Up until Feb., Martin had been helping me with normal everyday things that the average person takes for granted. I needed help to the restroom� which is less than 10 ft. away from my bed. I couldn�t take showers because I was so weak... I couldn�t hold myself up. I needed help to take a bath! I couldn�t hold my arms up long enough to shampoo my hair. I needed help out of the bathtub because I was too weak to lift my own weight. Martin had to blow dry my hair while I tried to hold myself up. I had to sit down (slightly reclined) when I was brushing my teeth because I couldn�t stand for more than a minute or two. I tried to spend my bedridden days on the couch in the living room so I could be around my children. I had to lean against the wall (or someone) while walking to the living room. Then I would just tumble onto the couch. I didn�t have the strength to do it, but I wanted to (and needed to) be around my babies. House chores and cooking were out of the question. I couldn�t be on the phone� unless I was just listening. I ran out of breath so easily.
In March, things were finally starting to calm down a bit. I�d been GF for a month. I was starting to do things on my own again. My energy level and strength were starting to improve. I gained a few pounds. I DROVE (just once) for the first time in 4 months! I was freaking out the entire time, but I did it.
Having to change my diet and my lifestyle has been a challenge� to say the least. When I was very sick, we were receiving meals from families at church. I was always a sucker for a loaf of fresh baked French bread. The smell alone would drive me crazy. I ALWAYS had to have a slice� at the very least. So, every once in a while, we would get a fresh baked loaf of bread. Ack! �Ok, Lord, just KIIIILL me now!� I tried to reason with Martin. �If you just let me chew on it, I�ll spit it out when I�m done.� LOL! It didn�t work. I kept going into the kitchen just to get a wiff of the bread... as if you couldn't smell it throughout the house. My oldest son would even kick me out of the kitchen. �Mom, stay out of the kitchen. Stop torturing yourself with the temptation.� Yah� he has his nerve� kicking me out of my own kitchen. LOL! Needless to say, I survived. I resisted temptation!
Having Celiac Disease has been a learning process for all of us. What has gluten? What�s safe? It�s amazing how gluten is HIDDEN in so many things. I thought corn flakes were safe. Egh! Think again� it has malt flavoring in it. In case you didn�t know, malt is off limits. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing use to be a favorite. It has modified food starch in it and it doesn�t specify the source. If it doesn�t say, stay away, right? I think that�s how the saying goes. I researched it. It�s not GF. Just things like that can be tricksy. Modified food starch and maltodextrin are just a couple of things a Celiac has to be careful with. For the most part, corn is the source for maltodextrin� but that�s not always the case.
Lots and lots of people have been asking me about what I went through. They want to know what I've learned. That's why I've put together this site. Getting pregnant, having a baby, or severe emotional stress are a few things that can trigger Celiac. In my case, it was the stress. I've had stomach problems/digestive issues for most of my life. It's suspected that I've had Celiac all along... it was just dormant. My body had been sending signals but I didn't think anything of it. Having gas, being bloated, and only going to the bathroom 2 or 3 times a week was �normal�. �It must�ve been something I ate.� I use to see those commercials on TV for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). I thought, for sure, that�s what I had. I didn�t want to see my doctor because they have a pill for everything. I didn�t use to be a pill popper and didn�t want to start. It wasn�t until my physical in Dec. that I was starting to get goofy results from my blood work. Even so, I wasn�t diagnosed with Celiac until Feb. I�d never heard of it before. I didn�t know how to spell it. LOL! I didn�t know what it was. |
