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How We're Adjusting to a Gluten-Free Lifestyle to Manage My Son's Celiac

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I used to roll my eyes walking down the gluten-free aisle at the expensive grocery store — that is until my child, my baby was diagnosed with Celiac disease. I call him my baby because he has such an angelic quality to him, but he’s 6 years old now and he was at the time of his diagnosis. So for six whole years I shrugged off his bloated belly as an adorable feature that I was in no hurry for him to outgrow, all the while he was in pain. I know Celiac disease is manageable by following a gluten-free diet, and God knows how blessed I know I am to have otherwise healthy children, but man, this shit is hard! We’re only two weeks into diagnosis, and tensions are high in my home.

First of all, the transition from gluttonous to gluten-free eating is not going so well. (Yes I know the two words are unrelated.) I suppose any logical person would say just throw all things gluten away or donate them, but I’m not logical, I’m emotional and thrifty! I just can’t bring myself to throw away a perfectly good Costco-sized box of Kodiak pancake and waffle mix. I mean not only is the stuff delicious, it’s good for us… well, all but one of us. On the other hand I can’t let my other two kids down a dozen donuts for breakfast while he watches. But really, is it fair to “deprive” my other kids of donuts, waffles, cake and hot dogs? In my house those are pretty rare as it is. They usually mark a special occasion: birthdays are for Donuts-with-Dad, pool days beg for hot dogs and burgers and everybody knows something wonderful is being celebrated when someone brings a cake! My husband, bless his heart, I see it in his eyes, the question of if it’s really “necessary to make him live in a gluten-free bubble?” He did actually ask that. And yes, it is necessary! I know he’ll come around. I just pray it’s sooner than later.

It’s cliche to say hindsight is 20/20, but it’s such a fitting statement right now. Looking back I can see all the ways the disease was taking pieces of my little boy. Since cutting gluten out of his diet, he doesn’t rush home to jump in bed for a rest anymore. He joins his brother outside to play. He not only clears the food right off his plate but he’s now asking for seconds. He’s actually both physically and mentally quicker. Most notably, he doesn’t experience headaches once a day and stomach aches at night. I’m ashamed to say I actually started to think his complaints were excuses to prolong the bedtime routine or habitual phrases he used to phrases to fill silence.

I know the changes will get easier and soon feel normal for my son and for my family. There are so many websites dedicated to gluten-free shopping and cooking, and if any of you have favorites, please share! Like many of you, writing is a sort of therapy for me, but sharing personal topics like this is the reason I chose to blog what I write. Some conditions still carry with them a stigma. Unfortunately most autoimmune diseases, like Celiac disease, are on that list. I’m not exactly sure why, maybe it’s because people think they’re “lifestyle diseases” caused by poor diet and lack of exercise. The truth is, the research and research funds for autoimmune diseases are so minimal that very little is known about what causes them and what secondary diseases are caused by leaving them untreated. If you recognize any of the symptoms I mentioned, you can request a blood test from your doctor to check for Celiac disease.

Follow this journey on Tips and Salsa.

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Thinkstock photo by demaerre

Originally published: April 26, 2017
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