For a couple of years now I started to notice that something was not right with the way I was digesting food if you like. After mostly every meal I always felt really bloated and my tummy seemed to feel dodgy most of the time.
In early 2016 I decided to get myself to the doctors as I knew something was not right. They gave me the usual talk of it most likely being IBS but to keep a food diary and see how I was feeling after certain things I ate. I was told that it could well be a food intolerance but again, just see how I get on and I can go for a blood test.
I carried on eating gluten and my normal foods for around 6 weeks and went for my blood tests. The results came back that I was borderline Coeliac. So after that I was referred for an endoscopy to see if there was anything abnormal. My first endoscopy came back that I had quite a lot of scarring in my oesophagus and a hiatus hernia was also present. They didn't look for Coeliac disease at this point.
As the first test came back borderline I had to give it 6 months of eating gluten and go back for another blood test to see if anything was different. My second blood test again came back borderline so that is when I was referred for another endoscopy. After my second endoscopy (which the second time really hurt) I had my appointment with my consultant in May 2017 and I was finally told that I did have Coeliac Disease. This was determined as my vili was so damaged (usual diagnosis) and that I was then to go on a fully gluten free diet to try and get me better.
I had 2 sessions with a dietician after that to help me out with what I now had to eat! At first it was so hard, I was constantly down about it. Having to change your whole lifestyle is massive, what you eat, having to be careful of any contamination, all your friends and family eating "normal" foods. It is really hard work initially. I always thought "why me"!
The advice that I would give to someone that is going through what I and many people have had to go through is: push to get a test if you really think something is wrong, I went with my gut and did what I had to do, sometimes I really wish that I never went to the doctors, never had the tests so I could have carried on living my old lifestyle. However, my health is so much better, I feel better eating what I eat now, so now I feel it really was worth it.
Another tip would be to scout every supermarket and try new things. You will be massively surprised at how much there is out there now for people with intolerances to eat. Some foods that I have tried since being diagnosed I would have never of dreamed of trying before. Also, if you are going out to eat I would do your research before and see if they do have a gluten free menu, I will do another post about my favourite restaurants, but again you will be surprised! I would also advise to join support groups, there are loads on Facebook. At least you will then realise that you are not alone!
So there we go... that is my journey and my first blog post! I hope you enjoyed having a read, and I hope at least one person reading this will feel better about their condition.
Below are a couple of links to Facebook groups which some people might find useful:
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/154345311427675/ - Coeliac GUTS
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/5933229822/ - Coeliacs in the UK
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