The Burger King Scare

I was under the impression that because the Burger King website has a "gluten free or allergy food list" that if I were to make sure they prepared it correctly and safely that I should be fine. 
After all, doesn't B.K. have a separate fryer that only cooks french fries and if you get the burger without the bun it should be fine?........... TRY AGAIN! 

For about two years now I have been going to burger king when my family would indulge and get my (gluten free) french fries, pretty much the only thing there that I really trust. 
Last night while riding home from B.K. it was dark in the van and I could barely see my fries. 
After eating majority of the whole container of french fries, I took a hand full of what was left. 
It felt a little squishy, almost like those french fries who are a bit soggy and not as crisp. 
I thought it felt a little different but decided to eat it anyways. It wasn't until it hit my tongue that I had realized a little lonely ONION RING has somehow gotten in my container.

 I spit out the ring in the B.K. bag and I had my husband pull over on the side of the road while I gargled with water and spit out the window of our van, in hopes that I could rid myself of any extra gluten. 
While driving the rest of the way home It dawned on both my husband and I that we had totally and completely forgotten about those rare times when you get an onion ring in with your french fries. 
Now when I didn't have to worry about Celiacs, this was a huge surprise and I used to love it. 
It was my lucky day when that happened, now it's just like one nail in my coffin. 

I CANNOT BLAME B.K. FOR THIS BECAUSE THEY WERE JUST SERVING ME FRENCH FRIES, IT WAS MY MISTAKE FOR TRUSTING THEM WITH MY MEAL. 

I want to share this with you guys because even though fast food may market that they have "gluten free or allergy free" options, it's still being prepared in the same facility as wheat products and the chicken nuggets and onion rings must be fried near the french fry fryer or this would not happen. 

So, if you have Celiacs disease, stay away from fast food restaurants altogether because it's just way to risky!. 

It's really hard to grasp the reality that you can never go back.

I don't know about anyone else but I find it a 24/7 challenge to keep from grabbing just one gluten cookie, just one crispy gluten containing chicken nugget, just one burger from burger king, 
The reality of never ever being able to be normal again is hitting me hard. 

I expect to feel 100% better off of gluten but truth be told, I am still struggling. 
I have my occasional diarrhea spouts, abdominal cramps, fatigue & depression. 
I had read while doing some more research on Celiacs Disease that sometimes it can take more
then just a few months to see full results, sometimes it can take a year or more. 

I am a person who loves to see results NOW and my patience is always tested, so I find this
hard to swallow. This does explain why I haven't felt 100% just quite yet though. 
Since going on the gluten free diet and even going on the temporary gluten challenge, I haven't had one HORRIBLE BOUT of stomach cramps which results in me curling up on our couch in total pain. 
That to me is a WONDERFUL SIGN. I also heard the doctor who did my procedure tell me that since my tests results after being gluten free for 17 months were so good, that it meant that my body is responding to no longer eating gluten (for the good). 

This is good news for me and I am completely blessed and Thank God almighty for saving me from a future of illness and pain but I am still plagued with depression off and on and having a hard time dealing with this big change. 

People do not understand the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual impact Celiacs Disease has on a person unless you have it. No one understands the struggle you go through day in and day out. This disease if controlled by a strict diet will prevent you from dying but it will bog you down and make you unhappy. Specially if you are like me and LOVE FOOD. 

I find the hardest times are when we go to get food. I am always the one that has to make special exceptions or cannot have any food altogether. That to me is very hard to deal with. 
Another thing is having to deal with cross contamination 24/7 due to having to make meals for my family of 6. We have 4 kids who love their wheat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches etc. 
Cross contamination is an issue on a daily basis. 

I'm strongly considering changing our whole family over to gluten free so that I can make it easier, safer and healthier for my family (and specially for me) but the price to do that is HORRIBLE. 

I have searched and searched and searched some more and there really isn't any help you can get unless you purchase A LOT of gluten free food, save all the receipts and then get some money back each year in taxes to help pay for it. Keep in mind that would only work for the one with Celiacs, Not the whole family. So for me that would be like getting a whole ton of gluten free food & then dividing it by 6 and the remainder will be what I will get back in taxes for my food. NOT MUCH! 

See, It's hard to cope sometimes but I want to write this on my blog because I WANT TO BE REAL WITH YOU. The gluten free diet is not the quick fix/cure. It's a diet, it's a mind change, a life change, an emotional change, a challenge! 

