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Celiac Disease & Gluten-Free Diet Blogs

  • kareng's Blog
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  • An Unmistakeable Journey
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  • Research on South African Celiac Tours
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  • Melissa.77's Blog
  • Keating's Not-so-Glutenfree life
  • AmandasMommy's Blog
  • Coeliac, or just plain unlucky?
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  • Searchin for a Primary Care Dr. In Redlands That is Knowledgeable about Celiac disease
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  • Michael Fowler's Blog
  • Living in Japan with Ceoliac Disease
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  • MJ
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  • HONG KONG GLUTEN, WHEAT FREE PRODUCTS
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  • Healthy Food Healthy You
  • SydneyT1D - Diabetic and Celiac YouTuber!
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  • SMAS: www.celiac.com
  • gardener1's Blog
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  • JordanBattenSymons' Blog
  • JillianC
  • Sugar's Blog
  • Blanche22's Blog
  • Jason's Blog
  • Gluten-Free Sisters :)
  • Eab12's Celiac Blog
  • ohiodad's Blog
  • Newly Self Diagnosed?
  • misscorpiothing's Blog
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  • Petroguy
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  • Soap Opera Central
  • nurcan's Blog
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  • Mr J's Blog
  • Rachel Keating's Blog
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  • deetee's Blog
  • CAC's Blog
  • EmilyLinn7's Blog
  • Teri Kiefer's Blog
  • happyasabeewithceliac's Blog
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  • jaimekochan's Blog
  • Cheryl
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  • donna mae's Blog
  • Colleen's blog
  • DawnJ's Blog
  • Gluten Challenge
  • twins2's Blog
  • just trying to feel better's Blog
  • Celiac Teen
  • MNBelle blog
  • Gabe351's Blog
  • moosemalibu's Blog
  • Coeliac Disease or Coeliac Sprue or Non Tropical Sprue
  • karalto's Blog
  • deacon11's Blog
  • Nyxie's Blog
  • Swpocket's Blog
  • threeringfilly's Blog
  • Madison Papers: Living Gluten-Free in a Gluten-Full World
  • babinsky's Blog
  • prettycat's Blog
  • Celiac Diagnosis at Age 24 months in 1939
  • Sandy R's Blog
  • mary m's Blog
  • Jkrupp's Blog
  • Oreo1964's Blog
  • keyboard
  • Louisa's Blog
  • Guts & Brains
  • Gluten Free Betty
  • Jesse'sGirl's Blog
  • NewMom's Blog
  • Connie C.'s Blog
  • garden girl's Blog
  • april anne's Blog
  • 4xmom's Blog
  • benalexander60's Blog
  • missmyrtle's Blog
  • Jersey Shore wheat no more's Blog
  • swezzan's Blog
  • aheartsj's Blog
  • MeltheBrit's Blog
  • glutenfreecosmeticcounter
  • Reasons Why Tummy tuck is considered best to remove unwanted belly fat?
  • alfgarrie's Blog
  • SmidginMama's Blog
  • lws' Blog
  • KMBC2014's Blog
  • Musings and Lessons Learned
  • txwildflower65's Blog
  • Uncertain
  • jess4736's Blog
  • deedo's Blog
  • persistent~Tami's Blog
  • Posterboy's Blog
  • jferguson
  • tiffjake's Blog
  • KCG91's Blog
  • Yolo's Herbs & Other Healing Strategies
  • scrockwell's Blog
  • Sandra45's Blog
  • Theresa Marie's Blog
  • Skylark's Blog
  • JessicaB's Blog
  • Anna'sMommy's Blog
  • Skylark's Oops
  • Jehovah witnesses
  • Celiac in Seattle's Blog
  • March On
  • honeybeez's Blog
  • The Liberated Kitchen, redux
  • onceandagain's Blog
  • JoyfulM's Blog
  • keepingmybabysafe's Blog
  • To beer, with love...
  • nana b's Blog
  • kookooto's Blog
  • SunnyJ's Blog
  • Mia'smommy's Blog
  • Amanda's Blog
  • jldurrani's Blog
  • Why choosing Medical bracelets for women online is the true possible?
  • Carriefaith's Blog
  • acook's Blog
  • REAGS' Blog
  • gfreegirl0125's Blog
  • Gluten Free Recipes - Blog
  • avlocken's Blog
  • Thiamine Thiamine Thiamine
  • wilbragirl's Blog
  • Gluten and Maize-Free (gluten-free-MF)
  • Elimination Diet Challenge
  • DJ 14150
  • mnsny's Blog
  • Linda03's Blog
  • GFinDC's Blog
  • Kim UPST NY's Blog
  • cmc's Blog
  • blog comppergastta1986
  • JesikaBeth's Blog
  • Melissa
  • G-Free's Blog
  • miloandotis' Blog
  • Confessions of a Celiac
  • Know the significance of clean engine oil
  • bobhayes1's Blog
  • Robinbird's Blog
  • skurtz's Blog
  • Olivia's Blog
  • Jazzdncr222's Blog
  • Lemonade's Blog
  • k8k's Blog
  • celiaccoach&triathlete's Blog
  • Gluten Free Goodies
  • cherbourgbakes.blogspot.com
  • snow dogs' Blog
  • Rikki Tikki's Blog
  • lthurman1979's Blog
  • Sprue that :)'s Blog
  • twinkletoes' Blog
  • Ranking the best gluten free pizzas
  • Gluten Free Product
  • Wildcat Golfer's Blog
  • Becci's Blog
  • sillyker0nian's Blog
  • txplowgirl's Blog
  • Gluten Free Bread Blog
  • babygoose78's Blog
  • G-freegal12's Blog
  • kelcat's Blog
  • Heavy duty 0verhead crane
  • beckyk's Blog
  • pchick's Blog
  • NOT-IN-2gluten's Blog
  • PeachPie's Blog
  • Johny
  • Breezy32600's Blog
  • Edgymama's Gluten Free Journey
  • Geoff
  • audra's Blog
  • mfrklr's Blog
  • 2 chicks
  • I Need Help With Bread
  • the strong one has returned!
  • sabrina_B_Celiac's Blog
  • Gluten Free Pioneer's Blog
  • Theanine.
  • The Search of Hay
  • Vanessa
  • racecar16's Blog
  • JCH13's Blog
  • b&kmom's Blog
  • Gluten Free Foodies
  • NanaRobin's Blog
  • mdrumr8030's Blog
  • Sharon LaCouture's Blog
  • Zinc, Magnesium, and Selenium
  • sao155's Blog
  • Tabasco's Blog
  • Amanda Smith
  • mmc's Blog
  • xphile1121's Blog
  • golden exch
  • kerrih's Blog
  • jleb's Blog
  • RUGR8FUL's Blog
  • Brynja's Grain Free Kitchen
  • schneides123's Blog
  • Greenville, SC Gluten-Free Blog
  • ramiaha's Blog
  • Kathy P's Blogs
  • rock on!'s Blog
  • Carri Ninja's Blog
  • jerseygirl221's Blog
  • Pkhaselton's Blog
  • Hyperceliac Blog
  • abbiekir's Blog
  • Lasister's Thoughts
  • bashalove's Blog
  • Steph1's Blog
  • Etboces
  • Rantings of Tiffany
  • GlutenWrangler's Blog
  • kalie's Blog
  • Mommy Of A Gluten Free Child
  • ready2go's Blog
  • Maureen
  • Floridian's Blog
  • Bobbie41972's Blog
  • Everyday Victories
  • Intolerance issue? Helpppp!
  • Feisty
  • In the Beginning...
  • Cheri46's Blog
  • Acne after going gluten free
  • sissSTL's Blog
  • Elizabeth19's Blog
  • LindseyR's Blog
  • sue wiesbrook's Blog
  • I'm Hungry's Blog
  • badcasper's Blog
  • M L Graham's Blog
  • Wolicki's Blog
  • katiesalmons' Blog
  • CBC and celiac
  • Kaycee's Blog
  • wheatisbad's Blog
  • beamishmom's Blog
  • Celiac Ninja's Blog
  • scarlett54's Blog
  • GloriaZ's Blog
  • Holly F's Blog
  • Jackie's Blog
  • lbradley's Blog
  • TheSandWitch's Blog
  • Ginger Sturm's Blog
  • The Struggle is Real
  • whataboutmary's Blog
  • JABBER's Blog
  • morningstar38's Blog
  • Musings of a Celiac
  • Celiacchef's Blog
  • healthygirl's Blog
  • allybaby's Blog
  • MGrinter's Blog
  • LookingforAnswers15's Blog
  • Lis
  • Alilbratty's Blog
  • 3sisters' Blog
  • MGrinter's Blog
  • Amanda
  • felise's Blog
  • rochesterlynn's Blog
  • mle_ii's Blog
  • GlamourGetaways' Blog
  • greendog's Blog
  • Tabz's Blog
  • Smiller's Blog
  • my vent
  • newby to celiac?'s Blog
  • siren's Blog
  • myraljo's Blog
  • Relieved and confused
  • carb bingeing
  • scottish's Blog
  • maggiemay832's Blog
  • Cristina Barbara
  • ~~~AnnaBelle~~~'s Blog
  • nikky's Blog
  • Suzy-Q's Blog
  • mfarrell's Blog
  • Kat-Kat's Blog
  • Kelcie's Blog
  • cyoshimit's Blog
  • pasqualeb's Blog
  • My girlfriend has celiacs and she refuses to see a doctor
  • Ki-Ki29's Blog
  • mailmanrol's Blog
  • Sal Gal
  • WildBillCODY's Blog
  • Ann Messenger
  • aprilz's Blog
  • the gluten-free guy
  • gluten-free-wifey's Blog
  • Lynda MEADOWS's Blog
  • mellajane's Blog
  • Jaded's Celiac adventures in a non-celiac world.
  • booboobelly18's Blog
  • Dope show
  • Classic Celiac Blog
  • Keishalei's Blog
  • Bada
  • Sherry's blurbs
  • addict697's Blog
  • MIchael530btr's Blog
  • Shawn C
  • antono's Blog
  • Undiagnosed
  • little_d's Blog
  • Gluten, dairy, pineapple
  • The Fat (Celiac) Lady Sings
  • Periomike
  • Sue Mc's Blog
  • BloatusMaximus' Blog
  • It's just one cookie!
  • Kimmy
  • jacobsmom44's Blog
  • mjhere's Blog
  • tlipasek's Blog
  • You're Prescribing Me WHAT!?!
