I get asked a lot of questions about having Celiac Disease.  Unless you or someone you love has been effected by it the odds are most of you don’t know either.  Here are some answers to the questions I’m asked most.

What happens when you have Celiac Disease?
Celiac is an autoimmune disorder.  Basically when my body comes in contact with gluten it starts to attack itself.  Food absorbing villi are destroyed and inflammation occurs.  It is different from an allergy.  My reaction does not appear immediately (for me the onset is about 6 hours).

What happens when you have Gluten?
Everybody reacts differently.  I’m still learning about my reactions.  I had been sick for 31 years before I knew so I’m only now seeing things that were symptoms all along.  When I get glutened now the first thing I notice is my speech changes.  It isn’t very noticeable to others but I get stuck on words and slur slightly.  My mood changes, I get headaches, my balance is off…  it’s a long list.  I also get the classic gastrointestinal issues such as bloating, nausea and diarrhea.

What can you eat?
Anything.  Often it has to be modified a little first.  I cannot consume anything that contains wheat, rye or barley.  I also have to pay attention to how the food was made.  Oats are usually out of the question because they are processed alongside these grains.  I use alternative flours to make the same foods I enjoyed previously.   It is actually a blessing in diguise.  I can rarely eat out of the house and have to hand make most meals.  I’m forced to eat fresh and healthy.

Does the food taste bad?
No.  The only complaint for me is breads.  I enjoy the taste but miss the fluffy texture that comes with wheat.  Some pre-packaged foods can be nasty but if I make it myself it tastes the same as I remember.  I find a lot of people will refuse my food if I tell them it’s gluten free and I don’t understand.  Fruit for example does not contain gluten, the taste does not change if I put a gluten free sticker on it.

Can’t you just have a little bit?
No.  Would you have just a little poison?  The damage it causes takes months before it even begins to heal.  No matter how good something looks are tastes it comes at too high of a price.

Can Celiac Disease be fatal?
No.  Celiac Disease itself cannot kill you however, left untreated the complications caused by Celiac Disease can.

Celiac Disease causes damage to the small intestine.  The repercussions of this are system wide.  One example is that the heart of your body’s immune system is in the intestine.  When damaged it doesn’t work as it should.  Lets just say someone who has a weakened immune system comes on contact with a virus.  In most people your immune system kicks in and fights the onset so that you never become sick.  If you are unlucky enough to feel sick your body fights it until it’s gone.  With a weakened immune system you almost certainly will get sick.  It will hit you harder and last longer.  Depending on what you get, it could be fatal.

Celiac also increases your risks for a host of other complications such us lymphoma, thyroid disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, organ failure and other autoimmune disorders (to name a few).

I have to admit that Thing 1 is having a much easier time being away from home than his Mama is having with him being gone.

Last week we all flew out to my parents for a holiday.  We flew home with one less.  In the past few days he’s been fishing, roasted marshmallows on a bonfire, been go-karting, seen buffalo, a beaver and countless other creatures and activities that he doesn’t get to do at home in the city.

He’s having the time of his life!

I’m just trying not to freak out.

Thing 1, you turn 6 today… 6!!!

6 years ago today we were blessed with you.  You challenge us daily and we have learned so much from you.

We love you more than you can ever know.

For your birthday we are sending you on the trip of a lifetime.  You will be flying across the country to join your Aunt, Uncle and cousins for an adventure you will never forget.  You will dig for real Dinosaur bones in Drumheller Alberta, visit West Edmonton Mall, Camp, go to many Go Kart races and have a lot of time on the lake.

Happy Birthday Baby!

The Hubby works about an hour away from home. We woke up a bit late and missed the train into the city so the kids and I drove him into work just to get a little more time with him.  Ironically on the way home, the radio was discussing a recent poll asking if you would give up 10% of your pay to spend 10% less time at work allowing you to spend more time with your family.

NO WAY!

Think about it, 10% is a lot of much needed dough and not a whole heck of a lot of time.  On a 40 hour work week that’s only about 45 minutes a day.

Would you give up 10 for 10?

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