Surprise Diagnosis: Celiac Disease

I don't know even where to begin with this post, the past week has been a whirlwind! In that time I was diagnosed with Celiac, had multiple tests, revamped my kitchen... and the list goes on!

To start at the beginning, over the last few months, I've put on some pounds. At first I thought they were Christmas pounds, from parties and being in Idaho enjoying food and drinks, but they weren't going away. No matter how many days I counted my calories, got in extra workouts, took the stairs at work, ate extra vegetables, the scale was not going in my favor. The weirdest thing was, all the weight was in my belly, and I usually gain weight in my face first. My clothes were not fitting well, and I felt like my mid-section was a bloated whale belly.

It came to a head about a week and a half ago when I hopped on the scale that Friday morning to see how my week's worth of strict eating and working out had payed off, to see I'd gained three pounds. WHAT?!? In total I had gained 12- 15 pounds since our wedding last June, depending on the day. This was NOT normal.

So, called my doctor, she wasn't in, and made an appointment with another doctor. I thought maybe my thyroid was acting up, because my mom and brother both suffer from Thyroid disease, but after googling "unexplained weight gain" I found some resources saying Celiac Disease, the allergy to Gluten and Wheat, could be the cause.

Luckily, I have a great resource in this area, my friend Amy who's daughter, brother and father have Celiac and she runs the blog the Savvy Celiac. When I told her my symptoms and asked her if she thought I should be tested, she told me that for sure I should be.

The doctor I saw (not my normal one) was hesitant to test me, saying that most people who have Celiac, lose weight not gain (a total myth I've learned), but I insisted that he test me, if only for piece of mind. I've learned from past experiences I have to be my own advocate in the doctor's office, and I don't pay my insurance premiums to not get what I want. After all, I may be the patient, but that also makes me the customer.

That following Tuesday I received the call, saying I had tested, "very positive" for Celiac. That a normal test was under 20, and my test read at 132. WOW! I was so glad I stood my ground and got this test, it was a simple blood test too.

Since this call, it's been a whirlwind, for both Ben, and I. I've met with a Gastroenterologist, had more blood tests, an upper endoscopy that involved a biopsy of my small intestine, and been to Whole Foods more times that ever before in a matter of a week.

I'm finding so many helpful resources, and often feel overwhelmed. I cried over my last gluten filled meal, a Punch Pizza last week, thinking of the lovely foods I would miss, and the life change ahead, but honestly, if cutting out Gluten and Wheat makes me feel better, that's all that matters.

The doctor told me over the next few months my energy will improve, my weight should go down as my body is able to absorb more nutrients, and I should just all around feel better. Yes to that!

I won't go on to explain the specifics of Celiac, but here is a link if you want to learn more. Don't be afraid to throw this blood test into the ones you already receive at your annual physical, it doesn't require much (maybe a few more drops of blood drawn) and could help improve your health immensely!

So, now a new journey begins for me. Full of rice flower, special menus, more fruits and veggies, and immersing myself into the Gluten Free Community. I promise this will not become a Celiac niche blog (we have Amy for that--she's got that down!) but still about healthiness and other random crap, although sometimes that will include Celiac. Thank you all in advance for your support!