My gluten free tale

PERSONAL STORY, Yeah !

I found out I was Gluten free, shortly before of February of 2009. My mother had suspicions due to how sick and weak I was, not to mention my terrible acme problem I spent loads of money trying to fix. While most of my friends found, the face wash, or treatment they needed to make their skin beautiful I was still plague d with sores and pimples all over my face. Within twenty-four hours of being gluten free more than half of my face cleared up.

Believe, me I still have not the most appealing skin in the world, but I don’t have as painful as a skin problem as I used to have. Now if I accidently eat gluten, within a few hours I will have a massive breakout, and have a terrible stomach in combination with a migraine. There were other symptoms involved, I had serve migraines and would experience three to four migraines a week, I was ridiculously under weight. I was unable to gain any weight. I would eat more than my brother but would gain no weight. I had very little physical strengths, I weight 98-100 lbs until I was diagnosed, and within a month of being diagnosed I gained 15 pounds. I didn’t experience as much migraines, which was nice, because I could attend school without being in as much pain as before. Some people, develop swelling in their joints, I have this symptom. I usually wear a lot of rings and bracelets, but If I eat gluten by accident, my finger joints will visible swell, to the point wear it Is painful to wear rings. How I came to realize that I was gluten free, or may have a gluten intolerance.

My aunt was diagnosed with a gluten problem and after my mum and I saw how healthily and happy she looked I tried being gluten free. Most gluten allergies are hereditary and are in hertied through the bloodlines of your family. Once my aunt and I were diagnosed My mother and brother began t realized they have most of the symptoms, my grandfather on my fathers side realized he had a majority of the symptoms and my Aunts son ( my cousin on my mothers side was diagnosed, along with my uncle) . A family affair was conceived. But most of my relatives who believed they had it, do not pay attention to their symptoms . Along with family and friends come the sacrifices they have made ad make to help me be able to dine with them in peace.

My mother and father are very understanding. When I I was first diagnosed, my father thought I was overreacting and that it was a fake allergy. Overtime, they have both come to help me with my diet, we have to think about where we want to eat, rather than just being like, hey lets go here. Most the time, I accept the life of eating the salad at a restaurant with my friends and family, because its safe and reliable, but this is a pain in my rear end because I firmly believe I shouldn’t have to compromise my deep undying love for eating and food in general. Which complicates life with friend and family, but usually it takes extra time ( and some up charges) but typically find a place we can all enjoy. This is important to me personally, because I feel like eating is fundamentally important and all should enjoy it. This year, my grandmother Shirley and aunt Lee Anne cooked a Gluten Free thanksgiving, and it was delightful because everyone enjoyed it. The following day, we all went to my Grandma and Grandpa Davis’s houses were we enjoyed a abundant amount of gluten free foods, like brownies, biscuits and etc. Making food enjoyable to taste and not just tolerable is fundamental for me. I typically feel guilty having these beliefs when I already have quite the limiting allergy.

Being Gluten free is a challenge. I lived in the dorm and I didn’t have that much money, I was depending on a pack of bread, the bad cafeteria food, and copious amounts of ramen noodles. Being gluten free and in college has been a challenge, wanting food instantly like walking across the street and buying a cousin subs sandwich is not available to me. However calling jimmy johns and ordering an unwhich is. Also (bonus) there is delivery available. My gluten free journey has been full of ups and downs but most of all trails and errors. I believe one of the biggest obstacles has been continuously and constantly advocating for my food (dietary) needs. You cannot literally take a break, if you are highly sensitive in your gluten sensitivity. Its easy t fall into assumptions, but a lot of the time when I want to buy something gluten free and I run into whole foods and something is labeled gluten free, I will turn it over and its says “ Manufactured in a facility that also processes wheat” and my thoughts are always like “ yeah… you jerks “ the official gluten free label is something I have come to depend on. Its has the official seal of you wont be crazy sick for a week to two weeks. I relay on it.