, that I will be going anyplace after having food in my tummy during the day. I handled my constant D for years with meds and by not eating anything at all until I was home for the night even if I was working a split shift and didn't get home till 10pm or later. After diagnosis this habit developed into what seemed to be almost agoraphobia and then the last couple of years got even more restrictive till the only time I left the house was to go to the store. It hasn't been easy to fight, in fact I almost went the drug route but I have been fighting it on my own consiously for a few months now. I can now have breakfast or lunch and walk my dog without any anxiety but being by myself and able to get out of whereever I am has been a saving grace. I went to the school today and scoped stuff out so I would be comfy and know where everything is. I did chicken out and will wait till after class for dinner but I did have a late lunch. Wish me luck and calmness folks if you could.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Oh Ravenwood--I just know you're going to do fine, and I wish you all the luck and calmness in the world!! :D

I can relate to exactly what you are going through--I haven't reached a point yet where I feel comfortable with committing to anything where I have to be present on a regular basis--but you give me hope!

How exciting for you to be able to get your degree--I'm so happy for you :)

neesee Apprentice
neesee
Posted

Ravenwoodglass, Wishing you good luck and serenity.

I know what you're going through. You sound a lot like me. You'll be fine. ;)

neesee

Phyllis28 Apprentice
Phyllis28
Posted

You'll do just fine. If it makes you feel more at ease, choose a seat by the door so you can leave and re-enter, if necessary, without disturbing the rest of the class.

If you have not already done so, you can might want to sign up with the disabiltity office since Celiac is covered by the ADA and they can put into place the accomodations you need. Possibly, leave during class (in case you get a teacher who objects) and arranging to take tests at a different time and location. If you wish to do this you will need to check with the schools disability office to find out what paperwork they need.

My son is registered with the Community College disability office (not for celiac) he attends (State of CA). All the students registered with the disabilty office get priority registration. I am not sure if this is the same is all states.

Schools are not gluten free enviorments so you may want to consider carrying along something like baby wipes to clean surfaces (desks, tables, chairs) that look suspect.

I am sure everything will go well for you.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
  • Author

I made it. I did get there early so I could lay claim to a spot by the door. I will do that with tommorrows class also. It seems to me at times that the psychological trauma from the junk we deal with before diagnosis is even harder to heal than the body. If that makes sense.

I WILL get my life back. I WILL I WILL I WILL (stomping feet) :D And it will be better than before.

Today a class, perhaps next week a movie and maybe someday I will even date again.

Thanks for the good thoughts everyone.

Juliebove Rising Star
Juliebove
Posted

Sounds like you are doing better! I spent several years avoiding any food related things, for different reasons. I have diabetes and food allergies. I also have medical conditions that leave me disabled. I can go some places, but others are just too difficult for me to manage. I used to stay within 2 miles of my home, going only to the grocery or drugstore or Dr. I eventually got to the point where I could venture out further and do more things.

I currently own one box of Immodium and I should probably check the date on it to make sure it isn't expired! Can't remember the last time I used it. Before I knew about the food allergies, it was my best friend. Most days I took the maximum dose and sometimes even more.

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted
I made it. I did get there early so I could lay claim to a spot by the door. I will do that with tommorrows class also. It seems to me at times that the psychological trauma from the junk we deal with before diagnosis is even harder to heal than the body. If that makes sense.

I WILL get my life back. I WILL I WILL I WILL (stomping feet) :D And it will be better than before.

Today a class, perhaps next week a movie and maybe someday I will even date again.

Thanks for the good thoughts everyone.

:D:D:D

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


missy'smom Collaborator
missy'smom
Posted

Yeah for you! I understand a bit how you feel and what a victory it is. I've always had anxiety about certain things but it got worse after something I went through not long ago and I'm fighting my way back to normal one meeting/ outing at a time. A not so close friend observed accurately that I don't feel safe. Thank you for your honesty and willing to be vulnerable in sharing.

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted
I WILL get my life back. I WILL I WILL I WILL (stomping feet) :D

;):D

xxoo

blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted

Congrats on going to get your degree!!!! Don't worry everything will be fine :)

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Congratulations Ravenwoodglass on making the world your oyster! :)

JNBunnie1 Community Regular
JNBunnie1
Posted
I made it. I did get there early so I could lay claim to a spot by the door. I will do that with tommorrows class also. It seems to me at times that the psychological trauma from the junk we deal with before diagnosis is even harder to heal than the body. If that makes sense.

I WILL get my life back. I WILL I WILL I WILL (stomping feet) :D And it will be better than before.

Today a class, perhaps next week a movie and maybe someday I will even date again.

Thanks for the good thoughts everyone.

I know EXACTLY how you feel and I think you ROCK!!!!!!

gfp Enthusiast
gfp
Posted

Well done and good luck.

I really would take Phyllis's advice onboard!

I think its generally polite in a lecture to say if you have to leave but .... there are certain limits. If you bring this up when you have time get it all sorted and above board then you can have the door seat reserved (officially but quietly and without fuss) and then if you need to leave you can just leave and the lecturer will know why and not ask embarassing questions.

