The Positive Side Of Celiac

[Whatnext?]

After recently being diagnosed with Celiac, I find myself trying to see the positive in all this. I don't think it does anyone any good to keep dwelling on the negative (foods we can't have, things we can't do).

For me... Over the years, I've been trying to find something to make me (force me, really) to eat healthier and cook more at home (we eat out way too much). I've always been an on again off again yo-yo dieter. I think this diagnosis may just be what I need to overhaul my whole diet. And I've already noticed a willingness to try new and unusual things.

What has been your positive? other than the obvious reduction in symptoms, of course.

[Poppi]

I feel better than I've ever felt in my life! I have energy and enthusiasm. I can see a long, happy, healthy future for the first time ever. Instead of wondering how the heck I am going to live another 50-60 years in this body I am excited about every one of those years.

My whole family's diet is better now because for the first time ever I really am mostly shopping the outside of the store. Fruits, veggies, meat, dairy, eggs and rice make up almost all of our diet now and we all feel great because of it.

It's bittersweet but my days of eating fast food are over. I have been a drive through junkie for many years and now I just can't. Even though some of the restaurants have "safe" items there is no way I trust that kid at the window to protect my health.

We are learning to celebrate with activities rather than food. My husband and are going away without the kids for a few days this summer. We had planned our whole trip around famous bakeries, street food and restaurants. Now I have to choose my meals and places carefully so we are focusing more on things to do together like white water rafting and ziplining.

[Marilyn R]

Love your way of thinking.

I've discovered delicious new fruits (papaya, mangoe) and vegetables (rutabega, turnips) and just how good a plain sweet potatoe is without all the extra stuff in most recipes.

I save a ton of money on take out lunches by packing my lunch everyday. We don't eat out at all anymore, and I don't miss the credit card expense.

I love my pressure cooker. It was fun to learn to cook with it and I can make virtually anything that would traditionally take hours to cook in minutes.

I'm glad that I'm not eating processed food anymore with all those additives and preservatives.

And I'm glad that I'm not adding cans and cartons to the landfill. (Still need to clean up my plastic bag act though.) Ever since I discovered UDI's, I haven't missed gluten, except for one special bakerty item, but I can live without it far better than I lived with it.

[11475]

Nice topic!

I've enjoyed redefining 'friendship' and discovering a few truly wonderful people in my life, who care about me and not the 'inconveniences' (to them!) that come along with gluten intolerance and Coeliac disease.

[Coleslawcat]

I was a silent celiac, so while I feel better, it's not a dramatic difference for me. But I still have a huge positive. Before my diagnosis I had severe hyperemesis pregnancies. I had to be hospitalized during them and on home health care while I wasn't hospitalized with an IV line and medication pump, just to keep my from being severely malnourished and dehydrated. After my diagnosis and starting the gluten free diet I got pregnant again. I had a normal pregnancy! I had yucky morning sickness at the beginning, but nothing that required hospitalization and it didn't last the entire pregnancy. It was a huge difference for me.

[2johndeereboys]

After recently being diagnosed with Celiac, I find myself trying to see the positive in all this. I don't think it does anyone any good to keep dwelling on the negative (foods we can't have, things we can't do).

For me... Over the years, I've been trying to find something to make me (force me, really) to eat healthier and cook more at home (we eat out way too much). I've always been an on again off again yo-yo dieter. I think this diagnosis may just be what I need to overhaul my whole diet. And I've already noticed a willingness to try new and unusual things.

What has been your positive? other than the obvious reduction in symptoms, of course.

Hi!

I am new here and altho I have not yet been formally diagnosed (I had a Celiac panel drawn up almost 2 weeks ago. STILL waiting on the results!) I too am looking for a reason to start a healthier lifestyle. I am Bipolar and am on a boat load of meds which caused me to gain a lot of weight. 2 yrs ago I lost 73 pounds kept it off for a short time and have gained most of it back. I have tried several times to switch back to the healthier lifestyle and I just can't muster enough energy to put myself first again!! I am hoping this just may be what I need to care enough about myself and do this for me!

This is a great topic!! Hope more people reply!!!

Sorry for butting in since I am not diagnosed yet but after reading the first post I just had to let you know that I appreciate this topic!!!

Have a great night!!

