Jump to content

  • You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

Looking For A Friend Who Understands

freedomseek00

Recommended Posts

freedomseek00 Rookie
freedomseek00
Posted

Hi,

I'm 23 years old and was recently diagnosed with celiac and a host of other food allergies and health conditions. I was wondering if there is anyone in the Bay Area, California who can relate and would like to be buddies (email, text, chat online, face-to-face). You don't even really have to be from the Bay Area, I just would like someone to talk to (that's what's so great about the internet). Right now I only have my dad (who is sensitive to gluten but no other food allergies) and my boyfriend (who has no food allergies) and they try to help as much as they can but it's not the same as having someone who can directly relate and who will understand my story. Otherwise, I have no other friends because I've been so sick for the past 5 years until they finally figured out it was food allergies a couple months ago. I'd love having more friends I can talk to and we could support each other Admittingly, I need a lot of support right now, I'm really struggling with accepting that this is my new life.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


rosetapper23 Explorer
rosetapper23
Posted

I live in Martinez in Contra Costa County--whereabouts are you located? There are a number of gluten-free folks in the S.F. Bay Area, and we used to meet up every few months at Mariposa Bakery in Oakland....but it's been a while. If you register at Open Original Shared Link, you'll get invited to local gluten-free meetups. You just missed a one-day gluten-free conference in Palo Alto, but one-day events are fairly common in the Bay Area--lots of new people to meet. Please send me a PM if you'd like to meet up sometime at a restaurant that has a reputable gluten-free menu. If you actually live in S.F., there are some great gluten-free restaurants (even one that serves sandwiches!).

Also, there are some great celiac organizations in the U.S. that hold annual conferences. I'm a member of the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America (GIGNA), and I attend their conferences all over the U.S. I have friends that I've kept in touch with through this organization, and it helps me not to feel so lonely and isolated. There is a local chapter: GIG of North Marin, I believe. They hold monthly meetings in Novato, but because their meetings are in the evening and I have night blindness (from celiac), I haven't yet attended one of their meetings. There are also several forum posters here who live in the Bay Area, though I've never met them personally. Perhaps they'll chime in...

Please feel free to contact me--I remember all too well how overwhelmed and lonely I felt at first. It's been almost nine years for me, so it's gotten a lot better. Hope to hear from you!

BeckyW Contributor
BeckyW
Posted

Hi,

I'm 23 years old and was recently diagnosed with celiac and a host of other food allergies and health conditions. I was wondering if there is anyone in the Bay Area, California who can relate and would like to be buddies (email, text, chat online, face-to-face). You don't even really have to be from the Bay Area, I just would like someone to talk to (that's what's so great about the internet). Right now I only have my dad (who is sensitive to gluten but no other food allergies) and my boyfriend (who has no food allergies) and they try to help as much as they can but it's not the same as having someone who can directly relate and who will understand my story. Otherwise, I have no other friends because I've been so sick for the past 5 years until they finally figured out it was food allergies a couple months ago. I'd love having more friends I can talk to and we could support each other Admittingly, I need a lot of support right now, I'm really struggling with accepting that this is my new life.

I don't live in the CA area but I totally understand how you feel. Besides not being able to eat gluten, I have multiple food issues. The main ones are soy and dairy. I also can't eat alot of vegetables or fruits. It sure can be frustrating and helps to have someone to talk to about all this. I am always willing to talk to you!!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Aretaeus Cappadocia
      - Aretaeus Cappadocia replied to Jmartes71's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      2

      Skin issues

      I'm not saying this is what you have, but your description reminds me of Morgellons, which are not very well understood. Here is a review from a reputable source. If it seems similar to your experience, you could raise this question with your Dr. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/morgellons-disease
    2. nancydrewandtheceliacclue
      - nancydrewandtheceliacclue replied to nancydrewandtheceliacclue's topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      4

      Celiac flare years after diagnosis

      Hi Trent, no dairy. Other than good quality butter. I have been lactose free for years. No corn, sugar, even seasonings and spices. I don't eat out. I cook my own food.
    3. trents
      - trents replied to nancydrewandtheceliacclue's topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      4

      Celiac flare years after diagnosis

      @nancydrewandtheceliacclue, are you consuming dairy? Not sure if dairy is part of the carnivore diet.
    4. nancydrewandtheceliacclue
      - nancydrewandtheceliacclue replied to nancydrewandtheceliacclue's topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      4

      Celiac flare years after diagnosis

      Hello Russ! Thank you so much for your reply. I have not had an antibody test done, ever, relating to gluten. Last year I had an allergy test done via blood draw (as my insurance wouldn't cover the skin test) but this was for pollen and grasses, not food. Even on the blood test I had extremely high levels of reactions to each allergen. Could this seasonal...
    5. Russ H
      - Russ H replied to nancydrewandtheceliacclue's topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      4

      Celiac flare years after diagnosis

      The sensitivity of people with coeliac disease varies greatly between individuals. The generally accepted as safe limit for most people is 10 milligrams per day. This equates to a piece of bread the size of a small pea. Some people report that they are more sensitive than this, but others can very occasionally eat a normal gluten containing meal without reacting...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      134,046
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      10,442
    Urquhart
    Newest Member
    Urquhart
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Skin issues

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      I'm not saying this is what you have, but your description reminds me of Morgellons, which are not very well understood. Here is a review from a reputable source. If it seems similar to your experience, you could raise this question with your Dr.  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/morgellons-disease
    • nancydrewandtheceliacclue
      Celiac flare years after diagnosis

      By nancydrewandtheceliacclue · Posted

      Hi Trent, no dairy. Other than good quality butter. I have been lactose free for years. No corn, sugar, even seasonings and spices. I don't eat out. I cook my own food.
    • trents
      Celiac flare years after diagnosis

      By trents · Posted

      @nancydrewandtheceliacclue, are you consuming dairy? Not sure if dairy is part of the carnivore diet.
    • nancydrewandtheceliacclue
      Celiac flare years after diagnosis

      By nancydrewandtheceliacclue · Posted

      Hello Russ! Thank you so much for your reply.  I have not had an antibody test done, ever, relating to gluten. Last year I had an allergy test done via blood draw (as my insurance wouldn't cover the skin test) but this was for pollen and grasses, not food. Even on the blood test I had extremely high levels of reactions to each allergen. Could this seasonal allergy inflammation be contributing to my celiac inflammation? I am so careful, there is no way I could ingest gluten. For example, couple of months ago I tried a cough drop that says it was gluten free. I checked ingredients, it seemed fine. But just taking one of those caused me to have nausea, vomiting, and the same extreme abdominal pain. Have you ever heard of anyone else having symptoms like mine after being diagnosed celiac and strictly gluten free? The last episode I had like this was yesterday, after I ate a certified gluten-free coconut macaroon with a little chocolate on it. I have eaten coconut and chocolate before with no issue,  so I didn't see how I could all of a sudden have such a strong response. 
    • Russ H
      Celiac flare years after diagnosis

      By Russ H · Posted

      The sensitivity of people with coeliac disease varies greatly between individuals. The generally accepted as safe limit for most people is 10 milligrams per day. This equates to a piece of bread the size of a small pea. Some people report that they are more sensitive than this, but others can very occasionally eat a normal gluten containing meal without reacting. I don't think that touching or throwing bread around would lead to you ingesting enough to cause a reaction. There are case reports of farmers with coeliac disease reacting to the dust from gluten-containing animal feed but they were inhaling large amounts of dust over a long period of time in barns. Perhaps you episodes are caused by a reaction to something other than gluten? Have you had your antibody levels checked to see whether you are still being exposed to gluten?
×
×
  • Create New...