  • Kimmy
  • nybbles's Blog
  • Karla T.'s Blog
  • Young and dealing with celiacs
  • Celiac.com Podcast Edition
  • LCcrisp's Blog
  • ghfphd's allergy blog
  • https://www.bendglutenfree.com/
  • Costume's and GF Life
  • mjhere69's Blog
  • dedeadge's Blog
  • CeliacChoplin
  • Ravenworks' Blog
  • ahubbard83's Blog
  • celiac<3'sme!'s Blog
  • William Parsons
  • Gluten Free Breeze (formerly Brendygirl) Blog
  • Ivanna44's Blog
  • Daily Life and Compromising
  • Vonnie Mostat
  • Aly'smom's Blog
  • ar8's Blog
  • farid's Blog
  • Sandra Lee's Blog
  • Demertitis hepaformis no Celac
  • Vonnie Mostat, R.N.
  • beetle's Blog
  • Sandra Lee's Blog
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  • totalallergyman's Blog
  • Kim
  • Vhips
  • twinsmom's Blog
  • Newbyliz's Blog
  • collgwg's Blog
  • Living in the Gluten Free World
  • lisajs38's Blog
  • Mary07's Blog
  • Treg immune celsl, short chain fatty acids, gut bacteria etc.
  • questions
  • A Blog by Yvonne (Vonnie) Mostat, RN
  • ROBIN
  • covsooze's Blog
  • HeartMagic's Blog
  • electromobileplace's Blog
  • Adventures of a Gluten Free Mom
  • Fiona S
  • bluff wallace's Blog
  • sweetbroadway's Blog
  • happybingf's Blog
  • Carla
  • jaru24's Blog
  • AngelaMH's Blog
  • collgwg's Blog
  • blueangel68's Blog
  • SimplyGF Blog
  • Jim L Christie
  • Debbie65's Blog
  • Alcohol, jaundice, and celiac
  • kmh6leh's Blog
  • Gluten Free Mastery
  • james
  • danandbetty1's Blog
  • Feline's Blog
  • Linda Atkinson
  • Auntie Lur: The Blog of a Young Girl
  • KathyNapoleone's Blog
  • Gluten Free and Specialty Diet Recipes
  • Why are people ignoring Celiac Disease, and not understanding how serious it actually is?
  • miasuziegirl's Blog
  • KikiUSA's Blog
  • Amyy's Blog
  • Pete Dixon
  • abigail's Blog
  • CHA's Blog
  • Eczema or Celiac Mom?'s Blog
  • Thoughts
  • International Conference on Gastroenterology
  • Deedle's Blog
  • krackers' Blog
  • cliniclfortin's Blog
  • Mike Menkes' Blog
  • Juanita's Blog
  • BARB OTTUM
  • holman's Blog
  • It's EVERYWHERE!
  • life's Blog
  • writer ann's Blog
  • Ally7's Blog
  • Gluten Busters: Gluten-Free Product Alerts by Celiac.com
  • K Espinoza
  • klc's Blog
  • Pizza&beer's Blog
  • CDiseaseMom's Blog
  • sidinator's Blog
  • Dr Rodney Ford's Blog
  • How and where is it safe to buy cryptocurrency?
  • lucedith's Blog
  • Random Thoughts
  • Kate
  • twin#1's Blog
  • myadrienne's Blog
  • Nampa-Boise Idaho
  • Ursa Major's Blog
  • bakingbarb's Blog
  • Does Celiac Cause Sensitivites To Rx's?
  • delana6303's Blog
  • psychologygrl25's Blog
  • Alcohol and Celiac Disease
  • How do we get it???
  • cooliactic_BOOM's Blog
  • GREAT GF eating in Toronto
  • Gluten-free Food Recommendations!
  • YAY! READ THIS!!
  • BROW-FREE DIET BLOG
  • carib168's Blog
  • A Healing Kitchen
  • Shawn s
  • AZ Gal's Blog
  • mom1's Blog
  • The Beginning - The Diagnosis
  • PeweeValleyKY's Blog
  • solange's Blog
  • Cate K's Blog
  • Layered Vegetable Baked Pasta (gluten-free Vegetarian Lasagna)
  • Gluten Free Teen by Ava
  • mtdawber's Blog
  • sweeet_pea's Blog
  • DCE's Blog
  • Infertility and Celiac Disease
  • What to do in the Mekong Delta in 1 Day?
  • glutenfreenew's Blog
  • Living in the Garden of Eden
  • toddzgrrl02's Blog
  • redface's Blog
  • Gluten Free High Protein
  • Ari
  • Great Harvest Chattanooga's Blog
  • CeliBelli's Blog
  • Aboluk's Blog
  • redface's Blog
  • Being in Control of Your Gluten-Free Diet on a Cruise Ship
  • jayshunee's Blog
  • lilactorgirl's Blog
  • Yummy or Yucky Gluten-Free Foods
  • Electra's Blog
  • Cocerned husband's Blog
  • lilactorgirl's Blog
  • A Little History - My Celiac Disease Diagnosis
  • How to line my stomach
  • sewfunky's Blog
  • Oscar's Blog
  • Chey's Blog
  • The Fun of Gluten-free Breastfeeding
  • Dawnie's Blog
  • Sneaky gluten free goodness!
  • Chicago cubs shirts- A perfect way of showing love towards the baseball team!
  • Granny Garbonzo's Blog
  • GFzinks09's Blog
  • How do I get the Celiac.com podcast on my mp3 player?
  • quantumsugar's Blog
  • Littlebit's Blog
  • Kimberly's Blog
  • Dayz's Blog
  • Swimming Breadcrumbs and Other Issues
  • Helen Burdass
  • celiacsupportnancy's Blog
  • Life of an Aggie Celiac
  • kyleandjra.jacobson's Blog
  • Hey! I'm Not "Allergic" to Wheat!
  • FoOdFaNaTic's Blog
  • Wendy Cohan, RN's Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Cooking Classes
  • Lora Derry
  • Dr. Joel Goldman's Blog
  • The Ultimate Irony
  • Lora Derry
  • ACK514's Blog
  • katinagj's Blog
  • What Goes On, Goes In (Gluten in Skin Care Products)
  • What’s new in hydraulic fittings?
  • cannona3's Blog
  • citykatmm's Blog
  • Adventures in Gluten-Free Toddling
  • tahenderson67's Blog
  • The Dinner Party Drama—Two Guidelines to Assure a Pleasant Gluten-Free Experience
  • What’s new in hydraulic fittings?
  • sparkybear's Blog
  • justbikeit77's Blog
  • To "App" or Not to "App": The Use of Gluten Free Product List Computer Applications
  • Onangwatgo
  • Raine's Blog
  • lalla's Blog
  • To die for Cookie Crumb Gluten-Free Pie Crust
  • DeeTee33's Blog
  • http://glutenfreegroove.com/blog/
  • David2055's Blog
  • Gluten-Free at the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco
  • Kup wysokiej jakości paszporty, prawa jazdy, dowody osobiste
  • Janie's Blog
  • Managing Hives & Gluten Allergies
  • User Is it safe to use GB WhatsApp pro in 2024?
  • Bogaert's Blog
  • Janie's Blog
  • RaeD's Blog
  • Dizzying Disclaimers!
  • Dream Catcher's Blog
  • PinkZebra's Blog
  • Hibachi Food and Hidden Gluten Hazards (How to Celebrate Gluten-Free)
  • jktenner's Blog
  • OhSoTired's Blog
  • PinkZebra's Blog
  • gluten-free Lover's Blog
  • Gluen Free Health Australia
  • Melissamb21's Blog
  • Andy C's Blog
  • halabackgirl9129's Blog
  • Liam Edwards' Blog
  • Celiac Disease in Africa?
  • Suz's Blog
  • Gluten-Free Fast Food
  • mis_chiff's Blog
  • gatakat's Blog
  • macocha's Blog
  • Newly Diagnosed Celiacs Needed for Study in Chicago
  • Poor Baby's Blog
  • the loonie celiac's Blog
  • jenlex's Blog
  • Sex Drive/Testosterone can be Depleted by Certain Foods
  • samantha79's Blog
  • 21 Months into the Gluten-free Diet
  • WashingtonLady's Blog-a-log
  • James S. Reid's Blog
  • Living with a Gluten-Free Husband
  • runner girl's Blog
  • kp3972's Blog
  • ellie_lynn's Blog
  • trayne91's Blog
  • Gluten-free Lipstick!
  • Nonna2's Blog
  • Schar Chocolate Hazelnut Bar (Gluten-Free)
  • pnltbox27's Blog
  • Live2BWell's Blog
  • melissajohnson's Blog
  • nvsmom's Blog
  • Diagnosed with Celiac Disease and Still Sick
  • snowcoveredheart's Blog
  • Gluten Free Nurse
  • Gluten-Free Frustration!
  • Melody A's Blog
  • novelgutfeeling's Blog
  • Trouble Eating Out Gluten-Free...Good or Bad?!
  • dilsmom's Blog
  • theceliachusband's Blog
  • amanda2610's Blog
  • Pancreas and Celiac Disease Link?
