LynnJ

We'll start with the positive stuff first: I am a Christian, a wife, and mother of two. I am in business for myself as a wedding minister/officiant and premarital counselor, and I volunteer with several national and local prayer ministries. I have also gone back to school to earn my BA in Christian Ministries (Pastoral Emphasis) with the ultimate goal of becoming a hospital or emergency services chaplain. I enjoy reading, writing, hiking, antiquing, surfing the 'net, and listening to contemporary Christian music.

Now on to the reason I am here in these forums: I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 1964 when I was 5 years old. Throughout most of my childhood, my mother tried to keep me on a gluten-free diet. However, during my 20s, because of a misdiagnosis from my family physician (who claimed I did not have Celiac), I went completely off my gluten-free diet. About 3 years ago, at age 48, I began having the original symptoms again and after seeing a gastroenterologist, he confirmed that I had advanced Celiac Disease but fortunately did not have any permanent damage to any of my internal organs. I have been trying to live a strict gluten-free lifestyle, which gets difficult sometimes when I crave certain things I am allowed to eat. I have recently had a biopsy of my stomach, and although the complete report is not available yet, my doctor did say that the EGD did reveal a hiatal hernia, gastric ulcers, esophagitis, and villous blunting--in spite of my adherence to my diet. I have also developed arthritis in my AC joints, hands, and knees.

What does the future hold? Not sure, but I'm praying for complete healing. In the meantime, I am doing my best to take better care of myself--for God, myself, and my family.