It was around 2008 when I started experiencing unexplained health issues. I found myself at the doctor’s office almost every month with pneumonia, ear infections, or a sinus infection. Despite multiple rounds of antibiotics and steroids, the doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong or provide lasting relief.
Then, in 2011, everything changed. One day while visiting my grandma, she started telling me about the health issues she’d been dealing with—issues that sounded exactly like my symptoms, though not as severe. Fortunately, her cousin suggested she get tested for Celiac disease. Her test came back positive, and after a few months on a gluten-free diet, she saw major improvements: fewer issues with psoriasis, less reliance on her inhaler, and, best of all, no more running to the bathroom constantly.
Inspired by her experience, I scheduled an appointment with my doctor. Unfortunately, I decided to try the gluten-free diet before going in—after all, what did I have to lose besides gluten for a few weeks? Those first weeks were tough, but something unexpected happened: I started to feel better. The brain fog, stomach issues, and fatigue that I had chalked up to years of steroids and antibiotics started to fade within the first two weeks. I was astonished and elated.
Finally, the day of my doctor’s appointment arrived. I told him about my experience with the gluten-free diet and my grandma’s Celiac diagnosis. He explained that, to get tested, I’d need to eat gluten again so they could detect the antibodies used for diagnosis, or I’d have to undergo a colonoscopy. Fortunately, we were able to proceed with just a blood test, but eating gluten again triggered a severe reaction. The test results confirmed Celiac disease, and, surprisingly, also revealed a wheat allergy. Oddly, the wheat allergy has proven helpful; now, when I accidentally eat something contaminated with gluten, I get a tingling in my mouth, which helps me avoid more serious reactions.
Living gluten-free hasn’t been easy, especially ten years ago, when gluten-free options were scarce, and restaurants often didn’t know how to accommodate my needs. I know firsthand, having worked in restaurants where kitchen managers thought “vegan” and “gluten-free” were the same thing! Thankfully, things have improved, and many more people are educated about gluten intolerance and Celiac disease.
Check out my next post on tips for eating out at restaurants.
Leave a Reply