  • epiphany's Blog
  • Patty55's Blog
  • The Latest Gluten-Free Food Recalls
  • kenzie's blog
  • CVRupp's Blog
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  1. Celiac.com 12/29/2017 - Do you remember the moment when you were diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity? Most people I talk to have it etched in their memory. After all, the information is life transforming. Yet, I doubt if most of us understood the enormity of the information until time passed and we had the opportunity to actually fully understand what it meant besides the gluten free diet (GFD). Along with having to learn that gluten is everywhere, we also learn that having to eat differently is, to put it mildly, upsetting. In fact, the psychological impact of living with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity usually involves depression and anxiety. There are other emotional responses as well; these include grief and, for some, trauma (depending upon how long it took for a diagnosis and how sick the person became). Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity is such a difficult illness to live with because of the social and cultural fallout we are forced to deal with as a result of having to be on the gluten-free diet. We quickly learn how difficult it is to negotiate the world having to live on the gluten-free diet. Let's start with how much food is involved in normal social situations: a family gathering, a party, going out to eat for any meal, a wedding, and for kids of all ages, school, camp, etc. Until it happens to you, it is very difficult to comprehend the enormity of the change and its limiting impact. Change is something people do not like, even if that change is good. And we most certainly do not like to change the way we eat. Just talk to anyone who has ever been on a diet. Unfortunately for those of us with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, the diet is not optional. And, it's hard; so hard in fact that some people cheat. And ultimately, they pay. Culturally, food is hugely important. Food is almost always involved in every occasion that involves spending time with people, dating, any rites of passage including bridal showers, baby showers, weddings, and birthday parties. And there are the holiday gatherings. Every single time you are invited to attend one of these events, you have to stop and think about whether it's worth it to attend. If you go you will either have to eat before you go, take your own food or ask the hostess to make special arrangements. You not only feel like a burden upon those in your social and family circles, but you find yourself stressed out by the mere prospect. And the social consequences are enormous. The very people life you have always relied upon for support, begin to drift. You find yourself shocked and saddened by the reactions and behavior of family and friends who you never suspected of being unable to handle change in you. It's hard not to take personally, but their reaction is not about you. They most likely react this way because your life is now too restrictive for them. Just like you, they want to be able to go wherever they want to eat, serve whatever they want to serve and not have to think about it twice. But unlike you, they still can. And this inevitably leads to conflict. Then your feelings get hurt and they are frustrated and you simply stop getting together as often because, in the end, it's just easier. I believe that is why people with this disease enjoy socializing with others who are also living on the gluten-free diet. We are trying to avoid the social isolation, loneliness, and shame. We want to forget our fear of the unknown, feeling like we no longer fit in, as if we are lost, or in denial and maybe needing more information. In a nutshell, we feel crazy. Because we cannot do something most people can do: eat normally. These feelings are only a portion of what I have learned about people who are forced to live on the gluten-free diet experience. Parents of children impacted with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity share these feelings as well. In the end, you need to give yourself time to fully understand the gluten-free diet, and in order to keep yourself safe, become vigilant to all of the hidden places gluten can hide. We do know that those who stay on the gluten-free diet and avoid gluten as much as possible feel better emotionally much more quickly than those who do not. I cannot underestimate the need to consult a good dietician. You need to find others living on the gluten-free diet; they can often be found through local support groups. Some of us might find it helpful to talk with a therapist who is familiar with celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or chronic illness in general. Lastly, you also need to remind yourself that you cannot change how your body reacts to gluten. And you cannot change other people. What you can change is your perception and attempt to understand that while we may require a different diet to stay safe and healthy, those who do not have our diagnoses do not. Our experience of life, then, is changed. We have had change forced upon us. Our friends and family have not. The only thing different to them is that we are telling them we can't eat the way we used to. I think the sooner we accept these facts, the sooner those around us will as well. You are not crazy. The way you have felt since the day all of this began for you is perfectly normal. Yes, some people have serious depression in addition to celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. This requires treatment in addition to the gluten free diet. For some, the depression and anxiety are alleviated over time because of the gluten-free diet and subsequent healing. In the end, this is a difficult but doable road and you are in good company.
  2. I have had problems with eating for a while. Initially, I was convinced I was just lactose intolerant. Many of the things causing me issues had dairy i.e. pasta, pizza, cake, etc. Therefore, I tried getting nondairy alternatives. It was not until this past winter that my sister suggested a gluten insensitivity. I immediately counted it out until I looked at the symptoms. Anemia, ulcers, fatigue, depression, bloating, etc. Therefore, I got tested. For years my bruises were denoted as a result of being vegetarian, not getting enough iron, or just straight up hormones. Throughout the entire process there was a great deal of skepticism on if anything was wrong with me. I finally tested positive about a month ago. I have gone almost twenty years of my life eating gluten. Therefore, this has been a tough transition. Being vegetarian made this difficult as well. My roommates are not the best at cleaning and no matter how hard I try to read labels, make all my food, and clean off pans and counters, I still continue to get symptoms. Worse, my symptoms are becoming more unbearable. Because I am new to being diagnosed, I was unsure if anyone had tips and tricks on how to get started and how to work past the frustration when getting glutened. This whole process has been so frustrating. Although my mood improves with a gluten free diet, that depression and guilt still haunts me every time I eat something cross contaminated.

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  4. This is my first post here. I’ve looked at the website on and off for years, but could never get myself to join. I was diagnosed with Celiac disease when I was 6 years old. They noticed I was extremely malnourished and super thin, so they did some tests. Following that, they did a biopsy which confirmed what they suspected. My mother took to it right away. She was very strict about it. Same with my maternal grandparents, as they had my Grandmama (great grandma), who was diagnosed with celiac later on in her life. My paternal side, not so much. From my diagnosis to around 11 years old, they didn’t believe my diagnosis and therefore, did not follow my diet. I was sick constantly as a kid. Going further, it was hard to maintain the diet and the urges. The longest I’ve ever made it with no gluten was just over a year. It’s hard not to notice the connection between my binges and my depressive episodes. I’m now 18 and still struggle immensely with my relationship with food. I feel the symptoms and they get worse with every binge but I can’t seem to stop myself. I have been well aware of all the medical issues both life threatening and chronic, but it seemed to fuel my guilt and harmful thoughts. I am terrified now that all the issues I have currently were caused by my lack of self preservation. After years of balancing medications and going to therapy, I’m finally able to acknowledge the pain I’ve caused myself. I wish to speak to my family doctor about this but I’m also afraid of the judgement. Even worse than that, I am terrified she won’t believe me. So, how do I strictly follow my diet when the urge is stronger than protecting myself? How do I bring this up to my doctor? Christopher
  5. Celiac.com 10/06/2005 - You’ve all heard the joke proclaiming that “denial is not a river in Egypt.” No, it’s not. What it is, though, is a very real issue for many, if not most people who have been diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. There are a couple of types of denial—the first type affects us—while the other type affects those around us. When We’re in Denial Many people who are diagnosed—or when their kids are—go through some type of denial. It usually occurs at a few key times after diagnosis—and for a few different reasons, here are some examples: Immediate denial—the diagnosis isn’t right. Nope. Couldn’t be. I don’t know anyone who has that. I don’t even know what gluten is. I’ve never heard of celiac disease. I don’t have symptoms…my symptoms are mild. It’s just lactose intolerance, I’m sure. I don’t have diarrhea, so I couldn’t have that. I’m overweight, and all celiacs are skinny. My results were inconclusive. Someone must have made a mistake. All of these thoughts can be symptoms of denial. A few weeks into the diet—I don’t think that diagnosis was right. This is when the reality of doing this for the rest of your life sets in. One angel (the good one, of course) sits on one shoulder whispering, “You know you need to stay gluten-free—keep it up—you can do it! Mmmm, yummy cheese on this gluten-free toast. The other shoulder is home to the Devil-in-Denial: “No way are you going to another happy hour and order wine and celery sticks while all the other guys are drinkin’ beer and deep-fried stuff. You don’t have no stinkin’ intolerance. Come on—just one beer...and one piece of pizza. It won’t hurtcha. No stinkin’ intolerance…” This is really just a period of ambivalence, hoping beyond hope that you don’t really have this condition, choosing to lean toward believing you don’t. Danger zone: I never had that. The most dangerous type of denial occurs several months into the diet, when all of a sudden you realize you feel so good that you don’t even remember the last time you felt bad. That’s when people often think, “I knew I just needed a little bit of time to get over that bug I had! I feel great. I’ll bet I never even had anything wrong with me.” When Others are in Denial Then there’s the type of denial that our family members and loved ones express. Ask anyone who is gluten intolerant or has been diagnosed with celiac disease if they have relatives who won’t be tested, and chances are, you’ll get a surprised look as though you just guessed what color of underwear they’re wearing, and a “yeah, how did you know?” Because we all have them. Well, most of us do. Why is it so hard for our relatives to believe they might have this? It is, after all, one of the most common genetic diseases one can have—and it does run in the family. Yet we’ve all heard comments like: No, I don’t have that (blunt, bold, and full-on denial). I don’t think I need to be tested (oh, really, and that would be because….?!?) I was tested once, and the tests were negative (remember, once-negative does not mean always negative—also remember there are false negatives). I was tested, and my results were inconclusive, so I don’t think I have it (inconclusive may be a euphemism for mildly positive). I don’t have any symptoms (oh, really? There are about 250 symptoms, and you have NONE?) My symptoms really aren’t that severe; I can live with them (so you’ll just wait till you’re really sick and doing long-term damage to start trying to improve your health?). I couldn’t do the diet anyway, so I’m not going to bother being tested (now there’s a rational argument for you). Bottom line is they don’t want to have celiac disease, or they don’t want to give up gluten. Some of your relatives may even refuse to believe you have it. I’ve met many people with celiac disease who have been accused of being hypochondriacs or neurotic. The problem with denial is that it justifies eating gluten. When you have this epiphany “realizing” that you don’t have celiac disease or don’t need to be gluten-free, it’s tempting to run, not walk, to the nearest Krispy Kreme outlet. Resist the temptation. If you’ve been on the diet for awhile, then yes, you feel great, but it’s because you’re not eating wheat or gluten, not in spite of it. The danger in testing the waters is that you may not have any reaction when you do, and then you’re likely to jump to the obvious (by which I mean “desired”) conclusion and confirmation that you never needed to eliminate wheat or gluten in the first place. If you still wonder whether or not you have a medical reason for cutting gluten from your diet, here are a few things you can do to help solidify things in your mind: Get properly tested. Get a second (or third) opinion. Talk to other people who have been diagnosed with the same condition about your symptoms and your feelings of denial (chances are they’ll grin and say, “Yep, I felt that way at one point, too”). Write it down: List your symptoms, the symptoms of the condition, and how you feel if you’ve been following the diet. Sometimes seeing it in writing is the just the proof you need. Denial, by the way, is one of the most compelling arguments in support of proper testing and diagnosis. If you’ve been confirmed with a diagnosis, you may be tempted to fall into a state of denial, but it’s going to seem pretty silly, even to you. But also keep in mind that if you’ve been tested and your results were inconclusive or negative, you may need to consider re-testing or other alternatives. The tests have changed over the years, and maybe your tests were done long ago. There are also false negatives; and you can be triggered at any point in your life, so just because you were negative once doesn’t mean you’ll be negative again. And finally, there are people who are negative on all of the tests, yet their health improves dramatically on a gluten-free diet. Go figure. Remember, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it’s most likely a duck, even if you wish it were a pigeon.
