Living Well with Celiac Disease
Read KerryAnn’s Story
I Have Celiac Disease. Now What do I do?
If you have just been diagnosed with celiac disease, there is a lot to learn in order
to eliminate gluten from your life. Many people find that when they come off of
gluten, they become hyper-sensitive to it for at least a short time, if not permanently.
What once was a tiny reaction upon repeated exposures becomes much more severe once
gluten is removed from the diet. Since celiac is immune mediated, your immune system
is trying to re-set itself. You might go through having new symptoms upon gluten
exposure directly related to your immune system, such as swollen tonsils, sore throat,
or flu-like symptoms in addition to the digestive symptoms. In addition, you will
begin to find out how your body is going to react to gluten exposure. Some common
symptoms are vomiting, gas, diarrhea, sour stomach, arthritis, joint pain, muscle
pain, pinched nerves, bladder problems and spasms, lethargy, depression, mood swings,
brain fog, skin break-outs and eczema, inability to sleep or sleeping more than normal,
among other symptoms. In children, sleep disturbances, stomach problems, and behavioral
problems are commonly observed after an exposure. Some people have very few symptoms
and it goes away after a short period of time, and some people have many symptoms
with it taking 6 weeks or so to be back to ‘normal.’ You can expect that how you
react and how long it takes you to recover to change as your body heals.
There are several steps to take to being your road to recovery, as gluten is very
pervasive in modern life. You must look at your food, your kitchen, your personal
care, and your surroundings. There are also steps you can take to help your body
heal faster.
Find Safe Products
Where do they hide it?
Purge the Kitchen, Purge Your Body
Find Safe Non-food Products
Get Support
Re-learn How to Cook - Coming Soon
Get a New Attitude - Coming Soon
It’s a Brave New World - Coming Soon
