Emotional

[amcam17]

Hello Everyone,

I'm not one for complaining or whining but today has been extremely rough. Today is day 4 of the gluten free diet per doctor's orders. I was doing great and then we (my boyfriend and i) went out to eat. HUGE mistake there. I was so upset. Everything he was eating I use to eat. It looked and smelled so good. I felt awsful as did my boyfriend. I'm just so down and out today....I know God has a plan through all of this...I just really don't know if I can do this....

[squirmingitch]

I know. I'm sorry you're feeling blue. It probably wasn't too great an idea to go out to dinner so soon yet. And I know all you can focus on right now are all the things you think you can't ever have again. But believe me, there are substitutions for all those things. Some are better than others. But I promise you it gets a whole lot easier. It really does. I no longer bemoan the foods I at first thought I could never live without. Honestly, I don't even think about those foods anymore. But right now you're hurting mentally & going through a grieving process. It's normal. You have to get it out of your system. Go ahead & have a good cry.

Here, I'll cry with you.

Waaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, waaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, waaaahhhhhhhhh.

(((HUGS)))

[Adalaide]

The day I got the call with my diagnosis I cried. I went to bed and bawled. I whined about how hard it is, it's too much, I simply can't do it. I begged, pleaded and bargained with God for him to just make it all go away. I cried until I was physically ill. When I was done (which was after I cried myself to sleep and woke up feeling like I got whacked in the head with a board) I was convinced I was crazy. I cried over food. That's when I discovered this website and everyone has been so wonderful, especially in assuring me it's normal and okay to whine and cry over everything you're giving up.

So it's okay. Throw yourself a pity party and let it all out. It gets easier, even things like eating out. It is definitely good advice to avoid that for a while but it isn't something I could really do. I wasn't emotionally ready to give that up too. What I did was a lot of online research finding restaurants that were safe for me to eat at. (Safe is a relative term, eating out is always a risk.) I found fast food for when I'm out and just can't make it home without starving to death and I found a handful of places that are sit down and eat places with a variety of price ranges. Even if you only find one place to go, it may be boring to always go to the same place but at least you'll know that you can eat there.

I know it isn't good to feel bad, but it's a good sign that your boyfriend felt bad. If he's sympathetic to what you're going through it'll be easier for you. He may be willing to learn to cook some amazing gluten free foods with your or even make changes to his own life to benefit you. He can't understand what you're going through, but he can be understanding and that can help make things so much easier for you.

[amcam17]

I know. I'm sorry you're feeling blue. It probably wasn't too great an idea to go out to dinner so soon yet. And I know all you can focus on right now are all the things you think you can't ever have again. But believe me, there are substitutions for all those things. Some are better than others. But I promise you it gets a whole lot easier. It really does. I no longer bemoan the foods I at first thought I could never live without. Honestly, I don't even think about those foods anymore. But right now you're hurting mentally & going through a grieving process. It's normal. You have to get it out of your system. Go ahead & have a good cry.

Here, I'll cry with you.

Waaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, waaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, waaaahhhhhhhhh.

(((HUGS)))

Thank you so much. I mean I know I can do this....my boyfriend even felt bad he even cried. The day I found out I couldn't stop crying...it just really stinks...

[jeanzdyn]

I sympathize with you, amcam17, it is not easy to make a major change in your diet and then watch someone else have what you cannot.

I had already been altering my diet in an attempt to alleviate my symptoms. The result of that was that it was a little bit easier for me to make the jump to gluten free.

You need more time away from foods you cannot have.

At least your boyfriend is sensitive to your troubles! Sounds like he is a real good guy.

There are many, many subsitutes for some of the food items that normally contain gluten. Search around here on the forum, you will find a lot of sympathy and advice here --and friends!!

You are not alone in this!

[amcam17]

The day I got the call with my diagnosis I cried. I went to bed and bawled. I whined about how hard it is, it's too much, I simply can't do it. I begged, pleaded and bargained with God for him to just make it all go away. I cried until I was physically ill. When I was done (which was after I cried myself to sleep and woke up feeling like I got whacked in the head with a board) I was convinced I was crazy. I cried over food. That's when I discovered this website and everyone has been so wonderful, especially in assuring me it's normal and okay to whine and cry over everything you're giving up.

So it's okay. Throw yourself a pity party and let it all out. It gets easier, even things like eating out. It is definitely good advice to avoid that for a while but it isn't something I could really do. I wasn't emotionally ready to give that up too. What I did was a lot of online research finding restaurants that were safe for me to eat at. (Safe is a relative term, eating out is always a risk.) I found fast food for when I'm out and just can't make it home without starving to death and I found a handful of places that are sit down and eat places with a variety of price ranges. Even if you only find one place to go, it may be boring to always go to the same place but at least you'll know that you can eat there.

