I got into a very minor accident and had some pain a couple of months ago and I went to a regular follow up about nagging back pain. I had a new PA who asked about my health history and suggested a blood test for gluten allergy and a referral to a specialist. I seriously doubted there would be any result since going gluten free a few years back did little to help me.
I was wrong. I received the phone call on a Tuesday afternoon with results showing I had a definite gluten allergy. I have celiac disease. I'm still new at this and unfamiliar with the terms, but a nurse who glimpsed my chart yesterday said my antibody levels were alarmingly high.
How can I have celiac disease? How can I be allergic to wheat? I live to eat. I love to bake. I've finally perfected my bread recipe! My cinnamon rolls are out of this world. Food is my best friend and this is the worst breakup I've ever experienced. Everywhere I turn, there are foods I can't eat.
I was so angry at first. How could I have gone 31 years without knowing this? Why didn't anyone listen 12 years ago when my health took a nosedive?
My next thought was my children. Celiac disease is genetic. What if they're like me? They have each shown some of my various symptoms on occasion. I took my terrified three to the pediatrician on Monday and found out the news yesterday.
All three have different degrees of dairy allergy (Huh? I wasn't even worried about dairy!) and my three year old has a gluten allergy.
It's hard to find out you have an autoimmune disorder as an adult, but do you know what's harder? Finding out your toddler has it too. For now, I'm banning all dairy and wheat-containing products from our home. I've got to go through the whole house now and scrub it everything down before researching or getting rid of all personal care items. Toothpaste! Lipstick! Medications! Vitamins! Toss all the things! What if someone ate a sandwich and then touched this? Could it trigger a reaction? I don't want to find out.