Another bonus is you could get access to staff/disabled loo's.

kbtoyssni Contributor
kbtoyssni
Posted

Congrats on going back to school and good luck! I was one semester away from graduating from grad school when I had to drop out due to undiagnosed celiac. In the next year I figured out my diagnosis, my body healed, I got my life back on track and got a full-time job, then went back to grad school one class at a time while working. It took me four years to finish instead of the originally planned sixteen months, but as you can see from my avatar, I finally finished! Going back to school isn't easy, but when you finally do walk across that stage and get your diploma, it's about so much more than the degree. It's a symbol of a life back on track. Good luck and hang in there!

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for all the support and encouragement guys. I had gotten so restricted by the beginning of this year that I wondered more than once why I bothered still being on this earth. Even though my consious mind knows I am okay now and have nothing to worry about the subconcious would still kick in every time I tried to do anything. I wanted to do things with my family so bad and then it would get closeto time to go and the old tapes would play. It has been a struggle but I AM going to win it. Everytime I force myself to do something it gets a little easier.

I will be at the main campus tonight and am going early so I can check in with the Disability Office. Some proffessors have really strict rules on testing and absences and although I don't think I will have any issues it would be best to let them in on things. I did let my instructor know last night and she was really good. I didn't have to explain anything I just showed her the celiac tag on my key ring. It was nice not to have to explain.

I figured I would take a wet paper towel with me to my classes to wipe my desk with before I sit down. Most don't allow food in the class but better safe than sorry.

These last few months have been a lot of work. I didn't think the first day I forced myself to sit on the front porch that I would get this far. I still have a long way to go but I finally feel like perhaps there will be a productive life in from me after all.

Judyin Philly Enthusiast
Judyin Philly
Posted

yes you will get your life back

look how great your starting out

it's scary in the 'big world' out there I so agree but your doing it ;)

Everytime I force myself to do something it gets a little easier.

I will be at the main campus tonight and am going early so I can check in with the Disability Office.

I didn't have to explain anything I just showed her the celiac tag on my key ring. It was nice not to have to explain.

I figured I would take a wet paper towel with me to my classes to wipe my desk with before I sit down.

These last few months have been a lot of work. I didn't think the first day I forced myself to sit on the front porch that I would get this far.

I still have a long way to go but I finally feel like perhaps there will be a productive life in from me after all.

So many great points here.

CVS sells little packs of 'wipes' you can stick in your purse too

from the PORCH to the classroom to the BOARD ROOM..........YOU ROCK.

JUDY

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,685
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    tdouglas2901
    Newest Member
    tdouglas2901
    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
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I'd go with a vodka tonic, but that's just me😉
    • Rejoicephd
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Rejoicephd · Posted

      That and my nutritionist also said that drinking cider is one of the worst drink choices for me, given that I have candida overgrowth.  She said the combination of the alcohol and sugar would be very likely to worsen my candida problem.  She suggested that if I drink, I go for clear vodka, either neat or with a splash of cranberry.   So in summary, I am giving ciders a rest.  Whether it's a gluten risk or sugars and yeast overgrowth, its just not worth it.
    • Inkie
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Inkie · Posted

      Thank you for the information ill will definitely bring it into practice .
    • Scott Adams
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      While plain, pure tea leaves (black, green, or white) are naturally gluten-free, the issue often lies not with the tea itself but with other ingredients or processing. Many flavored teas use barley malt or other gluten-containing grains as a flavoring agent, which would be clearly listed on the ingredient label. Cross-contamination is another possibility, either in the facility where the tea is processed or, surprisingly, from the tea bag material itself—some tea bags are sealed with a wheat-based glue. Furthermore, it's important to consider that your reaction could be to other substances in tea, such as high levels of tannins, which can be hard on the stomach, or to natural histamines or other compounds that can cause a non-celiac immune response. The best way to investigate is to carefully read labels for hidden ingredients, try switching to a certified gluten-free tea brand that uses whole leaf or pyramid-style bags, and see if the reaction persists.
    • Scott Adams
      Inconclusive results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is a challenging and confusing situation. The combination of a positive EMA—which is a highly specific marker rarely yielding false positives—alongside strongly elevated TTG on two separate occasions, years apart, is profoundly suggestive of celiac disease, even in the absence of biopsy damage. This pattern strongly aligns with what is known as "potential celiac disease," where the immune system is clearly activated, but intestinal damage has not yet become visible under the microscope. Your concern about the long-term risk of continued gluten consumption is valid, especially given your family's experience with the consequences of delayed diagnosis. Since your daughter is now at an age where her buy-in is essential for a gluten-free lifestyle, obtaining a definitive answer is crucial for her long-term adherence and health. Given that she is asymptomatic yet serologically positive, a third biopsy now, after a proper 12-week challenge, offers the best chance to capture any microscopic damage that may have developed, providing the concrete evidence needed to justify the dietary change. This isn't about wanting her to have celiac; it's about wanting to prevent the insidious damage that can occur while waiting for symptoms to appear, and ultimately giving her the unambiguous "why" she needs to accept and commit to the necessary treatment. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
×
×
  • 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.