It's not like I have a disease . . . Wait, maybe I do??

I don't know how to say this, but I've got a disease. Yep, it sucks but I do. It wasn't anything I "caught" or anything, I guess you can say it was something that I was genetically predisposed to have. It's called Celiac Disease, and no I'm not contagious. Five (or so) years ago I was pregnant with my first baby girl Emma and I was totally normal (well at least I ate normally). After I had her via c-section I began to get sick. I would get horrible stomach cramps and what felt like chest pains and didn't know what was going on. After numerous trips to the ER some *idiot of a Dr decided that it was my gallbladder and said I should have it removed. Yay, my prayers were answered, I was finally going to feel better . . . or not. It didn't help at all, and so then I was recovering from my second surgery in two months and was still sick. I started noticing that I got really sick when I ate bread so I decided to Google "wheat allergy" and see what it told me. It was then I found my answer, I had Celiac Disease. Reading the list of symptoms it was like a list of everything I had been going through. The short explanation of Celiac Disease is that you can't eat anything with Wheat, Rye and Barley. So I printed up the paper and took it to my Dr and said "this is it, test me for it". My blood test was off the charts. I finally figured it out, but it was only the beginning. The Dr I saw at the time was certain that it was it and I needed to go see a GI about it, so I did. Meanwhile my Dr moved. The GI that I saw was an *idiot too. He ran numerous tests and wouldn't make a diagnosis. It was like he was trying to convince me that it wasn't this disease and I was trying to prove it was. I had a genetic test done to see if I had the "gene" for Celiac and that was positive but he told me that that just means I have the gene it doesn't mean it's active. I had an endoscopy with a biopsy done and to this Dr that was the only was it could be proved as Celiac but it came negative. What??? Negative?? The last time I spoke with this Dr he called to give me the results to the biopsy and said "The test is negative but if it makes you feel better to eat a gluten free diet (the diet for someone with Celiac disease) then you should" Which might make some person feel better but all I heard is "you are crazy and it's in your head so if it makes you feel better, than do it, you lunatic" Since that day I've been slowly adapting to the gluten free lifestyle but it's taken many years. I've just started getting the hang of it this year. Trying to find food without wheat has been a challenge. Just think that means no cookies, cakes, pizza, pie, noodles, or bread. And that is just the short short list. Basically I eat meat, fruit and vegetables. It's a healthy diet but try finding something that's fast food that I can eat. Most salads I can't eat the dressings and if they batter my chicken, that's a no-no. I haven't been back to see a Dr about the Celac since that GI many years ago but I know I have this disease so I don't need to prove it to anyone. If I have a meal with the slightest amount of gluten (wheat) my leg instantly brakes out into a rash. I'll know within hours of eating it. No to mention if I'm prescribed something with gluten in it (trust me it happens a lot) I'll be sick for days and get my rash. I have a list of gluten free medications now downloaded in my phone so I can double check when being prescribed anything. And if the list says name brand only that's what I have to get, the generic most times ends up have gluten in it. Anyway, this isn't a plea for anyone's sympathy. When I realized I had this disease I sat down and told myself that I wasn't going to let it get to me. Celiac Disease doesn't define me!! Yea, when my brother tells me that if he couldn't eat pizza he'd kill himself I want to hit him, (don't worry, I don't take it personal, it's just my brother) but I know things could be a lot worse. My husband and children don't seem to mind that the only wheat in the house is a loaf of bread and some tortillas. I always joke that one day my kids are going to have "real" mac and cheese or cookies and wonder why mine always tasted so bad. My five year old Emma already asks me if I'm not eating something (like her birthday cake) if I am allergic to it. She is too smart for her own good. I tell my story because I hate to see anyone else go through it. If you are having stomach problems that you can't figure out and every Dr thinks you are crazy, then maybe you have Celiac too. www.celiac.com


*Maybe idiot is a little harsh, I only say this because they didn't know a thing about Celiac Disease. I don't mean to say they were bad Dr's.