Celiac Disease

If you've been reading our blog this summer you know that we've had a lot of fun the past few months. But the thing about blogs is you never get the whole story on someone's life. We have had a great summer! It has been filled with visits from family and trips to see friends -  weddings, bike rides in the canyon, frozen yogurt and we are very blessed. I try to keep the things I share on my blog light and upbeat. Because I really do believe I have a wonderful life. But nobody is free of trials in this life and unfortunately the past few months have been a lot like this time in my life 2 years ago. Sometimes I think it is important to share things we have been going through. Not only for support, but to help others in similar situations (in my case with health problems) to not feel they are alone. I have again been struggling with annoying and undiagnosed health problems. But I finally have an answer about why I've been feeling so horrible this summer.

I will spare you all the medical details but after 2 months of headaches, tingling and numbness in my hands and feet, getting sick to my stomach a lot, a bad itchy rash that wouldn't go away on my knees and elbows, MRIs, bloods tests, being told I might have MS, being told it was just allergies, being told I had psoriasis, and getting a skin biopsy, I finally have the answer of what is wrong with my body. My skin biopsy came back positive for dermatitis herpetiformis. Meaning that I have gluten-intolerance, and therefore celiac disease. Celiac disease was NOT on my radar at all, and while it is much better than having MS, it is still not a fun diagnosis. Celiac disease is not just a food allergy. It can hit any time in life and is an autoimmune disease where your body attacks itself when trigged by gluten. I just found out that's what I have last week. I am so happy to know why I have been feeling so awful. There are many things, like being deathly sick to my stomach for hours after I ran the half marathon in June (and the other long training runs) and the peripheral neuropathy (tingling in my hands and feet), that make sense now that I know I have celiac disease. I am relieved to know that if I go on a gluten-free diet, I can feel 100% better again in a few months.

At the same time I was rightfully devastated to find out I am gluten-intolerant. I was operating under the assumption that I had a skin irritation from something like a laundry detergent and just felt tingling in my left hand from carrying Scott around all the time. I also thought I just had a more sensitive than normal stomach. In a way I am extremely grateful I had the skin biopsy done so I know what I have. Celiac disease is hugely undiagnosed. The most scary thing would be being pregnant (which I'm not...) and not knowing I had celiac disease. With the disease your small intestines get really damaged and can't absorb vitamins properly. Even if you take vitamins, your body can't absorb them and therefore the baby can't get the nutrients it needs. It will take at least 6 months on a gluten-free diet for my body to heal and absorb nutrients properly again. Undiagnosed celiac disease can cause all kinds of other problems and cancers as well - so I keep reminding myself that I am extremely lucky to know I have it, so I can take care of it. Like I said, on a gluten-free diet I can be a perfectly normal person with a long, healthy life.

If you know me at all you know I LOVE food and cooking. It is going to be so hard to give up bread, pasta, and baked goods. Being told in an instant that you can't eat most of your favorite foods EVER again totally out of the blue is not an easy thing. I keep pumping myself up like "I can do this! I am going to be so healthy!" but then getting crushed by thoughts of not being able to have Costco samples, ice cream cones, In and Out burgers (the "protein style" they offer sounds so gross to me), Pizzeria 712, etc.  Luckily now is a time where being gluten-free is trendy and there are a ton of options out there. I have already ordered a bunch of gluten-free things from King Arthur Flour - I love that site! And I keep reminding myself that there are still so many things I CAN eat. I can have all dairy, meats, vegetables, fruits, corn, soy, gluten-free oats, etc. I think there are many blessings in disguise. The fact that I love to cook means I can apply that love to making delicious gluten-free food.  Also the fact that I have to closely watch what I eat now means that I will "watch" what I eat health-wise even more. I have a huge susceptibility for getting diabetes because of my genes, so maybe being even more healthy and gluten-free will prevent me from getting worse things in the future.

I know Heavenly Father loves us. We are given "mountains to climb" for a reason; to help polish us and to give us experience for our own good. I know that everyone around us has to go through hard things. No life is exempt from this! These things my not be as easily defined as celiac disease and a lot of times are far more serious. Going through hard things allows us to have more compassion for others going through rough times. I know that "behind every heart is hidden sorrow that the eye can't see". It is so important to remember to love rather than judge. Because you never know what someone is going through.

I am a very blessed woman and I know I will figure out these new lifestyle changes. I have a husband who loves and supports me no matter what. And I have a beautiful son who brings me deep joy daily. I have loving support from extended family and friends. I know Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us and is there for us every step of the way. Trials may make our physical bodies weaker and our hearts broken, but they can make our spirits stronger. I am grateful to have that knowledge.


And I am happy to know that soon, hopefully, I will have normal feeling again my left hand! So bring on the rice cakes...