[Poppi]

I was a silent celiac, so while I feel better, it's not a dramatic difference for me. But I still have a huge positive. Before my diagnosis I had severe hyperemesis pregnancies. I had to be hospitalized during them and on home health care while I wasn't hospitalized with an IV line and medication pump, just to keep my from being severely malnourished and dehydrated. After my diagnosis and starting the gluten free diet I got pregnant again. I had a normal pregnancy! I had yucky morning sickness at the beginning, but nothing that required hospitalization and it didn't last the entire pregnancy. It was a huge difference for me.

My hyperemesis during my last pregnancy is the reason my husband got a vasectomy and we never had that 4th baby we wanted so badly. It was so bad and my life was so threatened at one point that we were considering aborting the baby girl we had spent 2 year trying to conceive. It was unimaginable. I am so happy you had a normal happy pregnancy. Good for you!!

[navigator]

Finally having an answer to years of feeling bad. It's also freed me from pushing myself to the point that I'm in tears cos it sounds so weak and pathetic to keep saying I'm tired and sore and need to rest, without having a reason. Now,post diagnosis, I can say that I have an auto-immune disease and need to do this. I'm struggling at work but I've applied to reduce my hours to allow me to cope. I really struggle to cope with work and have to go for a sleep as soon as I get home. So in some ways the diagnosis has been liberating. Just longing for the time that I feel better.

[anna34]

There are so many positives! I'm eating fresher, healthier foods. I don't have the guilt that came with eating fast food or pre-packaged food. I finally have the energy to exercise so I'm losing some weight and feeling better overall. The constant headaches that I used to get have stopped so I'm no longer taking medication for them. My skin is softer and I don't look tired all the time like I used to. I wasn't expecting these benefits, but it sure is nice!

[color-me-confused]

Two big positives for me. One is the weight I've struggled against for years is slipping away. Down another pound this morning! 2nd: when he was 38 my father became a Type I diabetic out of the blue. My gastro thinks it was quite probable that he had an undiagnosed case of celiac...so now with my diagnosis I feel like the fear of Type I that I've had for 24 years has been lifted - I can actually do something (i.e. not eat gluten) to avoid it instead of waiting for it! There's no guarantees of course, but between gluten-free eating and the weight loss I feel like my diabetic worries are vastly reduced.

[alex11602]

For my daughters and I there were so many positive sides...

For my 17 month old there is the fact that she isn't as sore, she was going up to 9 times a day, and she is just generally a happy baby now. Also once we cut out gluten and a few other foods for her she began to talk, just a few words but before she wasnt able to really verbalize what she wanted.

It didn't make much of a difference to my 4 year old except losing a little weight because we are eating so much healthier now.

And for me...the biggest benefit that I did not see coming was the improvement in the relationship with my husband. Before I was sick every night so we never talked or did anything together. Now we are able to actually sit down and spend time together at night and he is so understanding with everything and has become an expert at reading food labels, he also gave up some of his favorite foods since the girls and I can't have them.

[etta694]

After feeling so bad for so many years (only about 7 which is nothing compared to some but...), I now feel so good. Cough gone, aches receding, energy back, gut beginning to heal. I guess feeling better (eventually) is a given. I am more responsible about what goes in my body, more aware of the amount of processed foods out there and what that means.

I think one of the biggest positives is finding an empathy for people who do not feel well, who are undiagnosed but suffering, and what it means to 'have a reaction to' something. I understand now, when someone says they can't have something that this could cause unbearable symptoms. I really didn't know how much a person could suffer from food issues until I became one.

[eatmeat4good]

I have fingernails.

I taste food.

I can smell food.

I have the energy to cook food.

I can sleep without nightmares.

I don't miss bread.

I love Snickers.

And best of all....

My son went gluten free and lost all of his health problems.

[Judy3]

My biggest positive in all this is 'my diabetes is virtually gone'... !!!!! Yay! I've also been able to get off of medications for Diabetes, Restless Legs, and the stomach pain and nausea!!! I felt like my whole life was going down the proverbial tube and now I have energy and a new zest for life.. and last but by far not least and maybe the most important. I've found my sense of humor again... the part of me that has always made me ME...

Good Topic... we need to see the positives!!

[cap6]

My positives:

* the entire household eats healthier

* even my teenage grandsons are reading labels & learning about additives in foods

* I feel good!

* I have decreased one of my depression meds - and i feel happy

* I am learning to cook (at my old age!!)

* I've made new friends

* I lost a lot of weight - and it has stayed off.

* Life is Good