A Good Way To Cope!

[LuvMoosic4life]

When I first started the gluten-free diet I hated talking about it and was nervous to bring the topic up. I even sometimes would eat gluten instead of being up front about it and saying I cannot have it, i felt as though I was a burden. I was always afraid of what people thought because I usually got criticized

Now I really don't care anymore and have been much more up-front about it. I dont go aroud waving my hands saying "look ar me, I have celiac's!!!" but I've been trying to bring awareness to it and now I am determined to talk to as many people as possible, especially those in contact with media and advirtising, small businesses, local resturants, doctors offices, ect. I dont want people to think I am doing this just because I have celiacs, I'M NOT. I've just been seeing how many people this really effects and it frustrated me that celiacs dont get the recognition they deserve!!!!! especially when resturants can serve special diet items like atkins/south beach/vegitarian, but they cant serve one or two thing gluten-free??? I think that this should be a mandatory thing for all resturants, even if it means re-desiging and building a gluten-free preparation area in every resturant and training employees on howto prepare food.....going to far?? I THINK NOT!

I know how hard this is to go through and I really want people's lives to be easier. It really helps the coping aspect if you get into raising awareness about this disease. I find the more I talk about it to people I dont know, the better I feel, and the more I hear that someone else knows someone with it! You don't have to go around telling people you have it, but just let people know it exsists, and how serious it is. It really doesnt take much. For ex. One little simple thing I am doing is contacting my school about putting up informational flyers. In the bathroom stalls at my school they put up informational flyers about all sorts of things, mostly health realted, so I contacted them and am getting a celiac informational flyer to be put up in all the stalls ( and how ironic, someone may just walk in with horrible D or C and sit there reading the symptoms list...... )

[kbtoyssni]

I also don't mind talking about my celiac because I know it might help someone. Years before I got diagnosed someone mentioned to me that they had celiac. I googled it a the time and promptly forgot about it. When I did get sick and realized wheat was a problem after doing an elimination diet, a light bulb went off that it might be celiac. I am extremely thankful for the person who mentioned they had it to me years ago. I also like to emphasize that it's not the end of the world - give up some foods and live a happy, healthy life. That I still eat "normal" food. That nearly everything with gluten can be made gluten-free. That my life is not miserable and awful because I don't eat wheat. I've never been embarrassed to say I have celiac. It's part of who I am, it's just what I do.

[JNBunnie1]

( and how ironic, someone may just walk in with horrible D or C and sit there reading the symptoms list...... )

No, how appropriate! That's the perfect place to put celiac flyers!~

I think she's onto something.....

[ang1e0251]

I'm glad you're telling people. Years ago a friend from high school told me she was celiac. I often tried to imagine how she shopped, cooked, ate out or traveled with her family. Wow!

Later we moved from AZ back to my hometown of Milford, IN, and now this friend styles my hair. I have passed on recipes & gluten-free food gifts to her. When I realized I also was celiac, I have to admit that I didn't go through the difficult mourning period some do. My friend is healthy, cheerful and happy. I never see her hold back from any experience. I kept telling myself, if she could, I could. I've tried to aspire to have the great atttitude she diplays to everyone. Someone you have told will be diagnosed someday & remember your fighting spirit!

Keep on inspiring others!

[sugarsue]

When I first started the gluten-free diet I hated talking about it and was nervous to bring the topic up. I even sometimes would eat gluten instead of being up front about it and saying I cannot have it, i felt as though I was a burden. I was always afraid of what people thought because I usually got criticized

Now I really don't care anymore and have been much more up-front about it. I dont go aroud waving my hands saying "look ar me, I have celiac's!!!" but I've been trying to bring awareness to it and now I am determined to talk to as many people as possible, especially those in contact with media and advirtising, small businesses, local resturants, doctors offices, ect. I dont want people to think I am doing this just because I have celiacs, I'M NOT. I've just been seeing how many people this really effects and it frustrated me that celiacs dont get the recognition they deserve!!!!! especially when resturants can serve special diet items like atkins/south beach/vegitarian, but they cant serve one or two thing gluten-free??? I think that this should be a mandatory thing for all resturants, even if it means re-desiging and building a gluten-free preparation area in every resturant and training employees on howto prepare food.....going to far?? I THINK NOT!

I know how hard this is to go through and I really want people's lives to be easier. It really helps the coping aspect if you get into raising awareness about this disease. I find the more I talk about it to people I dont know, the better I feel, and the more I hear that someone else knows someone with it! You don't have to go around telling people you have it, but just let people know it exsists, and how serious it is. It really doesnt take much. For ex. One little simple thing I am doing is contacting my school about putting up informational flyers. In the bathroom stalls at my school they put up informational flyers about all sorts of things, mostly health realted, so I contacted them and am getting a celiac informational flyer to be put up in all the stalls ( and how ironic, someone may just walk in with horrible D or C and sit there reading the symptoms list...... )

I think information sharing is very important too! I took my daughter out for dinner tonight. We are starting gluten-free on Tuesday after her Celiac panel (she's 6). She took her gluten free menu and away we went on a trial run. Her gluten free meal came with a huge piece of texas toast right on top of the chicken. I had been talking with the lady about gluten free and what it was all about because she admitted she didn't really know so when she came to check on us I mentioned the toast to her. She said she forgot to tell them to leave off the bread! It was OK for us since this was a trial run but I nicely told her how important it was to remember. It freaked me out about trusting anyone in the restaurant business to keep my daughter safe!

Susan

[Amyleigh0007]

I agree! Raising awareness is a wonderful way to cope. I am making gluten free chocolate chip cookies for a school fund raiser dessert auction next month. For a few minutes, everyone at the auction will be thinking of Celiac disease. I even wrote a small blurb about Celiac for the auctionier to say before the bids begin. Maybe it will open some eyes and make someone realize that they may have Celiac. Plus, the lucky winner will get to experience how good gluten free goodies can be!

[JNBunnie1]

I agree! Raising awareness is a wonderful way to cope. I am making gluten free chocolate chip cookies for a school fund raiser dessert auction next month. For a few minutes, everyone at the auction will be thinking of Celiac disease. I even wrote a small blurb about Celiac for the auctionier to say before the bids begin. Maybe it will open some eyes and make someone realize that they may have Celiac. Plus, the lucky winner will get to experience how good gluten free goodies can be!

That's awesome!