& No matter what, you're not the only one, I'm here with you. 

Let's walk this path together & not look back, what do you say?. 

-Gluten free momma. 

A Special Shout Out On A Special Day!

I wanted to take a few moments on this special day {Our 7 year anniversary} to give a special shout out to my sweet husband. 
 Through this hard and anxiety filled time in my life, all I really need is someone who can fully understand what I am going through and completely support me and that is exactly what my husband does every single day. 

I am proud to say that he has survived my horrible mood swings from gluten and made sure that if we have a special meal at home, that there is always a gluten free option for me. 

I couldn't be more blessed then I am right now to have such a wonderful husband, one who fully understand this disease and one who shares the passion, & mandatory nature of my situation.
He has even asked for a special meal to be prepared for me in a safe manner when out at a restaurant. 

I have to admit, even though I've been on this gluten free diet for quite some time now, I still feel uncomfortable asking the chef, cook or waitress/waiter to make sure it doesn't get cross contaminated etc. My hubby isn't afraid, and it just touches my heart. 
He fully understands that this disease if not followed by a strict gluten free diet, could mean life of death for me and does everything in his power to make sure I get what I need. 

I no longer have to look ahead in my life with a  feeling of grief & sorrow, nor do I have to feel alone  because even if my husband doesn't really need to worry about gluten, he is right there going through it with me. 

On this special day, I want to acknowledge all that he has done for me and what he will do for me in the future. Thank you for being there for me & for being MY SUPPORT AND MY STRENGTH. 

Sincerely, 
Your wife of 7 years +

I LOVE YOU!

Well, It's official!

Hey guys, 
I was able to get my endoscopy done and I was so beyond nervous for it. 
I was told that I would not remember a thing, unfortunately I DO REMEMBER. 
It wasn't the most pleasant thing to have done but now I know for sure 100% if I have Celiacs or not.  
Earlier this month I got my test result back from the pathologist and it is confirmed that I indeed have Celiacs Disease. 
I was told to go unto my gluten free diet right away and to go meet with a dietitian. 
I actually look forward to meeting with the dietitian because I want to speak to her about how I would like to transition my whole family unto the gluten free diet, so there isn't such a high risk of cross contamination. People with Celiacs CANNOT HAVE any risk of cross contamination, so I urgently need to get this figured out. 

Overall, I am glad I did this and it's over with. On the down side, I will never ever be able to eat gluten again. Fortunately, they are making so many products gluten free now, that it will make it a tiny bit easier for me. 

Would I suggest or encourage someone who has went on the gluten free diet before getting an accurate diagnosis of celiacs, to get tested for sure before going on the diet and undergo everything I had to?

               -The answer is YES. 
I think it's very important to know for sure because this is your body and your life, and with that said, you are responsible for taking care of it, why not make sure for sure, so you know you will be healthy the rest of you life. 

So guys.... I do for sure 100% have Celiacs and I will be on a gluten free diet for the rest of my life. 
Good to know. 

-Gluten free Momma

Surprising Update!

Hey guys, 
So yesterday I was able to go to the U of M in Minneapolis Minnesota at the GI clinic. 
I spoke with my doctor there about my prior tests and my symptoms etc. 
She informed me that it is very likely that I have Celiacs but would like me to have another
blood test done to make sure. 

Before leaving the clinic I stopped at the lab and gave them my blood for the testing. 
Not expecting it to come back until Wednesday like they said, I got a call on my phone later today. 
It was the doctor's nurse mentioning that she scheduled an endoscopy for me NEXT TUESDAY. 

Now completely confused as to why she made the procedure so soon, I looked to see if my test result came back in my e-mail and sure enough it was there. 

When I opened up my jaw almost fell to the ground. 
It read something like: " Results are higher then the past test POSITIVE"

My numbers more then doubled since the first time and this caused my doctor to act fast and expedite my procedure. 

So, with this said, I will be having an endoscopy a week from today. 
I have to admit guys, I am a bit nervous and really, really wish my husband was able to attend with me as he is best at calming me. However, I know that God will be with me the whole way and I am eager to know for sure 100% that I do indeed have Celiacs, so I can live a happy and healthy life. 

If you've ever had an endoscopy and would like to share some helpful tips or encouragement, 
I would very much appreciate it, please just leave a comment below. 

Until I write again, 
Have a wonderful Gluten Free Day!! 