  6. Celiac.com 08/27/2021 - Like most celiacs, my social life was eclipsed by strict new rules following diagnosis. At the age of 22, I could be seen, as often as not, with one hand over a pint glass and the other in a communal snack bowl. Shortly after my 23rd birthday, however, I was informed by my specialist that I had celiac disease. This meant a lifelong diet without wheat, rye, or barley. “So, like, you mean no beer, bread, or pasta, right doc?” It seemed like a small freedom to sacrifice for protection from the intense discomfort I’d been experiencing. It wasn’t until I visited a dietitian that my life was violently overtaken by one word: cross-contamination. This new despot threatened my public and private life. For the following year, no door handle, remote control, or receipt was touched without a slight rise of panic. I understand that gluten cannot be absorbed through the skin but once something is on your hands, it’s not too long until it has a chance to be ingested, be it through a brush of your nose, grabbing a snack on-the-go, or, as is a nervous behavior of mine, picking at dry bits of skin on my lips (disgusting, I know). The kitchen I shared with my non-celiac roommate soon became a center of stress and anxiety. Each time I entered, I visualized those mischievous little protein molecules crawling on everything. Preparing any meal involved washing my hands about five times: 1) Opened the fridge to get out vegetables, contaminated fridge door, must wash hands; 2) opened the drawer to get out knife to cut vegetables, contaminated drawer handle, must wash hands; etc. My knuckles became as red and cracked as a sailor’s. Nearly every day I envisioned a new way in which my food might become contaminated. This added mile seemed to push recovery and good health further away. The check-out counter at the grocery store; assignments from my students—zealous consumers of powder-flavored, prepackaged snacks; and who’s to say that some sandwich-loving employee at the coffee plant would always wash her or his hands after each bagel break? I even had anxiety attacks when my most conscientious friends and relatives cooked for me. In retrospect, I’m grateful amicable relations survived my leery stares over the shoulders of unfortunate hosts. My own kitchen was also turned into a tightly-controlled operation, where I made my roommate and houseguests quake at the mere thought of straying from the line. The anxiety about people touching my food and dishes with their contaminated hands caused me to bark rules at house guests before they’d so much as taken off their shoes. My party-girl personality was eradicated by the new prudish and intolerant ideology. For one thing, I could no longer consume in ignorance. I had to know exactly what I was putting in my body (“What’s in this shot?” “Uh….I dunno…vodka and some other stuff” “Sounds good.”). My inability to be laid back about alcohol crossed over into an inability to be laid back and fun-loving in general. A watchful eye was forever darkening my thoughts. I’d order a gin and soda, thinking it was safe, and my spirit would become crushed like the lime the bartender, hands covered in beer suds, squeezed onto the rim of the glass. I began to favour staying within the regulated confines of my own home. Whispers of “neurotic,” “controlling,” and “lunatic” threatened a rebellion against my methods of control. Although my particular neurosis has yet to be categorized and defined, the obvious parallel is germaphobia. I did some elementary research into this disorder and gained a little insight through the help of my good friend, Wikipedia, ( It is by no means definitive but a great starting point). It lists the following characteristics of germaphobes: Obsessive washing, such as repeated hand washing. Avoidance of activities that involve uncleanliness. Makes well-known their unwillingness to share food, utensils, and other personal items, even when unasked. Any of this sound familiar? I had to admit it. I was gluten-phobic. There are still times I’d like to crawl inside a gluten-proof bubble. The benefits of being isolated from gluten seem to far outweigh the benefits of being integrated into society. As yet, however, there is no such option for us Howard Hughes’ of the celiac world. The unfortunate thing for celiacs is that, to a certain extent, we have to be gluten-phobic. Unlike ingesting germs, which may or may not make a person ill, ingesting gluten will almost definitely cause us harm. Furthermore, many people argue that exposure to common germs and viruses is necessary to build a strong immune system, whereas the prevalent medical argument of today is that celiacs should not try to build up even a small amount of gluten tolerance. Yet, if we are to continue to live in a gluten-consuming society, we must not let fear dictate our lives. Family, friends, co-workers, and roommates must adapt to the rules we have no choice about. Some individuals are frustratingly slow to catch on. A few are inevitably condemned to exile. Fortunately, there are others who can adapt to our way of life here in celiac country. My problem was that I needed to trust these allies, to help them learn our customs by being positive, patient, and encouraging rather than through paranoia. My new roommate and I are hosting a New Year’s party. We are hoping to squeeze at least fifty inebriated friends into our cozy apartment. When the subject of snacks was discussed with our friends, people began offering their cooking services. One woman was titillated at the prospect of making her favorite guilty-pleasure snack: cheese whiz on toast with bacon bits. I’d already begun fretting over errant drippings of beer foam. Now, I pictured jovial, uninhibited, crumb-covered hands searching through cupboards, contaminating dishes and food products, leaving gluten-y traces on bottles of lotion and lipstick in the bathroom. I became so filled with worry that I eventually broached the subject with my roommate. It was difficult to voice my concerns, because I hate feeling like an inflexible militia-leader. For the sake of my roommate, family, and friends, I don’t want to implement a regime of fear-induced adherence to strict anti-gluten measures. I want my home to feel relaxed rather than tense. A compromise was reached: our invitations read, “B.Y.O.B. Snacks provided.” Yes, more than one sudsy bottle will likely overflow. I console myself with the fact that, just as black must live with white, Christian with Hindu with Buddhist with Muslim with Jew, heterosexual with homosexual, so must we gluten-intolerant live side by side with beer-guzzling bread eaters. When I think of my wonderful friends and relatives, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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  8. Celiac.com 12/10/2019 - Any mother of children with celiac disease can likely empathize with actress Casey Wilson. The Mrs. Fletcher star confesses that she was at wit's end when testing confirmed that her son, Max had celiac disease — a genetic, auto-immune condition triggered by gluten consumption. At first, she said, she was convinced the sky was falling, that the situation was "absolutely dire and it was my fault, that what needed fixing was me." While Wilson was happy to finally have an answer, the star also emphasized how the experience made her reflect on the ways she viewed herself as a mother. With time, and some support from husband, David Caspe, Wilson began to calm down and get a handle on her feelings, and a perspective on the situation. “It was a shock, followed by unimaginable relief," she said. "We finally had a diagnosis, and in the grand scheme of things it was a very manageable one,” the actress shared of learning her son’s condition. “We felt lucky it was not something worse.” As is not unprecedented, Max got tested, and thus diagnosed, by accident. It was only after suffering a broken leg, and a later seizure that doctors ordered a battery of blood tests, including a screen for celiac antibodies, which revealed the celiac disease. For all his early challenges, after six months on a gluten-free diet, Max saw major improvements in behavior and mood. “In six months, almost to the day, his truer self emerged...he is now an outwardly thriving, happy 4-year-old who is exploding with creativity and bursting with life,” she proudly shared. Like so many moms, Wilson came to learn that “It wasn’t about me! It wasn’t about my failure as a mother. And that’s something I have had to reckon with,” she explained. “Why was I so hard on myself? Why are we mothers all so hard on ourselves? With each passing day as his health improves, so too does my mental health.” For any parent, having children become sick, or get diagnosed with an auto-immune condition like celiac disease, can be a serious blow, and offer strong invitations toward guilt, and self-blame. Casey Wilson's experience shows a very human aspect of the very human struggle to deal with such a reality. Hopefully, her story will help others struggling with similar scenarios. We wish her the best. Do you have a story of struggling through a child's diagnosis with celiac disease? Share your story in our comments section below. Read more at: people.com
  9. Celiac.com 03/20/2020 - Food hardly ever entered my mind. In the past, I practiced intuitive eating. If I was hungry for a burger, I had a burger. Pasta, then I had pasta. I felt what I wanted and I got it. Simple as that, without stress or worry. Most people are accustom to eating this way, but things changed dramatically this past week, with rapid rise of COVID-19 cases. Intense emotions are swirling around buying food. Shelves are empty and people fear they won’t be able to buy the essentials, let alone their favorites. Please stop worrying, I have you covered. You see, I am a celiac. Life changes with the onset of disease. Celiac disease was my game changer because it thrust me into a life of food preoccupation. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease triggered when people eat gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye and barley). Ingestion of gluten causes an immune response. In essence, the body begins an attack on its small intestine and prevents nutrients from being absorbed. If left untreated, the symptoms are terrible, but if a gluten-free diet is strictly followed, those same awful symptoms go away. Notice the word strictly. Without strict adherence, the symptoms come right back. It is the strictness of the gluten-free diet in the life of a celiac that makes food so central in our lives. Running errands and grabbing quick fast food is out of the question. Grocery shopping requires an hour reading every label because gluten hides in everything. With celiac disease, food goes from a thoughtless pleasure to a chronic worry. When you leave your home, there might not be food available that you can eat. Herein lies the overlap with COVID-19. You have to think strategically about food rather than relying on it being available. People with celiac cannot assume restaurants or dinner parties will have food free of gluten, nor should we. It is our responsibility to feed ourselves in a way that does not harm our bodies. I regularly bring my own food to the mall or to a potluck. Popping my own popcorn and smuggling it into the movie theater is my move. All of this gluten-free preparation takes time and necessitates the sacrifice of other activities. Sundays involve hours of food prep for the week. I think about my upcoming plans and I strategize. On the go means tuna pouches, dried fruit and protein bars. Time at home allows for fresh fruit and vegetables. I think about where I am, what I have, and how to eat in the healthiest way given the combination of the two. The point is, I think about it. What I have learned as a celiac is that food is not easy and it certainly is not automatic. There are even times when it is unavailable. To cope, I am flexible and make adjustments within the confines of my dietary requirements. It seems hard at first. It is normal to be angry or despairing when what you want to eat is no longer an option. But the mind’s greatest achievement is to accept what cannot be changed. It seems we are destined to live under these strange circumstances for the foreseeable future. In this new world, restaurants might close and the grocery store might not be stocked. It’s okay. Embrace the world of canned and frozen goods, experiment with sauces and spices, and spend time thinking about how your food can be different and healthy. It’s a challenge flung your way. Treat it as such and you will learn to be grateful for what you have rather than sad about what you have lost. I coped with the loss of gluten in my delicious Chicago-style pizzas but discovered the joy of avocado on just about anything. You too will cope with what you are losing now, but maybe you will remember the deliciousness of canned peaches.
