Saturday, February 18, 2012

My Story

I have had stomach problems most of my life.  I can remember coming home from school sick a lot starting in 4th grade.  Shortly after I was married I was diagnosed with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) after they ran a few tests and couldn't find anything wrong.  I never really believed that's what I had.  I wasn't sure what doctor to go to, so I just dealt with it for another 13 years.

In 2009 I was really sick for several weeks.  I was very fatigued, sleeping a lot.  I could barely function.  I had stomach cramps that went into my back so I decided to go into the doctor thinking I could have a kidney infection.  They ruled that out and ran several other tests.  The doctor said I'm also going to test you for Celiac Disease, that's the one you really don't want (or something to that effect).  I knew I didn't want "that" because I had a friend diagnosed with it probably 10 years earlier and I knew what she had gone through.  The nurse called me on December 7th, 2009 and said I had Celiac Disease and Anemia (caused from the Celiac Disease).   My numbers were off the charts high and combined with having Anemia, I opted not to have the biopsy.  I went on the strict gluten free diet in January 2010.  It took me several months to really feel a difference after living with undiagnosed Celiac Disease for many, many years. 

Osteoporosis is common in people that have Celiac Disease because they don't absorb calcium and vitamin D.  So in January 2011 I decided to get a DEXA Scan to get a base line and found out I actually already had Osteoporosis at the age of 34.

I have 2 daughters that also eat gluten free, one with Celiac and one that is Gluten Sensitive.   We have found it easier to just have a gluten free home.  I have another daughter and my husband that can eat gluten outside of the home. 

I did lots of research online for gluten free recipes.  I have collected a lot of good ones and adapted many of my own recipes to be gluten free.  I have had several people recently asking for recipes so I figured it was time to finally start my Gluten Free blog that I've been talking about doing for quite some time.   I hope to be able to share what I have learned, from great gluten free products to yummy recipes.

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