I know it isn't good to feel bad, but it's a good sign that your boyfriend felt bad. If he's sympathetic to what you're going through it'll be easier for you. He may be willing to learn to cook some amazing gluten free foods with your or even make changes to his own life to benefit you. He can't understand what you're going through, but he can be understanding and that can help make things so much easier for you.

Your response made me chuckle a little. Thanks He's a great guy and has done so much already. The next obstacle for me is we are going to the Alive Christian Music festival which I'm sure that 99% of the food there, I can't eat. I'm so new to all of this and have no idea what to take with me....I can cook, but not from scratch and I just don't know what to take with me at all...I absolutely LOVE food and now feel like I'm eating all of the time which is a good thing because I wasn't. I'm just tired of the same things...Any ideas on some other things?? Or any receipes that you have?? I'm just completely and utterly at my wits end tonight and I have so much to do....

[amcam17]

I sympathize with you, amcam17, it is not easy to make a major change in your diet and then watch someone else have what you cannot.

I had already been altering my diet in an attempt to alleviate my symptoms. The result of that was that it was a little bit easier for me to make the jump to gluten free. You need more time away from foods you cannot have.

There are many, many subsitutes for some of the food items that normally contain gluten. Search around here on the forum, you will find a lot of sympathy and advice here --and friends!!

You are not alone in this!

Thank you so much jeanzdyn! Just when I feel like I'm completely alone you guys all help so much! Now if I could stop crying and get my head to calm down I think I'll be ok. Just very new and very scary. I'm going to a support group (I'm embarrassed to say this) on Thursday so I'm hoping that I can get a lot of really good and yummy ideas there...It's just all starting to hit me I think. I always am trying to be super woman and especially super girlfriend and I just can't do it right now and it's just tearing me apart. Thank you again for replying back. It's very encouraging to hear everyone's story and know that I'm definitely not in this all alone...

God Bless.

[Victoria6102]

If you like potato salad, it's really easy. I make this a lot because I LOVE it and because it doesn't have to be heated up! Potatoes and eggs are naturally gluten free and Kraft mayo is gluten free....just check the label to be sure! As for mustard not sure what's gluten-free, I'm using a store brand that I called on to be sure it was gluten-free.

Also barbecue chicken is simple...pretty easy! I love that too!

Those are good things to eat at a festival maybe bring some snacks like fruit or chips or something. Lays are gluten-free and all fresh fruit is also.

Have fun! Remember the Lord is in control, amcam! He knows what's best. I know it's hard when you go through something like this. But without Him I would not be able to get through it at all. Prayer is powerful! I'll say a prayer for you tonight He won't ever leave you!!!

[Adalaide]

Learning to cook has been a challenge and I haven't really gone far enough yet to have ideas on many good portable foods. I do absolutely love Lara bars though, I almost cried when I had my first cherry pie one because it tastes like pie. They aren't particularly cheap but they're delicious. Tomorrow for work I'm taking PB&J made from leftover gluten free pancakes. If you can bring a cooler with you, the potato salad is a great idea. Maybe rice pudding? (Time intensive but super easy to make.) As for food there, check what sauce BBQ places use, you may be pleasantly surprised to find some you can have. I like cold fried chicken okay, you could always learn to make some and take it with you. Fries are fine, especially if its from a place that only does fries. For traveling or anything away from home I'd prefer the Lays stackers chips to bags, they're less likely to get crushed and ruined by an accident.

Sure, the whole foods thing and naturally gluten free is better than stuffing yourself with replacements early on, but sometimes you just need something. I couldn't give up pasta, Tinkyada is amazingly delicious. If you undercook it just a little it makes an amazing macaroni salad or mac & cheese. (To be fair though I found a bulk pasta I can get for about 1/3 of the price so I don't use that brand anymore.) You'll find that learning to cook is easier than you thought it would be, just take small steps so you don't get overwhelmed. And don't let flops get you down, we've all cooked or baked some pretty awful things that we wouldn't even feed to a dog.

Oh, my favorite dessert that travels? Coconut pie. Open Original Shared Link

[dani nero]

Hello Everyone,

I'm not one for complaining or whining but today has been extremely rough. Today is day 4 of the gluten free diet per doctor's orders. I was doing great and then we (my boyfriend and i) went out to eat. HUGE mistake there. I was so upset. Everything he was eating I use to eat. It looked and smelled so good. I felt awsful as did my boyfriend. I'm just so down and out today....I know God has a plan through all of this...I just really don't know if I can do this....

What that food does to your insides is disgusting .. try to hang on to that thought. It literally shreds off part of your intestines, leaves you starving to death, and that is horrifying. All I can say to you is that the only hard part is the beginning, and one day you won't miss it anymore and it will get become the norm :-) You will learn also how pleasant and amazing gluten free food can be as well.