  10. Celiac.com 02/13/2020 - I made a rare visit to a cousin a year or so after I was diagnosed with celiac disease. As the youngest child in a large extended family, my cousin was closer to my mother's age than mine. He took my mother and me on a beautiful ride around Kansas City. I sat in the back seat as they reminisced about their younger lives while passing the places where they experienced them. It came time for lunch and he wanted to take us to a favorite BBQ place in the heart of Independence, MO. I hesitated at his suggestion, and he said, "You aren't one of those vegemanaterians, are you?" The coy word he used, and his tone suggested his disapproval of anything out of the ordinary. (In fact, at that time I was a gluten-free vegan!) I said, "I'll find something." During lunch, I picked at French fries, pretty sure they were cooked in a dedicated fryer. My mother and cousin exuberantly scarfed the BBQ. My cousin told us about another cousin I hadn't seen in over 40 years that I apparently look like and reminded him of. He said, "Cousin Sandra is weird. She used to bring her own food to our family dinners." He was referring to a time, fifty years ago. Back then, members of the extended family met at my grandmother's house every Sunday to share their views on politics and happenings in the world. It was a close-knit family. Dinner consisted of the main dish (usually pressure cooked ham, green beans, onions, potatoes, bread, and cake for dessert) made by my grandmother, and side dishes brought by my aunts. I was no older than five, and have hazy recollections of these dinners, other than the warmth of family and the familiar smells of home cooking. To be included meant to eat, drink, smoke (it seemed they all did it back then) and converse around that big dining room table. I can imagine that someone daring to bring their own food, spreading it out on their placemat and eating it, while all those other dishes were being passed, might not go over well. As I reflect on my cousin Sandra, it occurs to me that she may have had celiac disease. That was in the early 1960's when it was virtually unheard of in the United States. Why else would she have had to bring her own food to those cherished dinners? A diagnosis prohibiting food of any kind would have been alien and unfathomable to anyone in my family. These are people who lived through the depression after all, where popcorn was the fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, if they even had that! Waving away any food, especially foods made by loving hands would have been viewed as an arrogant rejection of their abundance and love. Perhaps she had a mental illness that made her "weird," or maybe she made unreasonable demands on the family, but I think the most likely reason is that she was just trying to protect her health. Considering how my cousin put it, she was weird only because she brought her own food to the family dinners. In his eyes, she became the "weird one," ousted by the family because of her audacity to bring her own food to the dinner party. Family lore according to my mother goes on to say that: "She ultimately divorced our family." Can you do that? It's a sad story, isn't it? But I think about it from time to time. I wondered if Sandra was so maligned because the family decided her special needs were so odd that they ostracized her, and she ultimately rejected them. Does that mean that anyone in the younger generation who may have inherited the same disease runs the risk of being shunned? I'd like to think we're more enlightened now, but thankfully, I'll never know. I do recall that my mother shushed family when they talked about their illnesses around me, fearing I'd imitate them, I suppose. Her attitude was that you made yourself well, or you made yourself sick, and I think she was careful to protect me from hearing about other people's illnesses so I didn't get the idea that I may have them too. She had a Pollyannaish perspective, and thought everyone in her family was perfect, no matter what. That made it very challenging for me to convince her that something wasn't perfect with me when I was finally diagnosed with celiac disease. In fact, I think she thought I brought it on myself. (I was in my mid-forties when properly diagnosed.) These were her "truths" and likely the "truths" of the collective family. Most of those people around that dinner table fifty years ago have passed on, I imagine happily gathered "around that table in the sky." In Sandra's case, family members didn't understand her dietary restrictions, agreeing she was "weird" and rejecting her for her special needs. She was stereotyped as a prima-donna. Cumulative family lore develops through repeated acts of storytelling formulating familial ideologies that perpetuate collective "truths." These stories form the group's opinion on given topics. Sometimes these "truths" evolve from just participating in the same activities together, and developing a way of doing things that everyone agrees on, as described with the Sunday dinners above. In their lively discussions, my extended family debated "truths" about politics, news stories, and current events. Similarly, they had a collective opinion about how each other should act while sitting around that table. When someone altered the established norms, like Cousin Sandra, she disturbed rituals, and rocked the family's agreed-upon "truths." Her rejection of the foods required the family to rewrite their collective story. This is rarely done on a conscious level, but rather it is done as groupthink. The unspoken "truth" was: you do what we do, eat what we eat, and even smoke what we smoke in order to fit in. Buck that system, and suffer the consequences. In Cousin Sandra's case, the group determined her choices were a rejection of the others. She refuted the established but unspoken ideology (or taken for granted truths). As a result, she was rejected and mocked. From their view, if she didn't participate, she self-selected alienation. Before rejecting her, they likely cajoled her to participate, suggesting a little won't hurt you, or come on, just a bite. In fact, I can "see" my grandmother holding up a fork with a bite on it, saying, wouldn't you like just a taste? These urgings are attempts to include rather than exclude. What they really are saying is: you don't want to be rejected by the family by refusing our norms… come on, just have a little so you can stay a part of our group. That is actually a compassionate message. But we don't "hear" it that way when the food being offered to us is poison, and when we feel our needs are not being honored or understood. "Man is by nature a political animal with an innate tendency to form into groups" (Aristotle). Cousin Sandra was a victim of groupthink. Groupthink is a process described originally by Janis (1972) where those empowered in a group share a common belief, whether it is true or not, and then put pressure on those who do not comply with those truths. Those not going along with the group's ways of thinking are censored, ignored, or ultimately culled unless they comply. Those who share the group's opinion are unified members of the group. Groupthink evolves through the process of familial storytelling where "truths" are formed and solidified, sometimes becoming self-censored, and self-serving (Janis, 1972). Ideologies are assimilated through conversation that conveys a story that intertwines cultural influences with long-held beliefs (Fisher, 1989). Narrators balance truth with motivations in a cohesive story with significant meaning (White, 1980) and seek reinforcement or agreement from outside culture, religion, and political influential forces (McAdams, Reynolds, Lewis, Patten, & Bowman, 2011). This story telling process to formulate "truths" is integral to family traditions, making meaning of shared life, "doing family" (Langellier, & Peterson, 2018, p. 1), and teaching family values (Koenig Kellas & Kranstuber Horstman, 2015). It is in our initial home where we learn fundamentals for what and how to eat, how to cook, how to participate in food-related rituals), as well as gender roles and power structure biases around food (de Certeau, et al., 1998; Pecchoni, Overton, & Thompson, 2008). Groupthink is a way of encouraging belonging to the group or family and creates power structures of "us" and "them." I don't think anyone in my family ever intended to bully Cousin Sandra out of the group, It just happened because of their rigid policies on how we ought to act perpetuating the ideology: Think like us, and belong. I doubt anyone ever talked openly about it because they lacked the tools and skill to broach a constructive conversation. Food is so integral to our social existence that forsaking the foods made by loving hands implies a repudiation of those hands, and the people who share it. Breaking bread around the dinner table is a way that people bond. Not taking that bread, or accepting that cup of tea, or eating what everyone else eats, is viewed as a silent form of rejection. This is why having gluten sensitivities causes so many social issues, and is one of the topics in my book. People I surveyed and interviewed told me many stories like the one above. As I reflected on what people said, I realized that the root of the problem is that we do not have language to talk about these things. If we could say, "I'm not rejecting any of you by not sharing your food. I have a disease that prevents me from eating it, and I still want to sit at this table and be a part of the conversation." We just don't seem to be able to have these candid conversations. But by identifying these flawed social norms, we can work to change them, so people rejecting food served around the extended family dinner table can be included, loved, and un-judged for their choices. The first step is to identify these long held "truths," put words to them, and discuss them openly, rather than living with unstated dysfunctional consensual rules that cause people who defy them to be alienated. Let's discuss. What long held "truths" does your family live by? Please describe a time when you felt excluded because you didn't eat the foods everyone else was eating around the table. How did you handle it? How did the others at the table handle it? What would you tell Cousin Sandra if you could talk to her? How does your family form "truths?" What happens when someone rocks the "truth" boat in your family? How do you collective reform your opinions/"truths?" References: de Certeau, M., Giard, L., & Mayol, P. (1998). The practice of everyday life, Vol. 2. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press. Fisher, W. R. (1989). Human communication as narration: toward a philosophy of reason, value, and action. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press. Janis, I. L. (1972). Victims of groupthink. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Koenig Kellas, J., & Kranstuber Horstman, H. (2015). Communicated narrative sense making: understanding family narratives, storytelling, and the construction of meaning through a communicative lens. In L. M. Turner & R. West (Eds.), Sage Handbook of Family Communication (pp. 76–90). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. Langellier, K. M., & Peterson, E. E. (2018). Narrative performance theory: making stories, doing family. In D. O. Braithwaite, E. A. Suter, and K. Floyd (Eds.), Engaging Theories in Family Communication Multiple Perspectives (pp. 43-56). New York, NY: Routledge. McAdams, D., Reynolds, J., Lewis, M., Patten, A., & Bowman, P. (2001). When bad things turn good and good things turn bad: Sequences of redemption and contamination in life narrative and their relation to psychosocial adaptation in midlife adults and in students. PSPB, 27(3), 474-485. doi: 10.1177.0146167201274008 Pecchoni, L., Overton, B., & Thompson, T. (2008). Families communicating about health. In L. M. Turner & R. West (Eds.), Sage Handbook of Family Communication (pp. 306-319). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. White, H. (1980). The value of narrativity in the representation of reality. Critical Inquiry 7(1), 5-27. No doi.
