"Common Ground": my little corner of the blogosphere where I talk (a lot-wink) about the things that matter most to me: My relationship with my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, homeschooling, adoption, homemaking, parenting, "spousing." (yeah, yeah....I know that's not a word.....I made it up-it’s my blog-I can do things like that! Ha!)

Since my life isn’t all that different from yours, hopefully we can find some COMMON GROUND & learn from each other. Please share your thoughts!

Through the Lords’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness!
Lam. 3: 22 & 23

Click on pics to see us up close & personal! :)


Monday, March 1, 2010

"Mystery Diagnosis"-one of my favorite shows on Discovery Health-but I never wanted to be a mystery myself!

Terrible picture of me-but adorable of my three kiddos!!!
(this was taken on my birthday two weeks ago!)
(I wonder when we will FINALLY be able to get a whole family portrait.....when the littles are teenagers, do you think?)
For all my FFF friends, I am also re-posting some medical info I found out about myself last week-mostly to get the word out about Celiac Disease.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Well, I have been sitting here wondering how to begin with this post. I guess I’ll just jump in with both feet!

A week ago yesterday, my phone rang.

Little did I know by the time I hung up, my life would be henceforth & forever CHANGED.

& it would eventually send my emotions reeling.

Two weeks ago, I visited the dr. to try & get some answers to a few questions.

One thing that has been really bothering me as of late is that I cannot function without caffeine-no matter how much sleep I get!

Even then, most afternoons, my eyelids STILL drooped so much my bed called my name.

So, long story short-I asked the dr for every blood test I could to get some answers.

My Vitamin D levels were low enough that they wanted me on some of that…..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

But, the thing which has totally changed my life is the next thing the nurse said-which I remember exactly.

“Your blood test for celiac came back positive, so the doctor is recommending that you go on a gluten-free diet.”

(Now, let me say-this diagnosis was not really a surprise-this disease runs in my family. In our case it is genetic & my dad & at least 4 of my nieces & nephews have been diagnosed with it)

But……It still requires a complete & total change in my approach to eating-as wheat gluten is an additive in just about every prepared food & of course, in wheat flour (read: breads that I really love!)

So…..on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, my diet changed.

I ate one last GLUTEN-FILLED meal, & since then, I have done my level best to avoid it completely.

Now, what does all this have to do with my emotions?

Well, with in this first week, I have felt:
~Overwhelmed (when I was shopping over the weekend, I looked at the vast isles of food & realized I have to now read almost every label-carefully before I place food in my cart).
~Fearful (What if I can’t do this? What health issues might come down the road as a result of my eating GLUTEN-FILLED for my first 39 years)
~Sad (Good-by bread, breaded foods & most things I like when eating out)
~Hopeful (that many of these seemingly unrelated symptoms can go AWAY now that I am eating correctly)
~Angry (that my body has betrayed me-& I am too young for this!)

I am doing better now, but every time I think of a food I will never eat again (so long Arby’s Mozzarella Cheese Sticks & my mom’s homemade bread), I have a new “death” to deal with.

But, with God’s help, I will get through this initial shock-& I hope to educate some people along the way, as I embark on this new journey to get my health/emotional well-being back! (& if any of you have celiac-or are on a wheat-free diet-please share your thoughts/tips! I know we will be revisiting this topic often!)

One of my favorite verses seems appropriate here:

“Commit your works to the LORD,
And your thoughts will be established.”
Proverbs 16:3



P.S. If any of you are suffering from any health issue you can’t quite put your finger on, please run-don’t walk to your dr & GET SOME ANSWERS!!!

P.S.S. If you suffer from exhaustion, digestive issues & slight depression (especially if you are of Northern European decent), please don’t rule out Celiac!

Finally-this post was created in 32 minutes for Steady Mom’s 3o Minutes or Less blogger challenge!



18 comments:

Gardenia said...

it's the first day of the rest of your life. I read a great blog (don't knwo if you know her) and she is gluton free -- I think since the past november. she just posted something today about it. you may want to check her out. Carrie at http://livelearnandlovetogether.blogspot.com/

Dea said...

I bet thats hard but just try and think of it as a good thing. A good friend of mine has celiac and shes doing great..just takes time to get used to but youll learn to make the best of it and with God on your side you have nothing to worry about!

Tina said...

