It's all Uphill from Here

I'm starting this blog so that it doesn't interfere with my other one. I don't want my personal, snarky, kid story blog to be overtaken by something that most people don't care about. I didn't even know what Celiac Disease was until a week and a half ago when my doctor's assistant left a message notifying me that my blood results for celiac came back "abnormal". Nothing like that to make an OCD google addict spend the weekend researching.

What I found was actually pretty gross. Fortunately I didn't have most of the signs or symptoms of the disease. Diseeeeaaase. That sounds so contagious. Anyway, the only reason I got tested in the first place is because of my chronic (and extremely high) level of anemia. On the one hand, it's nice to know that there's actually a reason I feel like I've pulled an all nighter pretty much every day. Now I just have to change the way I live....forever. No drugs or surgery. Just a gluten free diet for LIFE. Ugh. Did you know that gluten is in pretty much everything? I have to read labels and buy funny looking, expensive food from stores that hippies frequent. No more flour tortillas. No sourdough grilled cheese sandwiches. No breaded chicken parmesan. Can't just drive through Burger King anymore. Olive Garden? Out. Oreos? Nope. S'mores? Not unless I buy the gluten free graham crackers first. I've always loved my starches so this is already a difficult journey and I've just started the race.

I've been gluten free for two days now. I think. I had some questionable syrup on my gf waffles this morning. I got my official diagnosis on April 12, 2010. I really wish there was a supplement I could take. I almost feel like a diabetic where I have to limit what I can eat. Another restriction is that I have to be careful of cross contamination! The celiac sites suggest getting a separate toaster. My special pancakes will have to be on the griddle first. I can't flip my rice bread grilled cheese sandwich with the same spatula I use for my daughter's whole grain one. No more sampling of the sugar cookies I make with the kids four times a year...at least. And my biggest set back: I am now that pain in the butt at the get together who is asking what's in the food and bringing my own weird stuff in my Whole Foods reusable bag. I hate bringing attention to myself as it is and now I know I will have people rolling their eyes at me. I've always been skeptical of certain food allergies. And now I have one. As far as I know, this is the only allergy I have, and I'm really fond of the thing that can make me sick, weaken my bones and even cause cancer.

Celiac sucks.