  11. Celiac.com 05/03/2019 (Originally published 10/08/2010) - Through some intriguing recent studies, we are learning that celiac patients share some worrisome emotional experiences that will impact their quality of life. When I queried the ICOR Celiac listserv about how people there coped with celiac disease, I got reflections of many of my own experiences in navigating the illness before and after diagnosis. From the answers sent and the research I’ve done on the topic, I’ve found that the celiac patient must contend with three major types of challenges. The first issue is directly relevant to more than a third of the celiac population. According to a 2009 study published in the journal Movement Disorders, 35% of celiac patients report a history of depression, personality changes or even psychosis. Many members mentioned having difficulty getting doctors and family to take them seriously and the aggravation and demoralization after years of searching in vain for a correct diagnosis. These are particularly problematic for those of us who have gotten a dose of emotional dysfunction along with our somatic symptoms. Maggie C. of Portland, Maine eloquently spoke of the frustration she felt because of the long delay in her own diagnosis: “I went through a succession of doctors, all of whom had me pegged as a hypochondriac. So I got to thinking of all my symptoms as just symptoms of anxiety, anger, and depression. It didn’t help that I was ALSO truly anxious and depressed. Anyway, when I went GF, the anxiety, anger, and depression went away (I like to say: “Buddha ate rice!”). So did the physical symptoms. Now I still have people thinking (and saying) that I’m a hypochondriac because I’m “so picky” about foods, but I care less about what they think.” I’m glad that Maggie (I’m not using real names here) was able to triumph over so many obstacles in getting a diagnosis; she is almost heroic in summoning the pluck to pull herself together over and over again to face the possibility of yet another self-esteem battering in the examination room. Finally she was able to get the help she had been paying for all along. I worry about the more average patients in this situation who simply don’t have the tools and make-up to do the same. And although she has a valiantly healthy perspective on people in her life who aren’t supportive, it can be taxing to anyone to put up defenses against thoughtless behavior. I can imagine that it is difficult for the doctor ignorant of advances in celiac disease diagnostic protocol to discern a difference between a very sick patient searching frantically for help and a hypochondriac who searches for reasons to be perceived as ill. Indeed, I doubt there is any difference in how those two types of patients behave. I wish this issue could be addressed by the National Institutes of Health or the Center for Disease Control since although we don’t know how many people give up looking before they find out why they are sick, the lack of awareness among physicians still appears to be a significant barrier to diagnosis. Kathy, from California, who was lucky enough to be diagnosed after only 6 months, had this to say: “My pre-diagnosis symptoms were primarily emotional. Of course, I had some gut problems, and some breathing problems too, but they were nothing compared to how emotionally disturbed I felt—all rather suddenly. It was ten years ago (!), and my normally upbeat self began experiencing black depressions and bouts of uncontrolled weeping. I just couldn’t perk up, and was feeling awful, as though a dark cloud was hovering over me. Because I had no idea what was wrong, I assumed the worst, and my doctor suggested I try an SSRI for mood. Instinctively, I felt that that was not the solution, and that medication would not help. I was afraid to eat, and lost 15 pounds. This really scared me, and emotionally it compounded the weird experiences I was having…” The second situation I’d like to talk about begins at diagnosis. Once a patient had been lucky enough to find the answer to their deteriorating health, they are told that they must inform their families that each of them may also be vulnerable to developing celiac disease. I can’t count the number of people I’ve spoken to over my eight years as a celiac patient who have related very tense encounters with immediate family members who have reacted with everything from derision to hostility in response to this important news. And these encounters occur at a time when sympathy and support is needed most. Not only do they have a very difficult diet to follow and a sick and damaged body to heal, they have often been emotionally scarred just going down an often psychically brutal road to diagnosis. Colleen of Connecticut wrote: “Communicating the possibility of inherited celiac to my siblings and children was very painful. None of them wanted to hear about it. Denial is real. The best I could do was to give them the information and know that they were in charge of their own lives. Most painful of all was my Crohn’s diagnosed daughter being unwilling to do a gluten-free trial. After years, she did, and the diet has improved her flares greatly. I don’t know whether to be glad she is finally on the wagon, or sad that it took so long, putting her in greater long term danger.” Students of mythology will remember Cassandra who was given a gift by Apollo who was quite taken with her beauty. He gave her the ability to see the future. But when she didn’t return his affections, he added the curse that nobody would believe her predictions. When she foretold a great impending tragedy, everyone ignored her tearful pleading. Just like Cassandra, we celiac patients often feel an enormous responsibility to convince our immediate family of the importance of this disease. We are told to convey the information to our children, siblings and parents so that they will know what to look out for. We then feel badly on many levels when our good intentions are rejected. Not only do we feel unsupported and abandoned in the face of our efforts to treat an often devastating illness, we are thwarted in our quest to prevent our loved ones from facing the same fate. In addition, we are hurt when our character or credibility is called into question by the people we love. And sometimes the resulting rifts in the family are never healed, which brings me to the third aspect—the social complications that arise because of the diet. I heard from one woman that separation from some family members actually raised her quality of life. Indeed, one respondent who related that although the men who would date her in spite of her difficult diet belonged to a shrinking pool, she felt that it was a good litmus test for mate suitability. Unfortunately, the social pressures put on the celiac patient can decrease the commitment to dietary compliance. A celiac disease patient who consumes gluten has a much higher risk for certain cancers, heart disease, and of course, psychological illness, letting alone the potential devastation to her/his intestinal tract and the many other autoimmune consequences. A study done of 70 Indian school children showed that 18% were non-compliant with the gluten-free diet. From the study: “Dietary restrictions have impact on child’s social activities and thus psychosocial parameters (PSC score) are better in the dietary compliant group.” In other words, kids who have better support for their diet are more compliant than those who are lacking in social support. It’s easy to see how this might apply to adults as well, especially those in care facilities where they have little to say about their food choices. Maggie, who is able to dine out, offered an excellent strategy for dealing with restaurant staff: “The key in restaurants to maintain control of the Q and A. That requires a pro-active state of mind. My shorthand: ‘X and X are probably absolutely fine, but anything, anything at all, that comes in a bottle, can or packet is suspect.’ Any half-way decent chef is happy to cooperate. When the server comes back and recites said list, I am very positive and cheerful as we check off each okay item. If something’s not okay, I just say “oops! oh well. Thanks so much for checking.” and on to the next possibility. The goal is to convey a sense that this gf stuff is really, really easy given just the littlest bit of help. Freak ‘em out with worry, and you’ll wind up with nothing but a plate of steamed vegetables.” Maggie also sets a great example when invited to a friend’s home: “When people invite me to dinner, I accept with pleasure then say they may want to rethink it when they hear how much trouble I am. This gives me a chance to assess their kitchen expertise and make my own decision about whether to push hard for meeting in a restaurant or to insist (ever so nicely) upon bringing my own food.” Others, including me, feel they are too sensitive to risk restaurant food and just order a drink or bring bottled water. Invariably, tension arises when people who are eating express discomfort when you can’t dine with them. Often, invitations decrease over time and the entire burden of social interaction must fall on the patient. Either the patient entertains, or invites others to outside events, or becomes more and more excluded. Answering my question about social invitations, one woman noted that when she wants company, it is necessary for her to do all the entertaining, and that invitations are rarely reciprocated. There is real a need to address issues of social support for celiac disease patients. We know that celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that, because of its psychological manifestations, leaves patients especially vulnerable to social stress. And stress, of course, has a very negative impact on autoimmune patients in general. One last issue I’d like to touch on before putting this article to bed is some recent findings concerning cognitive decline in celiac patients. A study in October of 2006 published in the Archives of Neurology shows a link between dementia onset and celiac disease. Says Joseph Murray, M.D., a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist investigator of the study, “There has been a fair amount written before about celiac disease and neurological issues like peripheral neuropathy (nerve problems causing numbness or pain) or balance problems, but this degree of brain problem—the cognitive decline we’ve found here—has not been recognized before. I was not expecting there would be so many celiac disease patients with cognitive decline.” Again, the unsinkable Maggie relates a story that is much like my own: “I was quite sick, though I didn’t know it, when I was diagnosed (biopsy, 1996). The cognitive changes were the most consequential and scary. I simply could not hold thoughts together, couldn’t reason my way through work-related problems. Had I forgotten how to do what I do? It couldn’t be...but it seemed to be. In a matter of months I went from being a model of success, in the office where I was working then, to being a failure. Having no idea why I simply couldn’t pull it together, I figured my problem was psychological: I had no respect for the executive. I stalled and covered and tried to buy time. No luck. I spent more time in the bathroom than normal, but not so much that I thought anything serious was going on. In fact I was pretty happy to have a few moments to myself and away from the pressure to do something I seemed unable to do. Ultimately and justifiably, they fired me. That was the last big project, in a free-lance business, for which I was hired…but (a big) consequence was the damage to my reputation.” Those of us who have experienced dementia in our parents and other close relatives know that the slow destruction of the brain can create paranoia, severe anxiety, depression and aggressive behavior. Dr. Murray suspects that in CD, a direct antibody attack on the brain is responsible for the dementia and other neurological manifestations of celiac patients, although it is likely a complex etiology. If the disease can cause numbness, balance disorders, migraines and problems walking, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that cognition could be similarly impacted. Kit Kellison and her husband own a rock venue in St. Louis, Missouri. She enjoys playing guitar, photographic portraiture, designing show posters and is working on her first novel. Sources: ICOR Listserv Celiac Disease Increases Risk of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders: . &nbsp;Mov Disord. &nbsp;2009;24:2358-2362. Assessment of dietary compliance to Gluten Free Diet and psychosocial problems in Indian children with celiac disease Indian - Journal of Pediatrics Volume 77, Number 6, 649-654, DOI: 10.1007/s12098-010-0092-3 Cognitive impairment and celiac disease. Hu WT, Murray JA, Greenaway MC, Parisi JE, Josephs KA. Arch Neurol. 2006 Oct;63(10):1440-6
  12. Traveling with celiac I would like to relate my experience today and then ask for advice on traveling and bringing food along (being prepared). See last paragraph Today we traveled to a new place and meet new people. We had a project to do and then everyone wanted to go to lunch. So I didn’t have an opportunity to research this place before hand - I could’ve used Find Me Gluten Free - but I didn’t. I took a risk. (I know better now) anyways the place we went had gluten-free options so I asked the waitress if I got the gyro without the pita would it be gluten-free. She said yeah. She asked if I wanted fries even though fried in same fryer as other gluten items. I said yes because I’ve done it before without any repercussions. I love fries. So the place seemed pretty knowledgeable about gluten-free food. My food was great! But an hour or so later I was vomiting in the men’s stall at a gas station (all the fries, TMI?) - the woman’s was occupied! I have only recently started vomiting when I have a cc gluten exposure. Ugh! Ok so I know my mistake was getting the fries. Taking a risk. Not double checking the restaurant. Not maybe being more vigilant for my health. I hate being that person at the restaurant who has to make a scene asking all the gluten free questions. Especially in front of new people. So now I know I need to be better prepared. But does that mean not eating out at new places every again? I need advice in how to travel with celiac disease, how to be better prepared for going to a new restaurant. At this point should I just pack my own lunch every time I go somewhere new? My husband (bless his heart) did pack me veggies to eat but I need more than that or I’ll get hangry. Also I am terrible at being that prepared that I could have brought my own lunch along. Also do I eat my own lunch in the restaurant? I can’t do that right plus it would be weird?
  13. So I havent been diagnosed. But was experiencing some pretty terrible stomach pains, And started paying attention to what i was eating. And that's when I realized that wheat and bread really do not agree with me. So it's only been a few days of trying to eat gluten free, And it's so terrible. This sounds so dumb, but I feel like life is over because i won't be able to eat some of my favorite things. And the idea of being infertile from this absolutely terrifies me. I'm only 23. And I keep googling things about celiac and making it worse for myself and freaking myself out. This sucks so bad. Even trying to be gluten free, it's just so hard. Everything has gluten. I'm just having a rough time coping with the idea of this already. Any tips on how to get better at This? And how long it takes to feel better? And if you have any amazing recipes, please do share.
  14. Last November I was diagnosed with Celiac disease. Ever since I haven't been able to remain gluten-free for more than two weeks. I always make excuses and tell myself that I will start "tomorrow." Before being diagnosed, I thought I was gluten intolerant for over a year. I never visited a doctor or anything, I just had a horrible skin rash every time I ate gluten plus stomach pains and other symptoms so I made assumptions. The thing is, when I thought I was gluten intolerant I had no trouble being gluten-free because I thought it was only a temporary or superficial thing. Like it was ok to get sick every once in a while if the consequence was only a skin rash and symptoms for some hours or a day. I ate almost fully gluten-free for the past year, except for special occasions when I made the decision to indulge. As many of you all know, it is mentally very difficult to accept that you have to restrict yourself from foods you love forever. I am Mexican and food is a central part of our life and family traditions, making it even more difficult. To make matters worse, my family owns a bakery that is next to my house so the kitchen is constantly filled with gluten treats, cakes, cookies, everything. But when I thought I was gluten intolerant, I had absolutely no trouble restricting myself from all the foods that were around my house. I also developed other food sensitivities recently: corn, legumes, most nuts, soy, etc. I also feel discomfort when eating gluten-free processed foods, perhaps because I haven't complied with the gluten-free diet for a long time. I most definitely understand how destructive gluten can be for a celiac. I know that by eating gluten I am damaging my body and health. It is not physically difficult to abstain from gluten, I am having trouble adjusting mentally and socially. I have read all the scary posts about what can happen if I don't follow a gluten-free diet, so I am not posting this so I can be motivated by scare tactics. I am posting this because I am honestly desperate. I feel physically terrible after eating gluten, but it is not enough to make me stop. In my mind, I justify myself by thinking that I should eat X food one last time before actually starting my diet. It is mindblowing to me that even if I know what can happen to my body, I just keep binging on gluten. I believe that a huge reason for this is that I feel misunderstood. I have never met another celiac in my life, so I don't really have anyone that actually understands how difficult it can be to change your lifestyle permanently. The advice I constantly get from my friends is "just stop because it makes you sick," which is not very helpful. I really think that I need to talk with actual people that are also going through this or that have successfully transitioned to a gluten-free lifestyle postdiagnosis. I figured this forum was a good place to start, but I am new here and don't really know the "social etiquette" around here. I would love to connect with other celiacs and hear about how you managed to go gluten-free. What resources where helpful? Do you have any helpful tips? Thanks for reading!
