Off the Wheaten Path

So, I found out what is wrong with me...I have Celiac Disease.

If you're not familiar with what Celiac disease is, it's where you are allergic to anything that has gluten in it...which comes mostly from wheat but can also be from other things.

And you wouldn't believe how many things have wheat in them-it's not just the yummy fluffy sugar cookies and delightfully crusty bubbly pizza that I'm going to miss, but it's hidden everywhere!

Just tonight I had to go the the heath food store to get soy sauce. Did you know soy sauce had wheat in it? I didn't until now. The other day I got through half a bottle of juice before reading the label like I should of, and sure enough...gluten-IN JUICE!!! So yeah, I pretty much read every single label of everything I ingest from now on.

Anyways, I am super grateful that my Dr. was able to figure this out. Some people go a very very long time before being diagnosed and sometimes it's too late. Celiac disease can cause a whole list of tumultuous side affects... including osteoporosis, infertility, arthritis and even cancer. It's crazy to me that I was born with this and am just finding out now that I have this serious condition-but like I said, I am so grateful to know now so that I can control it. Celiac disease is very controllable but you just have to completely cut gluten out from your diet. It can be a hard task but it's definitely worth it to make your body whole again.

So if I come to your house and decline your yummiest cookie or delicious fettuccine please just know that I would love some, but that it's pretty much poison to me. And who loves poison? Not me. Sorry :)

Anyways, 1 in every 133 people have it and like 97% of people who do have it don't know they do. So here is a list of symptoms. I'll put a star by my main symptoms. But if you have a handful of these symptoms and don't know whats wrong and have been feeling poopy, I would suggest being tested.

• Abdominal cramps, gas and bloating*
• Anemia*
• Borborygmi (stomach rumbling)
• Coetaneous bleeding
  
• Diarrhea
• Easy bruising*
• Epitasis (nose bleeding)
  
• Failure to thrive
  
• Fatigue or general weakness*
• Flatulence*
• Fluid retention
• Foul-smelling or grayish stools that are often fatty or oily
• Gastrointestinal symptoms*
• Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
  
• Hematuria (red urine)
  
• Hypocalcaemia/ hypomagnesaemia*
• Infertility
• Iron deficiency anemia*
• lymphocytic gastritis
• Muscle weakness*
• Muscle wasting
• Nausea
  
• No obvious physical symptoms (just fatigue, overall not feeling well)*
  
• Osteoporosis
• Pallor (unhealthy pale appearance)*
• Panic Attacks
  
• Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage)
• Stunted growth in children
• Vertigo
  
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Vitamin K deficiency
  
• Vomiting
• Voracious appetite
  
• Weight loss
• Obesity

Also, Celiac disease is hereditary therefore if you are related to me, there is a chance that you could have it too. Im going to have Auri tested as soon as I can.

I'll be honest, I'm a little bummed. But, I am so grateful to know now and to be able to control it. Im sure that I will start feeling better soon and that is a good feeling!