living with celiac

[Willem]

I am 15 years old and living with celic is tough, partly because I don't show any symptoms. It started with a new doctor that my mom heard about (I live in Alaska by the way). The doctor specialized in growth, and since I was a lot shorter than I should have been at that age (i was 13, I think) my mom took me to see the doctor. Several tests were performed, and I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I was shocked, because I lived off of wheat products. I've been living with Celiac for about two years, and eat mostly a rice-based diet. I find it hard to resist products that contain gluten, since I don't have any symptoms besides my body not absorbing the necessary nutrients. But, I want to live as long as possible, so I have to go with the rule of the diet. Yeah, well, thats my story, I'm posting it because I am very bored and have nothing better to do.
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[img]http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:2WzVqR-QrsUJ:http://www.digikitten.com/playhousev2/files/[/img]

[aklap]

Hey Willem!

Welcome to the board. Thanks for stopping by!

I hope you get bore a little more often. Just the simple act of sharing your story can be a great help to some. That's partly what helped me figure out what was happening to me.

I have a friend that is just like you...he shows no symptoms. Do you go for regular followups? I suspect they'd be checking your blood work to make sure you've been good

Yes it can be hard to resist it...but after awhile those cravings do go away.

Do you have brothers & sisters? Are they GF too?

Alaska...wow....that must be quite beatiful!

You might want to stop by Reyanna's site. www.celiacteens.com She's quite a hoot.

Again, thanks for sharing. Hope to see ya around here!
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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[phil]

Hi there, my name is Phil and I've had CD for about 6 months now. It all started after I went to donate blood to a blood bank that visited my school. They did the routine blood sample before the donation and my iron levels were under the required amount. So those results were sent to my GP where more extensive tests were undertaken. And they showed obvious symptoms of celiac disease. I went and had a biopsy where pictures had shown my small intestine to be flat, not wavy like they are suppose to. I was then diagnosed with an extreme case of celiac disease. So CD has it's upsides and CERTAINLY it's downsides, but is worth it, to be healthy. So if I wasn't such a kind person and try and donate blood I would be eating all my favourite foods right now, and would think that the effects I were having from eating wheat were normal bodily functions.
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phil, age 17
New Zealand

[aklap]

[Kathie]

Hi Willem and Phil,

Wow, this is so great. Well not that you have CD but that you found the board. I was misdiagnosed when I was in high school and it took 5 more years for them to figure it out. I think it would be great to see more teenagers on the board. Sometimes living with CD seems like such a chore and you feel so alone. What a great place for you to meet other people your age who share the same problems and frustrations. So Welcome!
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CD by Biopsy 3/25/88

[Peach]

Don't worry about cravings. They will go away. I'm so used to them that people wonder how I live without breads and pastas. Maybe I'm just more adaptable. Just fight them. Having Celiac makes you a stronger person. Easier to say no to things and it makes you healthier, I suppose. I don't get symptoms but I can sort of tell if I've eaten wheat, though I don't get sick or anything. It'll make you feel better when you don't eat it. You'll know when you do. If you have any more questions just ask. I'm on and off these forums randomly.
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~Peach~
peachy_tomboy@hotmail.com

[phil]

Hi everybody i'm needing someone to talk to about CD and how they're finding it so far, i've had CD since September 05' which is 9 months now and have only slipped up a couple of times, which I suppose is normal. But I know that if I ever need to talk to someone, my mum, or my girlfriend are there for me when I need support, which i'm greatful to have. Whereas some people think it is funny to make jokes about CD and think it's a great laugh to make petty jokes, when they don't understand for a second what it is like to live with CD for the rest of their lives. Im sure those who make fun of people with CD go ahead and make a sandwich with their fresh bread that stays soft for a week and wouldn't think twice about those who have have it a lot more difficult than them at times. But who am I to complain,there are worse off than me. Such as kids who haven't had lollies or a varitety of biscuits in their lives. Which isn't fair, they have never had treats that KIDS are entitled to. I don't know what those kids would be going through when they haven't had a simple cliche meal such as a happymeal. For those who read this will no where i'm coming from and know how hard it was when they first started on their diet. But it getts easier as the months go by. hope to hear a reply from you soon. cheers
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phil, age 17
New Zealand

[mrsppmrxky]

Hello Phil! Welcome to the boards! I have found this site to be a great encouragement to me! I have learned a lot from the folks here.

My daughter was a little younger than you when she started to get sick, but was a little older than you when she got her diagnosis. She is now 20. She had/has a hard time with people her age understanding her diet needs, but she is very good about sticking to her diet.

If you check the recipe section out, you can find some really good snack items that you are your mom could make.

You need to check out the recipe that was posted for the loaf bread that was in the Living Without magazine this month. It is really tasty and soft.

I hope that you soon find that your insides are healing a lot and you get to educate your friends about CD.
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[StaceyMac]

I have had CD for four years now, and believe me it was really hard at first. I hated the fact that I couldn't have all the things I used to eat. I realized though that those things weren't worth getting sick over. I also still have to deal with those people that don't understand or care, but after a while those people stop bothering you and you just learn to ignore them. You will get used to the cravings and they will go away, though every now and then I still get one, but I work at Sonic Drive-In so I spend all day looking at food I can't eat. All in all CD made me eat healthier and I am glad for that. I am healthy now and that is a great thing, so CD isn't so bad after all.

[IloveHistory]

Hi!

I am sixteen years old and will turn seventeen in September this year. I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in November 2006.

We've always known that I had problems with wheat, but never realised that I was actually allergic to gluten!

I have multiple food allergies:

*Gluten
*Seafood (Anaphylaxis)
*Fish (Anaphylaxis)
*Onions (Anaphylaxis)
*Garlic
*Peanuts (Anaphylaxis)
*Yeast
*Avocado Pears
*Kiwi Fruit
*Sulphur Dioxide
*M.S.G.
*Jam (don't ask! We have no idea what's in the jam that I'm allergic/intolerant to, but I get violently ill when I consume even minute
amounts of jam! )
*Lactose Intolerance

Thanks and keep well!