  15. You find a magic typewriter in an old musty box in the attic. It will allow you to write a message to yourself on the day that you found out you had celiac (or gluten sensitivity etc). You can include anything you've learned about yourself, handling celiac, good strategies for coping, how to deal with emotional issues, hostile reactions from friends and family, travel, work, dating. etc. You may not include details of who won the World Series / next weeks lottery numbers etc as this would break the space time continuum and the typewriter will give you a nasty shock if you even try it, so just keep to the celiac insights.
  16. Ladies, Gentleman, my fellow Celiacs, I need your help, please!! As of December 2015, my boyfriend got diagnosed with Celiacs disease and has not been able to cope and adjust to it. He tries- very hard- but for whatever reason his body still is not agreeing with him. He has no idea I made this account, but I need to try and research things that will help. It is really having an affect on his life, he is not himself anymore and it is definitely starting to take a toll on our relationship as well. As his girlfriend, I have tried a lot to help...even though there is not too much I can do. Instead of eating out, 95% of the time we cook together. I make sure everything I get him is gluten-free and I will randomly bake and cook him things, just so I know he has things to eat. My main concern, as well as his, is that his appetite is completely gone. He will wake up in the morning and can barely get himself to eat anything once 1 or 2 pm rolls around. He'll eat once a day, if that. He dropped about 20 pounds, too. He has tried probiotics, the only thing that it really helped was the vomitting...which still happens occasionally, just not as much. He also doesn't really like talking about the matter, especially with me. Whenever he brings it up and I try helping I get a lot of backlash. I know its hard to adjust too, but I am just trying to help. What do you guys recommend? Going back to the doctors? Is there anything or any supplement any of you take that helps with your appetite? I need help! Thanks, A concerned girlfriend.
  17. Don't be a downer. St. Valentine's Day is not a Hallmark Holiday. This holiday has a sociological value and psycho-emotional value of lifting the winter doldrums and inspiring people to be romantic, thoughtful, and profess their love. Plus, there's the candy! See's candy is almost all gluten free. I'd observe and ask about cross-contamination, but I'm planning on getting some! My faves are trinidads, turtles, and carmallows. Here is Celiac Family's list of other Valentine Candy. Russell Stover's is mostly gluten-free (not the obvious items containing cookies and crackers) but read this link re: RS's shared equip. Other faves of mine are Peeps marshmallow hearts, Reese's hearts, and Ghirardelli chocolates. I never begin my summer shapeup/diet at New Year's- I always slowly lean into after Valentine's Day and ramp it up each week until it's full-fledged in March-April-May, until I look fab in June! So, candy, here I come! It's too hard to post pics on this blog so I do it on my other one. Sorry!
  18. Totally Gluten-Free turkey day again, but this time at my house with my Major's mother and my mom&stepdad all in from FL We did lots of fix-it stuff on my new house (bank repo) Parents woke at 4am (FL time 7am) and went to 24 hr Wal-Mart to buy me "appropriate" dishes and silverware (mine isn't heavy enough) for my belated birthday gifts. My stepdad forgot to take his blood pressure meds on Tuesday (day 3)and blew his top and went MIA in the rental car. Didn't hear from him till Wed. night-he'd flown back home. Mom plugged up my sink by putting a whole bowl of broccoli down at once. Then when I used the hex wrench and the reset button, to no avail, and wanted to disassemble the pipes to get a clog out, she said we'd need special tools and made me call the plumber. $140 later, plumber said I could've done it myself. The pipes are plastic and you undo them with your hands. Our yardwork day yielded a giant pile of brush that needed to be hauled. Guy drives by slowly and offers me half the price the other dude wanted and gets out his machete and packs it all in! Meanwhile, carpet cleaner dude (and wife), 2 electricians (boys installing chandeliers), and furniture delivery dude all arrive at same time. All were cheerful and enjoying our sweet smelling foods we were cooking in the dark. While in the midst of spackling holes in the walls, I had to pick up my Major's mom who was stranded at the airport. I've never met her, so I showered quick, my mom was drying my hair while I smeared on makeup! I have a 2 seater car so mom had to stay home while I entertained the lady in Palm Springs until our Major could get her. She is a former teacher, so we got along awesome, but she did tell everyone she said the rosary to cope with my driving. Tried a fresh turkey (not frozen) this year- Sheldon's- and it was good. Told mom to cook the gluten-free stuffing OUT of the bird, but she said that was "UnAmerican" and it turned out like sludge. Had to chuck it. Planned on making the normal gluten-free pie crust mix, but a friend said to use her recipe- but it burned after only 15 minutes in the oven. So, how do you fill it with apples and cranberries that bake for 45 min.? Tried again to cook the apples separately, and that worked. Weird. Sylvan Farms dark brown bread mix a success, again. Everyone ate it. Even my mom. Sink got clogged with sweet potato skins and I had to disassemble it b4 guests arrived in my red dress. My mom announced to everyone that they need to expect our food to taste a little "weird". ugh Everyone was eating appetizers (brie and Trader Joe's crackers, crudite with hummus, and 7 layer bars) and told her they couldn't tell a thing. Those crackers are AMAZING, even mom had to admit. Everyone enjoyed the sunset view at my house (no neighbors across street-only dry riverbed and walking path) Major lured me into my closet and mauled me with our parents in the next room. Our guests stayed until 11PM, so I guess they had a great time. Mom has pics of most of this (even the fix-it guys)...I posted on my fb. lol
  19. Bigg Papi is what the charm on his thick, gold chain necklace reads. Take away one g and you have his license plates. What can I say? He makes me laugh. So, I took him to my friend's house to a barbeque and it was funny. I begged him to tell everyone about how, being raised as a foster kid in NY, his siblings think he has big $ out here and call him Hollywood, they always call him when there are funeral expenses in the family. He says, "I'm tired of paying for caskets. Next time we're just gonna reuse the same one and keep it in the garage." As far as dating goes, that was our last date, so he's now a "goner", lol. He is too stubborn and closed-minded for me. Rewind to our first date: Yardhouse's gluten free menu isn't that great. As in: it's just many items from the regular menu, with tags stating what you must order them WITHOUT. The magic word in the gluten free lifestyle: Without. Without flavor. Without sauces. Without texture. Without pretty garnishes. Without regular beer. Without kisses if your honey has had a sandwich or a beer. Without bleu cheese crumbles or won ton crunchies. Without, without, without. boo hoo poor me. LOL Anyway, men love the Yardhouse. I love their chopped salad and Redbridge beer and the Lakers on tv. Hence, I go there. So even before the gluten-free menu, I had already used my very own brain power to realize that I could have the chopped salad and a spicy vinegrette dressing. I've had it a few times. However, last week, I got glutened. On our 1st date. And he didn't know. Upon the first strange pang in my stomach, I discreetly popped Immodium. A couple hours after, I excused myself to the restroom. For a LONG time. And then I said that I had a nice time and let's go now. And I gave a hug and got in my Bond Girl Car and dropped the top, as for the wind to distract me from my gurgling tummy, and sped home.[/color]*********************************************************************************** Random thoughts from tangents in my mind: My realtor (whom I used to teach next door to) made a wrinkled-nose type of face when telling me her daughter (who does many things in a "different" way, she likes to say) is on a crazy diet b/c her grandson has autism and it's called "gluten free" or something. Right. Crazy. Right. hmmm. Does she know she's offending me? I put in an offer on a short sale March 5 and still haven't gotten an answer. I guess it really should be called LONG sale. My new G1 phone is so awesome! I can google any product right in the aisle! I'm glad my old phone fell in the pool! I finally got the Flex Spending plan company to realize that I can show comparable prices of "regular" items from ANY store, not just the same store as my gluten free purchases, to get my pre-tax reimbursements. Honey Nut Chex: I like it! I really, really like it! Random Menus: Yesterday I ate: Breakfast: part of a Pamela's gluten-free cookie Lunch: No time to pack, so had to make do with the stuff I keep at work in the freezer and fridge: Peanut Butter Sandwich and some Ian's gluten-free fish sticks w.ketchup Snack: Raspberries and fruit snacks Dinner: Reheated gluten-free Mrs. Leeper's colorful veggie corkscrew pasta with Prego sauce and Kinnickick Italian bread grilled on the stove with spray butter and garlic salt sprinkled on top. Usually I have broccoli, but I ate it all the night before. Today: Breakfast: A whole row of Kinnickinick Montana's Choc. Chip cookies and milk. Lunch: Nothing. I was hungry, but I was on the phone. Now I lost my appetite. Dinner: Going out for sushi with my sushi buddy later. I usually have steamed edamame (soybeans in their pods that you pop into your mouth), albacore sushi (not rolled) with lemon squeezed on top (I don't really like gluten-free soy sauce), and warm mussels with green onions and lemon and cheese, and maybe a scallop sushi roll if I trust the chef.
