3 Years Into gluten-free Diet And Tired Of Being Different

[Gemini]

This hit so close to home for me. My grandfather died just like this. He had intestinal cancer and died with a bag of poop strapped to him. And it was his biggest fear because his father died like that too. He always said he didn't want to go out like his dad, and at only 52 years old, he did. Now I understand why he got this particular cancer, even though he had no clue, but I believe he had celiac disease, as did his father. My grandparents had 13 children, one of whom is my mother, she has celiac disease, I have celiac disease, and both of my kids have it too. I am trying desperately to get her 12 brothers and sisters and their children tested, but to no avail. I wonder how many of them will meet their graves way too early with a bag of poop strapped to them? I shudder at the thought. Sigh.

If we had a medical profession who did their jobs, and accepted that many foods are the root cause of many illnesses, this would not happen! Some people only believe it when the people in the white coats tell them so. That would be my family......

[IrishHeart]

Probably would have a much better time anyway!

well, I think so, but I think I'm a pretty fun girl....

[tarnalberry]

I think three years is probably around the time where you stop trying to fit in to the scene, realizing it's futile, and start trying to change the scene instead. Cook for other people, suggest the restaurants, or make suggestions for things to do that don't revolve around our national obsession over food food and more ***forsaken food. It's a rut that you're stuck in, along with most of the rest of the population. It's a deep rut, that's hard to pull out of. But you've got a lifetime of opportunity ahead to do it.

[Duhlina]

I'm in upstate NY and you are always welcome to eat here, too.

I'm in Upstate NY too! Where are you? I'm about 10 minutes East of Albany.

[IrishHeart]

I'm in Upstate NY too! Where are you? I'm about 10 minutes East of Albany.

COOL! I'm 45 mins. away.

Have you been to Sherry Lynn's gluten-free cafe yet?

So we do not highjack this thread, PM me and we can talk!

[eeyorelvr]

I have only been at this since October of 2011, but travel a lot mostly eating out, since i have been gluten free I have been on 4 major trips. I too love when the chef comes to my table to talk to me, what I think bugs me the most about it all is just how much I have to "think" about things, it almost makes my brain hurt I can't tell you how many times I say "I'm just going to hire a personal chef so I don't have to think about this so much.

[IrishHeart]

I agree that the convenience factor is a big pain in the butt, but I eat well and I can cook and bake, so I do not have much of an issue with being gluten-free at all.

I DO have an issue with people who give ME grief because I have to be gluten-free because my life depends on it.

If a waiter rolls his eyes or makes a derogatory snort or wise-ass comment when I politely ask for a gluten-free menu, everyone with me freezes--there is an uptake of collective breaths and an unsaid "Uh-Oh, he's done it now!"--- and they wait for my "firm, quick but polite lecture" on celiac disease and why he needs to be a little more courteous to me and take me seriously.

Works every time.

[melsmith13]

Glad I'm not the only one...I'm newly diagnosed (6 months) and trying to navigate the gluten-free world (sometimes successfully). Ever since the diagnosis I've had a feeling of anger just lurking below the surface. Now, I'm starting to develop other food sensitivities that I've never had! (normal, I read) Grrrrr!!!! I'm just pissed! sorry to sound so negative but it gets depressing, ya know?

[kareng]

Glad I'm not the only one...I'm newly diagnosed (6 months) and trying to navigate the gluten-free world (sometimes successfully). Ever since the diagnosis I've had a feeling of anger just lurking below the surface. Now, I'm starting to develop other food sensitivities that I've never had! (normal, I read) Grrrrr!!!! I'm just pissed! sorry to sound so negative but it gets depressing, ya know?

You may have had those food sensitivities all along and the Celiac masked it. It's like someone hitting your foot with a mallet.....you don't even feel that paper cut on your finger anymore.

[IrishHeart]

I was just starting to post as Karen did You had those food sensitivities, you just did not notice them as the gluten/celiac was the primary one. Now that you're starting to feel better off gluten, they are more noticeable. Secondary food intolerances often resolve. I got dairy back after 10 months (whoohoo)

Hang in there.

And, you will go through the phases of grieving...denial, anger, sadness, bargaining, and finally acceptance.

You're not alone. We all went through it.

I had some major anger issues about it for a while--because if I had known what I was dealing with 30 years ago, when I started displaying symptoms, my life would have been drastically different. I suffered major consequences as a result of long undiagnosed celiac. I am pretty pissed off about that, yes.

But I can't get too caught up in the "woe factor". Life is too short for that stuff. We could have a whole lot worse going on.

[melsmith13]

I was just starting to post as Karen did You had those food sensitivities, you just did not notice them as the gluten/celiac was the primary one. Now that you're starting to feel better off gluten, they are more noticeable. Secondary food intolerances often resolve. I got dairy back after 10 months (whoohoo)

Hang in there.

And, you will go through the phases of grieving...denial, anger, sadness, bargaining, and finally acceptance.

You're not alone. We all went through it.

I had some major anger issues about it for a while--because if I had known what I was dealing with 30 years ago, when I started displaying symptoms, my life would have been drastically different. I suffered major consequences as a result of long undiagnosed celiac. I am pretty pissed off about that, yes.

But I can't get too caught up in the "woe factor". Life is too short for that stuff. We could have a whole lot worse going on.

That's exactly it: I'm going through the phases of grief! I'm through denial and now I'm in anger... Re: the food sensitivities, it's weird ...I practically lived on guacamole and now it causes me such pain it's unbearable. I keep a food journal and do the whole exclusion thing to determine what exactly is giving me problems and I now can not eat brussel sprouts or avocados. Previously I ate both with no issues.

[wrongwayroxy]

The BEST meals are made at home!! But I totally understand your frustration.. I have been gluten and dairy free for 2+ years now and have never really been tempted: 1. It changed my life so drastically. 2. The few times I have inadvertently digested it, I ended up soo sick. But I have to agree with you, the hardest thing is getting "some" people to understand. I have some dear friends that have numerous times invited me out to lunch. I accept only to find out they're going to ROUND TABLE PIZZA!! I politely bow out and I always get the same excuse, "Well, we thought you could eat at the SALAD BAR!" Never mind that the one thing I miss the most is pizza but I am really not going to take the time to explain cross contamination to them. The other person that used to give me the hardest time was my ex-husband, who used to yelled at me whenever we went out to dinner because he would get frustrated that I had to spend so much time working with the waitress trying to figure out what I could eat! Well, now I have an amazing boyfriend who happens to be a nurse and totally understands not only my dietary restrictions, but cross contamination and other limitations. But last week we were on vacation with some friends. We rented a condo together and did ALL our own cooking. A good friend of mine prepared the most amazing braised salmon I have ever tasted totally from scratch... It always take a little extra time to plan ahead for meals and there will always be situations when its best to just smile and say "No thank you!" and just go without.. But other than that I feel perfectly normal..