It is midway through Thanksgiving and there is a bit of a lull in the day. I wanted to repost a blog I did this summer. It is about celiac disease and why we all should be grateful, even though sometimes it can be easy to get frustrated and wallow in our misery about not being able to eat certain foods.
Please enjoy..and I hope you’re having a fantastic holiday!
Be Thankful it’s Just Celiac Disease
Right now many of you will know where I’m coming from just based on the headline. However, depending on where some of you are in your journey of grieving, recovering, embracing and/or managing celiac disease it may be hard to initially grasp the relative simplicity of its treatment – the gluten-free diet.
I know that at this very time nine years ago, I my heart wouldn’t have been all that thankful when it came to my daughter’s celiac diagnosis. But now that I look back and continue to manage her diet, I feel there are things to be thankful for.
Be thankful….
You got the diagnosis! Now you can take action. You hold the key to your better health. Get educated and take on the new challenge.
Be thankful…
It’s not something worse. If you’re going to have a disease, this one is relatively easy to manage. No continuous or massive surgeries, no dialysis or ongoing similar treatments, no physical or mental disabilities. Yes it stinks to have to prearrange meals at restaurants and not eat Wonder Bread any more, but as long as you’re managing it correctly, most celiacs should feel somewhat normal on a strict gluten-free diet. So in the big picture of all the diseases and ailments that are out there – celiac disease isn’t so bad.
Be thankful…
No prescription medications needed! There are also no significant side effects with the gluten-free diet (other than possible vitamin deficiencies that you may want to take supplements for) unlike so many prescription medicines.
Be thankful…
For gluten-free food! It is expensive and some of it tastes questionable at best. But there is more now than ever before. And if you don’t like it, work on creating your own works of art. Try tweaking your favorite recipes to make them gluten-free. (Our egg bake with a hash brown crust is to die for!)
Be thankful…
For gluten-free restaurant menus. Again, this is an area where it has really boomed. You can find more restaurants that accommodate the gluten-free diet these days. It is a blessing.
Be thankful…
For support groups and supportive family and friends. They can help you wade through the tons of information that is out there and listen to you when you’re down. If you don’t have a great personal support system, find a support group in your area.
In my daughter’s world I know she’s thankful that I help her a lot. As she gets older, she says more frequently how she hates having celiac disease. So we often find ourselves agreeing that it can be tough but she should be thankful it’s celiac and not something worse.
What are you thankful for when it comes to celiac disease? Emma would say Kinnikinnick donuts and chocolate chip muffins, my homemade bread and Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles. I am thankful for my bread machine (with a gluten-free setting). It makes life so much easier! Feel free to share below what you’re thankful for!
Tags: celiac, food, gluten-free, thankful, Thanksgiving
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