I'm Sad

[Mothering3]

I just got diagnosed yesterday because of a positive blood test. I have already been on a gluten-free diet for a week, but I don't feel dramatically better yet. And I know I should be happy cause we found what is making me sick, and its treatable and its not fatal, but I am feeling incredibly depressed and disappointed about my future right now.

I am sad about all the things I am never going to eat again that I love. And I'm bummed about all the crazy hassle of trying to travel, visit people, etc. and deal with this. I'm bummed about living with the constant threat of becoming super ill at any time, and needing to be hypervigilant (not my style). I hate being on diets. I would never choose this.

Everyone is encouraging me to be positive but I am just really sad! I've been crying on and off yesterday and today.

I know its kind of dumb, but I can't help it. I keep thinking of new things that are not going to be the same...beloved bakeries I will never go to again, and family foods that I will never eat again. (Yes, I know I can have the rice flour version, but its not the same)

My son is already gluten-free (not celiac) so I even have a cupboard full of lovely gluten-free flours, and experience making delicious gluten-free breads and pancakes and eating rice noodles. But I am STILL SAD.

I wish I did not have this illness!!!

That's all.

[ravenwoodglass]

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

You have the right to be sad about such a huge change. You are also likely going through withdrawl which can make us very moody. Hopefully the withdrawl will be over soon.

Try to concentrate on the things you like but can still have, like chocolate for example. Treat yourself to little things that are nonfood related if you can.

If we can help in any way just post. Sometimes just venting and knowing that others have been where you are right now can help a lot.

[Mothering3]

Thanks for understanding. :-)

I really hope I feel amazingly fantastically healthy and full of vitality soon cause I think it will make it easier for me to accept the losses. Right now I am just still sick, AND on this super restrictive diet (Dr recommended a healing diet that is basically just rice, veggies, fruit, chicken and fish.)and I'm getting rid of my cast iron and cookbooks and it feels like a big bummer.

I just kind of wanted to say it cause i know other people must have felt this way too. It does feel like a big deal.

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

You have the right to be sad about such a huge change. You are also likely going through withdrawl which can make us very moody. Hopefully the withdrawl will be over soon.

Try to concentrate on the things you like but can still have, like chocolate for example. Treat yourself to little things that are nonfood related if you can.

If we can help in any way just post. Sometimes just venting and knowing that others have been where you are right now can help a lot.

[samiam2]

I was also just diagnosed and I am in the same boat as you. I'm very bummed about this.

I keep telling myself, it could be worse and that in reality it's just a food allergy, it's not like it's cancer or aids or some type of automatic death sentence. it's something you can deal with even though it's inconvenient. And at the end of the day, it's probably a good thing as you will be healthier as a result. and that can't be a bad thing.

[mushroom]

)and I'm getting rid of my cast iron and cookbooks and it feels like a big bummer.

No need to do either of those things. Your cast iron can be run in the cleaning cycle of your oven and then reseasoned. Your cookbooks have oodles of recipes that are either naturally gluten free or can be made gluten free with a minor adjustment. As you get used to cooking gluten free it is fun to experiment with making our old favorites gluten free.

[Mothering3]

Thank you for the tips and encouragement. I am feeling slightly less bummed.

[cahill]

Everyone is encouraging me to be positive but I am just really sad! I've been crying on and off yesterday and today.

I know its kind of dumb, but I can't help it.

That's all.

It is NOT Dumb, it is part of the process.

I would encourage you to allow your self the time to grieve.I would encourage to you feel what ever it is you are feeling.

We all have had time when we were/are angry,sad,mad,sad,depressed,angry,wanted to scream, did I mention angry Those time will become less and less as you heal and progress.Give your self time and if you need to vent,,we are here,, believe me we understand

(( HUGS))

[rosetapper23]

There have been many threads in the past that dealt with sadness, grief, and tears at certain moments during the healing process. Even though it's been seven years for me, I sometimes still cry when I'm by myself. However, the diet DOES become easier over time. There's hardly a recipe I can't adjust to make gluten free, so I never bother to use the gluten-free cookbooks I bought at the outset. Since the trick to the diet is to eat everything from scratch, you get used to the yummy taste of natural foods and stop craving processed foods. At celiac conferences, we taste all kinds of processed gluten-free foods, but I've completely lost my taste for processed foods and just think, Yuck! There's so much more food that we CAN eat than we can't eat, and it's all yummy.

