Most of you know, and for some of you that don't know, I have a disease. A really annoying, not fun, pain in the gut (literally) disease. I have Celiac Disease. It has almost been 7 years since I have been diagnosed with this life-long genetic auto-immune disease. I still remember when the nurse called me with my results and said "You can't eat wheat." What? How strange. It is not just wheat that I can't eat, it is basically anything with gluten in it which is the protein found in wheat, barley, rye... etc, which means I can't eat a lot of foods that everybody else enjoys. There have been a lot of restaurants that have joined in and have made gluten-free menus, it has helped a lot. If I do eat something with wheat or gluten in it I get very sick, think food poisoning sick. Bloated tummy, intense pain, nauseousness, diarrhea...you get the picture. My body starts to destroy itself because it thinks I am eating toxins and so my small intestine self destructs. It is not fun. But sometimes I just get sick for no good reason, which irritates me. It has taken me a while to get over not eating what everybody else is eating, especially in social situations, you kind of feel left out. But, I have moved on and just realized that I need to accept that I will always eat differently than most other people. I was more active in the GIG (Gluten Intolerance Group) when I lived in Utah, but they are kind of gluten-free nazis and I don't like to shove my disease in every ones face that I come in contact with. Don't get me wrong, the organization is great and very informative, but the people in SLC were a little intense.
There are a lot of foods that I CAN eat, which is great, you just have to (almost) make everything from scratch. I wanted to post this because I am very frustrated, I have been sick all afternoon and evening and I don't know why! I ate a salad for lunch, what is the deal? I should be happy and healthy and full of energy. Plus, I have been dealing with a headache that I have had for the last month and a half, but that is a whole other issue...
5 comments:
Wow, I had no idea. I actually know several people with Celiac's and I'm sure it's no fun. I hope you feel better with thie particular bout.
I'm sorry Al. I can't even imagine how it must be to have that. So, ya, why are you sick? Preggers? :) Did you hear that Karen, Laurel and Heidi are all prego and due in April? CRAZY! Anyways, I hope you feel better by tomorrow! Love ya!
That does suck and I can relate, but in another form of illness. I have uninspired adrenals and went for about 5 years not knowing what was wrong with me. I under produce most adrenal hormones which help your body deal with stress and a million other functions. If I don't watch what I eat... I pay heavily too. I can't eat a lot sugar or fruits at certain times or anything too high in potassium. It sucks, because you just want to live life without having to think about it so much. I suffered a lot of emotional trauma when I was sick and incapable of fixing myself. I do better today, but still need to be conscious all the time. I'm sorry you are not feeling well today. One good thing about your disease is that it probably prevents you from being overweight. :)
Wow, I have heard about the adrenals before, that is definitely not fun. I know how it is to be frustrated because you don't know what is wrong, but you know that you are sick. I find it so hard to be happy about food now, I still love to eat, but it just isn't as fun! Is there any drugs that could regulate your adrenal hormones? You are right, it is harder to be overweight with my disease, but you can always find fatty food to gorge on. :)
Isn't that the same thing Elisabeth Hasselbeck has on "The View?" I think so. I totally love her!
You better watch out though...last time she was sick she thought it had something to do with Celiacs but she was PREGNANT!
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