How To Live with Celiac Disease

Many people do not realize how much of an inconvenience living with Celiac Disease really is. Having a father with the disease that developed later in life and got progressively worse as he aged, I am having the same experience. The stomach cramps, the constipation, and/or diarrhea, and the weakness really start to get old after a while. However, there is hope to those who have to live with Celiac. The brief history of my father (and I should also mention that a sister of mine has it as well) give me credibility on the ins and outs of living with the allergy.

First of all, it is important to know what is happening with Celiac. There is much research done on the subject, and you can internet search the subject and obtain useful information because of this. Basically if you are living with Celiac your small intestine recognizes the gluten as a virus and flushes it through as quickly as possible, leading to vitamin deficiency, hence the weakness. Soars in the mouth like ulcers are common as well. If you are living with this disease then you know what I am talking about. Sometimes it seems that there is no energy to be found and that you will always be stuck in this irritable state of weakness. Food, although needed and desired, can begin to look like your enemy when living with Celiac, especially if you don't know what you have.

There is hope! First of all, to ease your mind get a test done. Because of the increasing incidence of this disease, there are many tests available at any gastroenterologist offices. More than likely they will send you to a lab, and you will have some blood drawn. My doctor sent us to two labs to get two opinions because some of these labs can be misread. After you have had the test, you will feel much better because you will know. Mine came back negative, but I knew that I had some gluten intolerance, and the doctor said that because of my family history that it was wise to watch my intake. So I don't totally avoid bread, but I do watch the kinds that I eat living with a hereditary disposition to this disease.

There is some bread that is better than others. Arnold's Oat Nut Bread I have found to be an oasis in a dry desert of bread everywhere and not a bite to eat. There are also more and more gluten free sections in the grocery where you can get cookies, breads that are not frozen, waffles, and pasta--which are the main things you miss out on living with Celiac Disease.