New Celiac...frustrated

[Jess16]

My name is Jessica. I'm 25 and was just told I have celiac. I've experienced years of abdominal discomfort, anxiety and fatigue. Ive been to many drs for these problems..diagnosed with anxiety, depression, hypogylcemia, acid reflux, tree nut allergy and many other health issues over the years. But I was never tested for celiac...never even heard of it..until the dr called me with biopsy results from my endoscopy. Then I got the blood test and boom I have celiac. I'm struggling with this diagnoses because i feel like I can't eat anything I like anymore and wonder after 25 years of eating gluten what have I already done to my body? I'm already skinny and a picky eater so how am I supposed to cut out half the food I like? Im struggling with all sorts of emotions and frustration with this lifestyle change. If you have any advice to help me deal with celiac, the physical and emotional challenges, please reply.

[kareng]

Welcome.

Look at these two threads to get ideas of what people eat.

[Metoo]

Everything you are feeling is normal when you start eating gluten free. The good news is that over a few weeks to 1 month or more you get really good at eating gluten free.

I felt really limited at first, and I don't at all now. (Except for eating out, I still struggle).

I eat greek yogurt and berries for breakfast with honey.

For snacks I eat, apples, bananas, cheese sticks, popcorn.

For meals I make, roast in a crockpot, buffalo chicken in the crock pot, if you need something quick and easy, I make Thai Kitchen rice noodles, and use San-J sauce (soy or orange), with some tuna or chicken.

I make pizza a lot with the Chebe pizza crust mix, my husband and kids both adore this pizza so it works for all the non gluten-free people in my house too.

[Cara in Boston]

Hi Jessica -

Welcome. The first couple of weeks are difficult - you have to begin to really think about the food you are eating.

But the good news is that in a couple of weeks you will start to feel great - it will be noticeable and you will realize that giving up gluten is completely and totally worth the hassle.

After a few more weeks, it is no longer a hassle. You know what products you like, you've figured out how to convert your favorite recipes and you continue to feel good.

Hang in there. It gets better. Much better.

Cara

[Cujy]

Hi Jessica, I am also newly diagnosed (right on my birthday) and I hear you in the emotion department. Its almost like you have to go through a grieving process, and you go through anger, a deep sadness, almost a depression. Its frustrating and makes you want to scream/cry all the time. I too am going through the same thing. Its very hard for me to tolerate the "could have been worse, at least you have an answer" from people who don't have a care in the world. Of course they are right to some degree, BUT they just arnt experiencing the same thing. Im hoping that from reading the posts on here, you and I can survive this....Everyone on here at least who says, it will get better, is speaking from experience. I can't offer any advice dealing with the emotions because I too need some uplifting something or other, but know that you are not alone.

Angela