  20. Last night Travel Dude came over for our indulgence night of American Idol, chili dogs (we pour Wendy's chili over Hebrew National lowfat hot dogs he bakes in the oven and I use Kinnickick gluten-free bun), and romancin. He also brought over Ruffles and (gluten-free) brownies from the pickup window at Outback Steakhouse, but I was too stuffed to eat mine! My student teacher and I are getting more used to one another. I like her. I just wish she were a harder worker. She's 28, a mom, and finally finishing her degree at her husband's urging. She said she'd rather be a counselor, but after observing one, she discovered they do too much paperwork and she'd rather talk. Anyway, she was gone this morning, so I had the kids sign a canvas bag (I'd ironed a cartoon image onto it, one I'd printed onto that transfer paper stuff) that we'll present to her on her last day. I still have two from when I was a student teacher, and a crafty coffee mug (a parent needlepointed all the kids' names on a sleeve inside the clear part). I cherish them all. I went a little nuts at Michael's and got a canvas wall-hanging that has pockets to hold supplies all over and now it also needs to be decorated for her. I even bought things to sew onto it. And I bought lotsa trinkets to put into the pockets. Like binder clips with apples on them. And puppets. ugh What was I thinking? This is where the silly-ass (celiac) comes in: She has to teach the fractions chapter and to impress her university supervisor who comes to visit weekly, she brought fruit loops for the kids to manipulate last week and this week pieces of BREAD. I just asked that it all be cleaned up. Random menu: Today I ate Chex cereal for breakfast, celery and peanut butter for lunch, avocado for a snack, and a Heb. Nat'l hotdog on a gluten-free bun with gluten-free chocolate cake for dinner. Tomorrow I have Homework Heroes Lunch with the Teacher. They're all girls this time, and I took their group picture holding their certificates to print onto magnetic paper and cut out for them to keep. They'll also get a certificate, a giant Smencil, and a pink glittery foam tiara to decorate and wear. I'll eat yogurt and berries for lunch, while they eat pizza or whatever from the cafeteria. I set out a fancy tablecloth in the classroom, we eat and chat (they love to have individual attention), and then they decorate the tiaras, doodle on the board, and play games. It's fun, but tiring. Books I read on vacation that I loved: Honolulu (historical fiction of a mail order bride who came to Hawaii during plantation times), Piece of Cake (true memoir of a crack hooker turned lawyer), and Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy (an Irish author I favor) about a heart clinic's staff and patients and their woes and love stories, fiction. Gluten Free foods I've tried lately and HATE (whatta waste- must give away or throw out) ugh!: Ener-G chocolate chip potato cookies- horrible flavor kinnickick chocolate dipped donuts (frozen)- just gross all the way around
  21. Celiacs qualify for the 125 plan at work where you pretax spending! I get to pretax the DIFFERENCE of cost in gluten free items and regular gluteny items of similar food types. I'm about to sign up for it. I have to get a letter from my doctor to qualify me. The woman also told me I have to get a copy of a price list from a grocery store to show comparable gluten versions of the stuff I buy. BOY does that sound FUN!! Well, at least I used the 125 plan a couple years ago for my few but expensive prescriptions- birth control and allergy and even eyeglasses. It worked out fine, so I'll be glad to do it again. A heavier purse makes me a happy lady! I'm excited about the housing market in my area. I think I'll be ready to buy again soon. I'd like to do another 15 year loan, the price isn't much more per month and you save hundreds of thousands in interest! Making an extra payment on a 30 year isn't going to get your pockets fat. The car will be paid soon, which is cool, but suddenly $360 a month doesn't sound like much...and aside from repair fund and car insur.--the car will still need GA$!! People ask me how I stay financially "fit" (especially when they see how much I travel or see my stuff): I follow a lot of Suze Orman's principles. Living beneath my means and keeping the budget REALISTIC. How? Look back through your bank statements for a few months to make your categories. Don't forget to budget for car repairs, possible freak expenses like a traffic ticket, gifts, oil changes, license plate fees, annual fees, etc. Add it all into some category or another. Be aware of where every cent goes. Use your ATM card for as much as possible to keep track of where you spend what. If it was ATM cash you withdrew, then just put it under "spending money". If you think you spend too much on some category, budget that much and THEN try to cut back. Don't budget the lower amount (the wishful amount) like people I know do...you'll land in trouble! Cushion the budget. I have always cushioned my gas budget and it's really helping now! A woman at work said she spends $20 a week on gas, and I said really? and then she said, oh, I guess not. Yeah, it's $4 a gallon here, and she said she travels all over to go squaredancing, so it's been awhile since she drove on 5 gallons a week. She needs to look at her receipts and total it up! Get rid of debt. Keep a sticky note somewhere visible with the amount you owe to each place to help you stay out of denial-- write the payoff dates on each and do a happy dance every time you make a payment! Use online debt payment calculators to maximize your payment and set a date to pay it off early! Find ways to put extra $ on there! Don't pay in too many taxes and end up with a big refund. Have less taken out of your check so you can take home more per month and tack it on your monthly payments. Don't use your charge card while you're trying to pay it off. Stop using it. You can't pay it off if you're still using it. If you have to order something online with the credit card, do it and then make a payment to the card from your bank for the same amount right away. Put as many bills as possible on automatic withdrawal and put your paycheck in automatic deposit. When something gets paid off, put that cash toward another debt or save it. Plus, when you want to buy something big (new flooring, furniture, car), save ahead for it. "Try on the payment." Don't buy it yet, but pretend you're paying the exact payment and put the $ into an account for a few months. If it's hard finding the money to make the payment- you can't afford it. And if making the payment is no sweat- great! Now you have a chunk saved, so just keep saving so you don't have to use credit! When I was married, I even had a "mom" fund because I wanted to stay home for a year if I had a child, and I knew that most people who go from 2 incomes to 1 rack up $25 k in debt after 2 years. I save $ by drinking water from a filtered pitcher or making tea. I don't eat out for lunch or go to coffee shops. I get a $15 haircut 4 times a year. I work out to FitTV so no gym dues. I buy clothes at fancy stores off the sale rack that don't fit and then I have them altered for $4 or $8 to fit me perfectly. I try to stay away from stores and only go monthly when I need stuff. I have never bought anything from the vending machine at work for the 7 years I've been there. I have a $48 a month cell phone bill and never go over (didn't have one for years). I put less than 10,000 miles per year on my car. I have a side job that makes $5000 a year for travel and frivolous spending. I get rid of junk every season and deduct the value. I don't buy anything off the TV or any appliances. I don't own a bread machine, toaster, toaster oven, etc. I don't buy stuff to get a "free" gift or discount or other gimmick. Sometimes I challenge myself to see how many days I can go without spending a penny. I've never bought a new car. I don't buy DVDs. I don't own an MP3 or iPod. I don't "collect" things. I don't get pressured into buying things. I tell pushy sales people, "I'm cheap" or "My husband would never let me buy that." I don't make other people victims of my cheapness. I tip well, give great gifts, overpay my share on group meals, and give charitable donations. Money has karma.
  22. We discovered a new favorite song on our Cozumel island adventure, "Besa Me Mucho". We heard it at the musical show at our all-inclusive resort-- while the performers were singing, much to my surprise, mi novio (bf) started to sing along (he remembered the song from his CA Boys Choir Days -where he sang alongside Lenny Kravitz). My knees were like butter.... So at dinners in the downtown (outdoor dining) we paid the walk-up musicians to serenade us throughout the trip...great memory. We were already reminded hearing it in the movie JUNO last night! (GREAT MOVIE) Anywho, we graciously received an upgrade to the honeymoon suite with outdoor jacuzzi, where you step right onto the beach from your room! Beautiful view, too. Free food, so, why the dining downtown?YES, we were at an all-inclusive, and YES we paid out-of-pocket to eat away from the resort. often. You see, since living in the dorm rooms in college, I have had an aversion to trough food. Plus cc risk is at an orange level at those buffets. Even at the fine dining place on the resort, we didn't enjoy the food- a wacky attempt at american classics that does not translate-ex. det. ordered broccoli soup, and it was just a simple lime green porridge of pureed broccoli with water-nothing like the creamy broccoli soup in the States-you should've seen the detective's pucker as he resisted spewing it all over the place! Plus, the Detective nixes pork, melon, bananas, avocado, many green foods, and anything slimy (he DID try guava but didn't like it). Hence, we took a recommendation from the cab driver (i used my butchered espanol) for Casa Denis (pronounced Denny's, oddly enough). Det. loved the filet mignon so much and I loved the shrimp ceviche and mango margarita, (great, attentive waiter who pointed to each dish as he delivered it, saying "no harina!") that we returned the next evening. I had a different waiter, same order, and I ended up sick. glutenized. Must've been cc? Tired of eggs and applesauce and M&Ms for a day or 2, we returned the last night and had another divine experience- they give you a free tequila shot after, also. All-inclusive wasn't a total waste, though-the cozumel message boards I'd researched prior were correct in that Mexicans LOVE Jell-o! And their ice cream is homemade and gluten-free! Plus, they had the ubiquitous omelet guy! we LOVED breakfast there! So we ate these items, plus fruit, and I even tried CACTUS- all at the resort. (In my travel journals I keep for every trip, I always note the new foods I try. I reap Costco quantities of joy from this.) The first time I visited Coz, I swam with the dolphins, (still ranking at the top of my travel adventure list), but this time we just relaxed in the sun, drank and ate (all "free" at resort..prepaid), saw "free" shows at night, took a jeep tour (caravan-style, you drive manual)around the isle (lighthouse, gorgeous aqua water & breaking waves), snorkeled, and read books on the beach. The kite surfing looked fun, but upon closer investigation, looked too difficult to enjoy on a trip. Back to work Monday.
  23. Boyfriend sends text message to me at work last (rainy)Friday: //Do you have a valid passport and can you get Monday off work?// So, we fly to Cancun that night and have a great time! (His bday weekend) We crammed snorkeling, zip-line riding over the jungle canopy (I'd seen it on the travel channel and was dying to do it), rappeling, bicycling, kayaking, hiking, Mayan ruins, etc. all in one weekend with a long flight from CA to the Carribean! Mexico is SO easy to eat gluten free! I ate lobster, rice, beans, chicken, etc. with natural seasonings. In a hut in the jungle Mayan women cooked us chicken and rice and beans and we drank hibiscus juice! yum We stayed at an all inclusive resort where the food was mediocre. I brought and ate: bananas, sugar free applesauce, Reese's Pieces, caramel rice cake bites, SnaPeas, and Craisins. I drank Tequila Sunrises and Margaritas and Daquiris. I saw monkeys and toucans and wild turkeys! I got mosquito bites (none in CA where I live)! The infinity pool was so beautiful as it blended with the ocean view. The water was so turquoise and sand so white. Private beach=no Chicklet girls selling junk I practiced my Spanish and learned lots of history/culture about Mayans and Mexico. It was so fun! I wanted to stay longer to parasail and go on a snorkel excursion. boo hoo I just snorkeled off the hotel beach. Gifts I gave him: Netflix subscription, armchair food tray (snaps onto arm of liv.room chair to eat from-he's a bachelor), tie, fold-up strainer as seen on TV, cologne, handmade card, Raiders pajamas, Raiders Photostamps, Cancun shirt, homemade cake. Sillything he still loves, is the BedBath&Beyond gadget: a change jar with digital counter at top of lid where you drop change in and it instantly shows new total. He loves coming home and putting change in it and watching the total grow. Good gift idea 4 men!
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