-Gluten Free Momma

The Challenge

Hey guys, 
It's been exactly 17 months that I have been on my gluten free diet and I have been feeling fabulous. I have lost so much weight and my energy is back. 

I decided to get my anti body blood test done again to see where my readings are now and the results were surprising. My readings were down so low that I was actually told I was negative for Celicas Disease. This didn't really surprise me because I knew if I wasn't consuming any gluten that my body wouldn't have to fight, which would cause a negative reading on the test. 

I then spoke to my doctor who initally diagnosed me and told him about the result. I then asked him if he for sure believes I have Celiacs disease and he informed me that the only way to truly know for sure is if we went ahead and got a stomach biopsy after the inital test was positive back 17 months ago. Unfortunately, I was told to go right on a gluten free diet without any further testing. 

It was then that I decided I didn't want to play with my body anymore, I need to know if gluten is triggering my body to be at war and attack my tissues and what not, so on March 5th I started what is called a GLUTEN CHALLENGE. 

A gluten challenge is for those who got a positive test on a Anti body test and went right into a gluten free diet before doing any further testing like a stomach biopsy to confirm it. The challenge requires the person to consume gluten for a duration of at least 8 weeks and then get a anti-body test done again. If the test comes back positive, from there the person goes to see a GI doctor (if they haven't already at this point) and talked to them about having a stomach biopsy (also known as an upper GI or endoscopy) done. Once you both agree that it is the best option, you set up an appointment for the procedure and have it done. In the procedure they will send a scope down your throat and into your small intestine. It's there that they will take photos of the inside of it, look around and see the condition of it and also take a small sample of the side of it for analysis. 
This will help to completely confirm that one has Celiacs disease for sure, 

I live in a household that loves their gluten, making it a HUGE CHALLENGE for me in the first place but I am doing this because I need to know if it will be safe to consume some gluten here and there when we are out and about and there is no gluten free restaurant or the funds are low and we just can't get any g.f. food . I also need to know if I need to stay away from it because it will harm my body like a poison. 

I read an article about a week or so ago where the author was talking about how she had went through an endoscopy and how she couldn't believe her eyes at how damaged her insides were. The lining of your small intestines should look like a shaggy rug or a coral, but when gluten comes in there and you have Celiacs disease, it shaves them right off to the point where you have a smooth surface on the sides. Villi which are the long tentacles that line the small intestines(Or the shags of the rug like my example above) help to capture nutrients from the food you eat and help you absorb it, if those tentacles get destroyed, this results in malabsoption. 

I believe I am on week 3 of this challenge and so far I have only seen these symptoms: 

• Severe Fatigue
• Mind Fog & Short term memory loos
• Blurred vision
• Bloating
• Weight Gain  (Already, I know!!) CRAZY
• Head aches
• Aching in the morning
• No energy 
• Constipation
• Occasional diarrhea  (Only had it once so far)  
• Tummy aches (here and there) 

Even though this will suck at the end if the test comes back positive and I have to have the procedure, at least I will know for my future and will have a better outlook on life- health wise. 

Undiagnosed Celiacs disease can cause so many other symptoms/diseases, I don't exactly want that. 

There is one good thing about this challenge though- I get to go out to eat again with my husband and eat some of my favorite gluten foods. I figure this will most likely be the last time I get to do this so I better do it one last time. 

I will keep you guys updated on my challenge but for now- KEEP ON KEEPING ON G.F.

Sincerely, 

Gluten Free Momma

My Story (A must read)

Growing up I remember eating a lot of fast food like Hardees, Mcdonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Chips, Pop & processed foods. Now our family didn't have a huge amount of money and so we had to head towards the cheaper less expensive food, which usually consists of over processed junk food, to supply us with a meal. Back then, Celiacs Disease wasn't really popular and rarely heard of, so consuming such products was only thought as slightly unhealthy. 

For as long as I can remember I have stuggled with gas, bloating & constipation and always thought it was because of my poor diet. When I married my husband back in 2007, my diet changed over to the more healthier side but I was still consuming huge amounts of pasta and processed food.  

It wasn't until about 3 months before September of 2012 that I started noticing severe abdominal pain. The pain wasn't located in one certain area, it seemed to be all over my stomach. The aches weren't like menstrual cramps but more along the lines of horrible gas pains x 10. Instead of rushing to the hospital, I decided to just wait it out and see if it was just some stomach flu that had got a hold of me, but as I monitored it, I noticed a pattern. Once every month I would notice that I would have these episodes and they would literally cause me to become unwilling to do anything and I spent most of my time on the couch, curled up moaning in pain. The pains would only last a day 1/2 but then I wouldn't have them again until next month. Usually right after the pain would go away I noticed I would get my regular period (which once again, is a totally different pain altogether, In fact, I didn't have huge cramps when having my period.) 

