Voices of Celiac Disease

“I can’t even remember when I started feeling sick because I was just always sick from the time I can remember.”

“It is frustrating to live like this, having no one take you seriously about your symptoms.”

“The first six months after diagnosis I spent in self-pity, crying and being depressed because I wasn’t able to eat everything I loved.”

“I got a really high fever. I was rushed to the doctor, who said it was caused by a virus. After that, I started running a low temperature almost every month.“

“You’re always in your mind, even when you’re out with family, saying to yourself, ‘Well, I can’t eat what they’re eating.’“

“Sometimes people don’t understand the emotional toll of having a child with an autoimmune disorder and all that goes into keeping her safe.”

“I remember before I was diagnosed, seeing in the grocery store yogurt or something labeled as gluten-free, and thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so ridiculous. Obviously, apples don’t have gluten in them.’ Now those stickers are my saving grace!“

“At one point celiac disease was discussed but dismissed because of my ethnicity.”

“We didn’t know what was wrong with our daughter. Our doctor initially did not think celiac disease because she was so young and because she didn’t have diarrhea.”

“I had migraines, seizures, anemia, stomach pain, anxiety and brain fog.”

“That’s the crazy part, I never had symptoms. At least not any of the ones everyone talks about.”

“When the number came out, he was sure I had celiac disease and that was the answer to all my life’s questions.”