Kim,
I understand eating gluten free can be very challenging. We have a wonderful babysitter who has Celiac and she has a blog where she likes to post gluten free recepies. Most of them look rather yummy! Her name is Sarah and her blog is: http:// steepedbysarah.blogspot.com. I thought she could be a great resource for you.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you found some answers. I'm sorry you found those answers too. It is hard but feeling better and having better health for your family is more important than a "party in your mouth".

BTDT.

(Remind me of that when I'm feeling weak, OK? :) )

Anonymous said...

We are not gluten free, but my kids do have other very complicated allergies. I have been through all of the emotions that you are mentioning. It is HARD. But the good news is that it will become a new normal. Next year at this time you will wonder why it seemed so hard at the beginning. You will find the foods that work and you will adjust to the new way of eating. Hang in there, it will get better.

And then, just so you know, after you think that you have it all figured out, there will be days where you feel like you are starting all over. But the frustration won't last as long as the first time and your new normal will return.

My main tip to someone who has just found out that they have allergies (or celiac in your case) is to go through all of the recipes that you have been eating and find the ones that you CAN eat. You may be surprised to find that many of the things you have eaten in the past will still work. As time go on, you will figure out how to make some of those things that you think you will never have again, but for now focus on the things you CAN have.

Leslie said...

oh wow, what a shock and what a huge change!!! thanks for sharing your process and thoughts and also your hope in the Lord to get you through this.

Amy said...

I have actually wondered about celiac off and on.

hmmm...

Gracias

Kelly said...

I ditto everything hnracademy said. We (supposedly) aren't dealing with Celiac, but we deal with a lot of other complicated allergies/intolerances and are still seeking for answers. I know celiac is a hard answer, but I'm glad for an answer and now you have a way to proceed. I'll pray for you over this time of adjustment.

Drippings of Grace said...

Thanks for sharing your stuggles. I've walked through many little deaths. Just because they are little doesn't make them easy. God is suficient.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. It's nice to know someone else has suffered humiliation at the hands of a two-year-old. By the way, how did dad handle the interruption?

Kelly Miller said...

My sister has Celiac, so I know where you're coming from. Trying to cook for her was really difficult at first, but we've learned how to do it.

For instance, I make her breads and cakes all the time using almond flour instead of wheat flour. And we have taco nights, but I mix my own seasoning rather than using a packet and we eat corn tortillas rather than flour ones.

Life will change, but it will be for the better. My sister feels 100% better now that she's eating the way her body needs her to. I'm sure you will, too.

Kelli said...

Thanks for my Cyber Hug you sent! I'm thinking you might need one too! So hugs to you! I'll be praying for you in your dietary changes.
I'm hosting a giveaway today...check it out!
Kelli @ SustainingCreativity

se7en said...

Wow, I wish you all the best as you rearrange you diet - it is so hard to find a completely new regular meal plan and routine, especially when you can't slip backwards into old habits - especially with desperate little ones around ... I will be thinking of you this week as you adapt and rethink your normal...

Jenny said...

The King Arthur flour company has a blog that they recently did a few gluten free recipes on. One of them being BREAD. Thought you might be interested. http://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/ It is difficult to make dietary changes, but it is worth it in the end. Feeling healthy again is worth it all.

Jeanna Williams said...

Your mom will be a great resource as she's been cooking for your dad!

Annie @ Sister Wisdom said...

I have several friends who are in the midst of this journey, too. I know it's been a challenge for them but I also know they say: WORTH IT! Their health has improved dramatically, they have energy, they feel great. Remember to take it one day (or one meal) at a time. You don't have to have it figured out any further than that.

Hannah said...

I am trying to cut out gluten for the next two weeks to make sure I don't have an allergy. I have all the symptoms so ... hoping that I don't because I LOVE to bake!

nora said...

Kim, I have Celiac. I have had Celiac since I was 2 - one of the earliest diagnosed cases in the late 70's. I love cooking and my husband - a bonafied carb lover - never knows when I fix a GF meal. My kiddos are 80% GF - since its easier that way. But it really doesn't have to be awful. If you haven't picked up the Gluten Free Gourmet by Betty HAgman, do so - its got some great recipies. If you need help or help with conversions, let me know ntycast AT comcast dot net

Anne said...

Kim - I'm sure this is very difficult to take right now. I bet you will go through phases of acceptance and then your new reality will become second nature. One positive is that it is becoming a more common diagnosis so more and more foods are created with people that need a gluten free diet. There is one food blog about eating gluten free that is pretty popular is http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/.

Hope you have a good weekend!

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