Monday, December 03, 2007

I Have Celiac--Oh My Gosh


I was just diagnosed with Celiac--and I bet none of you have ever heard of it.

It means I shouldn't eat any wheat or gluten products. Meaning no more donuts, cookies, cakes, pies, bread, pasta, bagels, etc.

At first I was kinda in shock. I've spent so much time over the past four days reading labels and shopping. I found some gluten-free brownies and bread mixes, and also some nice-tasting breakfast bars.

I went to a church brunch and only had fruit, but it wasn't all that bad. The worst part is explaining, but if you go ahead and tell people, it seems they're really interested. And they care.

I wanted to go public with this in case it might help anybody else.

Life doesn't always go the way we want. Things happen that we don't like or understand.

My new attitude is this...I've decided to focus on WHAT I CAN HAVE TO EAT. Like, do you know how good fresh-squeezed orange juice is? I'd forgotten. I had some this morning. :-)

And I can't forget that God is "intimately acquainted with all my ways." So this is no shock to Him. He made me.

Love,
Julie

13 comments:

Donita K. Paul said...

Julie, I have several friends with Celiac. One is very sensitive and the other only mildly. I'm praying you have the mild reactions, and I praise God for your wonderful attitude. Both friends are Christian and they believe, as you do, in being content in all circumstances.

Love you, Donita

Julie Garmon said...

Ohhh, thank you, Donita. I'm learning so much about Celiac--even that it could have played a big part in my history of depression. It helps to know there are others like me.

I'm seeing it as a good thing. I would have never gone to the doctor with my stomach troubles because I thought I just had a sensitive stomach. It showed up through a series of blood work and finally through a biopsy from a gastroenterologist.

Love,
Julie

Jenny B. Jones said...

While I'm not allergic to gluten, I try to avoid it some. I don't know if this is accurate, but I was told Fritos are gluten free. And lots of candy bars are. Okay, that's not healthy food, but sometimes a girl just needs some encouragement to eat Fritos and a Snickers. Good luck with your new eating lifestyle. I'm glad you've got a definite diagnosis--even if it's not such a hot one.

Timothy Fish said...

My mother has lived with a gluten alergy for years and I have heard of many other people who have the same problem. It seems like more companies are labeling their packaging than what used to did. It still gets interesting. Oats have enough gluten to cause a problem, but rice doesn't. Splenda is a no-no. Modified food starch is has gluten, but modified corn starch is ok. Some soy sauce is ok and some isn't. It turns out that there are plenty of things people can eat, besides Fritos and Snickers, once you get used to it. (Actually, I would be suprised if Snickers is gluten free, but I haven't read the label.) I baked some gluten free cookies from Cherry Brook Kitchen when my folks were down for Thanksgiving. They turned out pretty good. There are all kinds of other replacement products out there. The hardest part seems to be when you have to guess what other people have put on things.

Jeanne Damoff said...

Thanks for sharing your story, Julie. Your attitude of faith and optimism will definitely help people.

My daughter learned not long ago that she has rheumatoid arthritis. Like you said, it's not something you would ask for, but God made her and placed her on this path. He is always bringing His good purposes to pass in whatever He gives.

May your faith grow deeper and your intimacy with Christ more sweet as you rely on Him through this disease.

Blessings,
Jeanne

Julie Garmon said...

Thanks, y'all. I'm sooo excited. I didn't know I can have Fritos! That's such good news--and Snickers too!

They also found out I have a form of arthritis called Sjogren's Disease. Crazy as it sounds, it's a form of RA that makes your eyes and mouth dry. Thanks for letting me know about your daughter, Jeanne. This is a whole new world of interesting stuff.

How old was she when she was diagnosed?

Love,
Julie

Julie Garmon said...

Thanks, y'all. I'm sooo excited. I didn't know I can have Fritos! That's such good news--and Snickers too!

They also found out I have a form of arthritis called Sjogren's Disease. Crazy as it sounds, it's a form of RA that makes your eyes and mouth dry. Thanks for letting me know about your daughter, Jeanne. This is a whole new world of interesting stuff.

How old was she when she was diagnosed?

Love,
Julie

Jenny B. Jones said...

http://www.fritolay.com/fl/flstore/cgi-bin/ProdDetEv_Cat_306_SubCat_351852_NavRoot_361689_ProdID_364066.htm

Here's a little info on chips. : )

And a recipe site:
http://gluten-freerecipes.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

http://www.glutenfreemall.com Here is a good website to get Gluten free stuff and if you do a google search you will find a ton of stuff

I did one on gluten free you can find the results here http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Gluten+Free+

hope that helps you

Blessings
Kym

Erin said...

I have Celiac, too. Just be thankful you can still have dairy and sugar products. ;) (I can't.) And potato chips!

Julie Garmon said...

Oh, Erin. Soooooo sorry. What does that mean you eat most days? What's your diet like?

Y'all have been so helpful. I just tried some gluten-free waffles. They were good. The cereal--not so much.

But it helps to have others be so kind about it. And thanks for the recipes.

Love,
Julie

Jeanne Damoff said...

Grace was 23 when she was diagnosed with RA. (She's 24 now.) She had a lot of pain and stiffness that have responded well to medication, but she's trying to find more natural ways (dietary mostly) to deal with it, so she can hopefully get off the drugs. She got married in September, but she won't be able to have children as long as she's on Methatrexate.

Sometimes she gets discouraged, but God has really been using this in her life.

You seem to have a great attitude, Julie. I pray God allows you to encourage others who are going through physical similar trials. You, too, Erin.

Love, Jeanne

Julie Garmon said...

Hey Jeanne,

My mother was diagnosed with RA this year. I tested positive for RA but don't (yet) have it. My mom is also on the same medicine as your daughter.

My girls are 24 and 26. The younger also just married. I'm going to start praying for your daughter. I remember always wanting to have children. I'm going to ask God for a remission in His timing. From what I'm wondering if a gluten-free diet might be a good thing for her.

Erin, you too. I feel like we're in the Celiac stuff together. Thanks for letting me know. :-)

Love you,
Julie