I logged all this information down in my brain, so I would be well prepared to talk about my symptoms with my doctor. By this point I had these symptoms: 

* Bloating
*Severe Cramps
*Constipation
*Foggy Brain (Forgetting easily) 
*Fatigue

And they always appeared once per month. By this point I was expressing my concern with my husband and starting to become very concerned with my health. I tried to stay positive but I had no idea what was going on with me. 

I went to a family gathering and ate some tortilla wraps and started experiencing  my horrible gas pains again. I was able to swallow it down and try my hardest not to show any pain the whole event but deep down, I was completely sick!. 

It wasn't until one morning when my husband was at work and I was home alone watching the 3 kids that all of a sudden while washing the dishes, I felt the horrible cramps come back again. I had eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on regular wheat bread and thought it was completely safe to do so. 

The cramps quickly turned into cold sweats, I felt as if I was going to pass out because the pain was so bad, it felt as if my intestines were knotting up inside. I searched for all the strength I had inside and grabbed my phone. I then called my Mother up and told her about my pain, she instructed me to take a Tylenol and see how I felt. I could barely get out of the couch and thought for sure that she and my father would have to come watch the kids while I got a ride in the ambulance to the hospital. After trembling and barely making it into the kitchen, I managed to consume 1 tylenol and within 10 minuets the pain had subsided. 

That is when I came to the conclution that I needed to make an appointment to see the doctor immediately. 

I got to the doctors office and all we really did was talk for what seemed a hour or two. I told him about all of my symptoms and he told me it sounded similar to what he calls IBS Irritable Bowl Syndrome and I could also be allergic to Gluten (Having Celiacs Disease). 
He told me that I would be tested for the Celiacs Disease the same day and would get the results in a few days. I didn't care what I had to do at this point, I just wanted answers and for these cramps to never ever come back again. 

The lab took some blood and by the next day, the results were in already. Usually it takes a little while to get the test results back but because I was so positive for Celiacs Disease, they needed to make sure I knew about these results right away and could start on a gluten free diet immediately. 

My doctor did a test that is called:    Tissue Transglutaminase Antibody IgA  &  Tissue Transglutaminase Aby IgG, Both tests came back POSITIVE. 

The standard range for the Antibody IGA is: 0-3.9 U/mL and my result was:
27.9 U/mL

The Standard range for the Antibody IgG is:0-5.9 U/mL and my result was: 60.4 U/mL  

The Doctor then informed me that I have Celiacs Disease and that I need to completely eliminate gluten from my diet, that also includes (Barley, Rye & some Oats). He mentioned to me that the only way these results would show up positive is if my intestines had severe damage. Every humans intestines have little pockets all over them called Villi and once they eat food, the pockets hold all the nutrition and help the nutrition to absorb into the body. When you have Celiacs Disease those pockets have been damaged and no longer work, almost as if they were cut off at the base. Little did I know I was filling my body with food but was malnourished at the same time. He then told me that I was experiencing the result of the damaged Villi around my regular menstrual cycle because of the estrogen- apparently, It can trigger the symptoms to be stronger.

Since the diagnosis, I have followed a very strict gluten free diet and have done quite a bit of research. I can safely and proudly say, I haven't had another one of those horrible cramping episodes since. I became pregnant 5 months ago and get your occasional gas/bloating issue, but that is just a normal symptom of pregnancy & it's far more tolerable. Ever since my new diet has been applied, I have noticed that not only have all of my symptoms disappeared but I am able to maintain a good and healthy weight. 

I wanted to share my story with you because I want there to be an awareness. If you feel these symptoms, don't ignore them, it's your body's way of saying, "Hey, there is something wrong." Everyone can develop Celiacs Disease or gluten sensitivity at any age and more and more people are becoming sick everyday. Do yourself a favor and look over the symptoms I had or even search it up on the internet yourself and see if you have any of the symptoms of Celiacs Disease. The sooner you know this and the sooner you change your diet, the quicker you will feel better.

Keep in mind that Celiacs Disease is a serious condition and if it is not treated it can lead to death. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND BE TESTED IF YOU HAVE 1 OR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS ABOVE.