Going to people's houses, attending potlucks, and going to restaurants can all be challenging....but tackle those situations as they arise. Feel free to ask us how we cope, and you'll receive lots of suggestions that may help. For me, I have a rule: Never eat at another person's home unless that person is an experienced gluten-free cook and maintains a dedicated gluten-free kitchen, and never eat anything at a potluck (I just bring my own food). Eating at restaurants takes a little practice, but you'll eventually figure out how to increase your chances of eating a safe meal. Again, ask here on the forum for suggestions.

Life will be good again soon--really!

[Mothering3]

Thanks for the support. Here is one clever tip from a friend of mine who also has celiac disease that I will pass on. If he really wants to eat in a restaurant, he goes for breakfast or lunch, right when they open. He makes sure to be the first person through the door. This way, he can count on things being clean. Still not 100%, and he does not eat out often because he's had so many problems, but its a good idea to make it slightly safer.

There have been many threads in the past that dealt with sadness, grief, and tears at certain moments during the healing process. Even though it's been seven years for me, I sometimes still cry when I'm by myself. However, the diet DOES become easier over time. There's hardly a recipe I can't adjust to make gluten free, so I never bother to use the gluten-free cookbooks I bought at the outset. Since the trick to the diet is to eat everything from scratch, you get used to the yummy taste of natural foods and stop craving processed foods. At celiac conferences, we taste all kinds of processed gluten-free foods, but I've completely lost my taste for processed foods and just think, Yuck! There's so much more food that we CAN eat than we can't eat, and it's all yummy.

Going to people's houses, attending potlucks, and going to restaurants can all be challenging....but tackle those situations as they arise. Feel free to ask us how we cope, and you'll receive lots of suggestions that may help. For me, I have a rule: Never eat at another person's home unless that person is an experienced gluten-free cook and maintains a dedicated gluten-free kitchen, and never eat anything at a potluck (I just bring my own food). Eating at restaurants takes a little practice, but you'll eventually figure out how to increase your chances of eating a safe meal. Again, ask here on the forum for suggestions.

Life will be good again soon--really!

[cyberprof]

Thanks for understanding. :-)

I really hope I feel amazingly fantastically healthy and full of vitality soon cause I think it will make it easier for me to accept the losses. Right now I am just still sick, AND on this super restrictive diet (Dr recommended a healing diet that is basically just rice, veggies, fruit, chicken and fish.)and I'm getting rid of my cast iron and cookbooks and it feels like a big bummer.

I just kind of wanted to say it cause i know other people must have felt this way too. It does feel like a big deal.

I would say not to get rid of your cookbooks. I use most of mine, except the baking ones. The Gluten Free Girl and the Chef talk about converting recipes using conversion charts so you may even be able to use the baking books. Maybe put them in storage for a while?

Hope you feel better soon.

[divamomma]

I feel everything you have described. We are two months in and it is getting easier to live with. Cooking is easier, shopping is easier etc. However I am still extremely upset that my daughter has this, that she can never order in pizza, never wander into a bakery that smells so fresh and yummy, never walk into a store and buy whatever she sees, never share food with friends etc. It is a tough road. I know how you feel.

[Alika Nash]

I am just finding all of this reading absolutely amazing to read as I am only 4 days into being diagnosed and am on a metabolic detox. After this they reccomend I do First Line Therapy for 6 months on medicine food. I was real excited for the changes in my life as this disease has completely disabled me in the past 4 years,(although I know now I have had it all my life).

Yesterday was the first day (day 3) on my detox that I felt so sad, I cried several times throughout the day, and sometimes for no apparent reason. So I am glad to know it is normal. Today was even worse, I didn't even want to be around anyone in my family and basically spent the day in my room alone as I could not keep it together emotionally. I feel a bit better tonight though. And reading others experiences certainly does help a bit also.