Best of luck with your new life :-)

[kristenloeh]

Totally know where you are coming from. I didn't think I would be ever to go out to eat ever again, but I have found some great places that have dedicated gluten free menus and know the seriousness of Celiac's in my city. Along with some completely gluten free bakeries and what not. Do some research, you may be pleasantly surprised at what you find around you.

[Darn210]

Just very new and very scary. I'm going to a support group (I'm embarrassed to say this) on Thursday so I'm hoping that I can get a lot of really good and yummy ideas there...

I don't know why you should be embarrassed. Support groups are a wonderful thing. This board is a support group. It really helps to find out that there is a whole community of people willing to teach you what they know. It really helps emotionally to find out that you are not the only one going through this.

You'll be surprised at how quickly you learn the ropes. You'll be surprised at how quickly you'll be the one answering the questions and providing the support for someone else who just got diagnosed.

[christianmom247]

Hello Everyone,

I'm not one for complaining or whining but today has been extremely rough. Today is day 4 of the gluten free diet per doctor's orders. I was doing great and then we (my boyfriend and i) went out to eat. HUGE mistake there. I was so upset. Everything he was eating I use to eat. It looked and smelled so good. I felt awsful as did my boyfriend. I'm just so down and out today....I know God has a plan through all of this...I just really don't know if I can do this....

Amcam17, I

[bartfull]

I have been gluten-free for a year now. As a matter of fact, today is my anniversary as a member of this forum. (No gifts please. ) I swear I cried more in the past year than I ever had in my life, and several times it was in public places like the grocery store, the healthfood store, and once at a restaurant. I am probably the world's worst and LAZIEST cook! But I finally got the hang of it, cooking simple meals that taste pretty good.

I recieved a lot of advice and encouragement from the wonderful people here, and even though at the time I thought they were just trying to make me feel better, they were right when they told me it gets better. So keep it in the back of your mind. It gets better, it gets better, it gets better. It might take a while, but before long, you'll be feeling so good, the thought of the foods you used to love will turn your stomach, and instead you will be craving good healthy foods.

I promise.

(((((HUGS)))))

[elan]

I have been gluten-free for a year now. As a matter of fact, today is my anniversary as a member of this forum. (No gifts please. ) I swear I cried more in the past year than I ever had in my life, and several times it was in public places like the grocery store, the healthfood store, and once at a restaurant. I am probably the world's worst and LAZIEST cook! But I finally got the hang of it, cooking simple meals that taste pretty good.

I recieved a lot of advice and encouragement from the wonderful people here, and even though at the time I thought they were just trying to make me feel better, they were right when they told me it gets better. So keep it in the back of your mind. It gets better, it gets better, it gets better. It might take a while, but before long, you'll be feeling so good, the thought of the foods you used to love will turn your stomach, and instead you will be craving good healthy foods.

I promise.

(((((HUGS)))))

Kudos to you Bartfull ! I am just beginning this journey and one of my worries is nutrition. I already had problems with not enough Vitamin D, iron, etc. Have you had to address this issue? I am not fully diagnosed yet . . one more test to do. But it must be celiac disease. Are supplements okay?

[notme]

I have been gluten-free for a year now. As a matter of fact, today is my anniversary as a member of this forum. (No gifts please. ) I swear I cried more in the past year than I ever had in my life, and several times it was in public places like the grocery store, the healthfood store, and once at a restaurant. I am probably the world's worst and LAZIEST cook! But I finally got the hang of it, cooking simple meals that taste pretty good.

I recieved a lot of advice and encouragement from the wonderful people here, and even though at the time I thought they were just trying to make me feel better, they were right when they told me it gets better. So keep it in the back of your mind. It gets better, it gets better, it gets better. It might take a while, but before long, you'll be feeling so good, the thought of the foods you used to love will turn your stomach, and instead you will be craving good healthy foods.

I promise.

(((((HUGS)))))

CONGRATULATIONS, BARTFULL

amcan, bartfull speaks the truth - it's hard to believe right now, but you will get to feeling better and better! lucky you to be diagnosed now that you are relatively young (i know it doesn't seem like a blessing....) and not waste more time feeling ill - there's more lovely side-effects to celiac the longer you go undiagnosed. so maybe look at it that way? i know it's hard, but it sounds like you have good faith and you trust Jesus. that helped me ALOT - God doesn't make mistakes, He just doesn't let us in on the big picture. i will pray for you, sweetie.

also, sounds like your b/f is a great guy. you wouldn't believe how many significant others are insensitive jerks. i was blessed with a pretty good husband who was tired of watching me suffer. he eats gluten-free with me

ps - did your doc tell you it might be a good idea to skip dairy/lactose for right now, especially if you have damage to your villi.