Living Gluten-Free

Of course I knew something was wrong with me. But I think I had my mother in the back of my head telling me that maybe I was just being overdramatic. Maybe it was all in my head. Maybe I was just a hypochondriac.

I would visit the doctor often. Too often at times. Sometimes with the same ailment, sometimes with something new. Muscle aches, joint pain, severe headaches, gas, bloating, water retention, weight gain, extreme tiredness, and quite often, just a general feeling that I was sick. In college, I was tested for lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and leukemia. But everything tested normal. And yet the symptoms still remained. Sometimes it would get worse, and sometimes I felt fine. I continued this way for years. About every year or so, I would head back to the doctor's office, go through more blood work and tests, and sometimes get prescribed a medication. At various times I was prescribed medications for arthritis, heartburn, nausea, and migraines. I even collected a cabinet full of vitamins and herbal remedies. But the symptoms remained. Honestly, I didn't want any medication. I absolutely hate taking pills. But I wanted answers.

And then I found a new doctor. With a new idea. He told me that when your body appears to be breaking down, the issue is often systematic. He said that he wouldn't be surprised if I had a gluten intolerance. This, I said, was crazy. After all, I'm Italian. An Italian who's lived off pasta and bread all her life. And in my 30's? Now, suddenly, I'm not able to eat gluten? Impossible.

You see, gluten can be found in so many foods. I would say that 90% of the foods I ate had gluten in them. Pasta, cake, cookies, gravy, cookie dough ice cream, beer, teriyaki sauce, soup. And yes, bread. Anything that contains wheat, rye, or barley. Then there are the "hidden" sources of gluten. Cinnamon, curry, vanilla extract, some frozen vegetables, and many candies.

But my doctor suggested that stop rolling my eyes and to just try it for two weeks. He would take a before and after blood test, and I would make the changes in my diet. He said, that if I'm gluten intolerant (also called Celiac), then my symptoms could disappear. No pills or medication would be necessary at all. Still thinking he was crazy, I agreed.

Sure enough, after a couple days, my symptoms started getting better. I'm not saying all my aches and pains went away right then and there. But I started noticing them less and less.

That was nine months ago that I went gluten free, and I haven't gone back. In the beginning, I'll admit, that it wasn't easy. But, with a little bit of patience, and research, it got easier. Consider the following:

1. First, don't focus on what you can't eat, but focus on what you can eat. Rice, potatoes, meats, vegetables, and fruit. Not off limits if you've prepared them yourself. You do need to start reading labels, though. And then start your mental list of all your favorite foods that are still healthy for you. Then, for the foods that are off limits, find substitutions. There are gluten-free versions of most things - soy sauce, bread, pasta, doughnuts. And even beer. Don't make any assumptions, though. Read the labels carefully. Sometimes the fillers and stabilizers contain gluten. When in doubt, contact the manufacturer. Though you won't want to make a diet of potato chips, Reese's cups, and wine, I'm sure you'll find plenty of comfort foods.
2. Remember that this is a life change. This isn't a diet. You can't cheat. I'll be the first to admit, though, that in the beginning, I did cheat. I felt like an addict. I would take a bite of my son's macaroni and cheese and then turn away so no one would see me chewing. Sometimes I would have a reaction. And sometimes I wouldn't. And I thought "What was that doctor thinking?" But the thing is, even when you don't present symptoms, you're still doing damage internally. And then, when you do present symptoms, the longer you remain gluten-free, the more severe your reactions can be. It's like going on a low fat diet. When you go off the diet and eat your first fast food hamburger, your body rejects it. More so than when you ate fast food every day. The same happens when you eat gluten again. Those little bites hurt really bad. The best advice I got from someone was to exchange the word "gluten" with "poison." It doesn't seem so crazy to have a "little bit of gluten." But how does it sound to have a "little bit of poison?"
3. Seek support of other people in your situation. There are online communities and meetings that can actually be a great source of support. Even talking openly about your diagnosis can lead to connections you wouldn't have known. A former co-worker's daughter was diagnosed with Celiac disease, and many friends of friends. It's good to know that you're not the only one. And when you are looking for ideas about Thanksgiving recipes that actually taste great, or a recipe to cure your craving for Oreo cookies, there's someone out there with an answer for you.
4. Be aware that your normal sources of support, such as family members, husbands, and girlfriends, on the other hand, may not be as open and understanding. I do the cooking for the family. And I refuse to cook two different meals for dinner. There was a time when my husband felt like he was being "subjected" to gluten-free food. We had to have a frank conversation about what "gluten free" cooking actually meant in our house. You see, I wasn't cooking with "gluten substitutes." I wasn't using gluten free flours, or pastas. I was just cooking foods that were naturally gluten free. I didn't use prepackaged meals. I made everything from scratch. And then, when gluten was unavoidable, or I knew he would notice, I just chose what I wouldn't eat. Like hamburger buns. Or grilled cheese sandwiches. After our conversation, he was much more understanding.
5. Eating out at friends' houses is a little more of a challenge. Speak up, though. When going to eat with friends or at a family meal, ask to bring a dish. At least that way, you'll know you'll have at least one thing to eat. And, don't be shy about asking for the recipe. Most people will be flattered, and they'll never know your intention. Above all, be honest. Don't eat something that's not healthy for you.
6. Restaurants, also, can be a challenge. But, many chains are solving that issue by offering gluten-free menus. Look at menus online ahead of time to plan out what you can eat. Be sure to inform the manager and your server that you can't have gluten. They'll tell you if they can modify your meal for you, or what options would be better for you. Remember, though, that in restaurants without dedicated equipment, like serving utensils and pans, there could be a danger of cross-contamination. Be aware of sources of contamination like flat grills that may not have been cleaned off, frying oil, and cutting boards. If you have made management aware, they can inform the kitchen. Thai and Mexican restaurants usually have quite a few options. Rice noodles, corn tortillas, risotto, and sushi (excluding imitation crab meat) are good options.
7. If you're starting to get sick again, the most likely cause is that you are ingesting gluten and you're not aware of it. Everyone is different, and people can have varying degrees of sensitivity. Keeping flour in your kitchen where you might inhale it, old muffin tins that could have little bits left, mixers and can openers, make up, and even kisses from your loved ones can be a source of gluten that you're not aware of.
8. Understand that gluten isn't the only thing that makes you sick. You can still get viruses and other illnesses. When I come down with something, my first thought is often, "when did I ingest gluten?" But sometimes a stomach bug is just a stomach bug. Recently, I was also diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. So now sometimes it's gluten and sometimes it's IBS, even though the line there is a little fuzzy.

So, if you too have been told that gluten needs to be eliminated from your diet, don't think it's the end of the world. Yes, it's a change. But what's worse? Not changing your diet and living with your symptoms? Or making a few changes, and feeling like a new person? I know what I choose.