It's been awhile

 



I know it has been quite awhile since I've written my last blog post.  It felt like my blog wasn't really taking off and getting many views, so I have been wondering if it was even worth the effort to keep it going.  So, I kind of fell away from posting.

I've decided that even if only a few people are reading it, it is worth continuing the blog.  This is about my story, educating people who are either newly diagnosed or just interested in knowing more about Celiac Disease and living gluten free.  So, here I go.  For those who are still with me - thank you!

The past couple of months have been really hectic and stressful as the company I work for has added 8 new stores at once with a 9th new store to be open later this year.  This is on top of the of the 69 stores we already had.  We lost one person in our department just as we were adding an extra person.  Next, we added two additional people and lost our part-timer.  I am the person who trains all of these new hires!  Three new hires within 6 weeks!  Whew!  We have a fourth new hire starting next week, as well.  Thankfully, this will be the last new hire for awhile (we hope!).  While I am extremely grateful to be working for a growing and thriving company, so much growth in such a short period of time is stressful - on everyone at the corporate office and distribution center levels.  Having Celiac Disease really makes things interesting.  Because I already have a compromised immune system, I really have to make sure that I get plenty of sleep, take my GF vitamin supplements and try really hard not to allow the stress to overwhelm me.  I've learned that stress is a trigger that leads to my body simply "shutting down".  By this, I mean that my entire system becomes overwhelmed, exhausted and I just can't go on.  This has happened twice to me in the past couple of months.  Thankfully, I was able to get through the work week before my body said, "ENOUGH!".  At that point, all I can do is do absolutely nothing but rest, drink lots of fluids and stay home.  I always hate when I have to put my life on hold because of this disease, but I have also learned that if I don't, it takes much longer for me to recuperate and it is so much harder on my body and on me emotionally.  Unless you've been there, it is difficult to describe how this feels.  At times like those, I barely have the energy to even get up to use the bathroom, eat, dress myself, etc.  Every nerve in my body feels heightened and overly sensitive to touch.  So much so, that anything, even sheets or clothing, no matter how light the fabric is, actually hurts me - every inch of my body!

See, that's the thing about Celiac Disease.  Even when you're doing everything right, living completely gluten free, taking care of your health by getting plenty of rest, fluids, taking the right vitamin supplements, etc, you STILL have an autoimmune disease.  Your body can still fight you and be uncooperative.  You may feel completely fine one minute and the next you are just completely and utterly depleted and can not possibly go any further.  It is really hard to accept and come to terms with the fact that my body still turns on me, even though I'm doing everything right to take care of myself.  It sucks!  It's hard!  What's the hardest for me is always feeling like I am letting everyone down because I have to cancel plans, often at the last moment because it's not as if I can actually plan and arrange when my body is going to shut down.  I hate that, at those times, my disease is running my life.  I mean, I already have to be hyper-vigilant every moment of every day.  It's not as if I can forget that I have this disease.  It is constantly uppermost in my mind.  But, I HAVE to keep it uppermost in my mind because if I let my guard down for one second it could have extremely severe consequences to my health.  It's exhausting!!!!!

What I am exceedingly grateful for is that I have a husband, mom, extended family and church family who have all been so supportive, encouraging and loving as I have been going through all of this journey.  My co-workers are the best!  They have been there and seen me through some pretty embarrassing and uncomfortable symptoms and worsening health issues before my diagnosis.  Not once has any of them ever said that it's all in my head or belittled what I go through.  They've all been there, watching my back, asking questions, interested in finding out about this disease I have and what my needs are.  I know that not everyone has the kind of support system that I do.  Believe me, I do NOT take a single one of them for granted!  I am so incredibly grateful for the blessings that they are in my life.  Not just in supporting me in my health issues, but just for the wonderful people they are.

LAUGH FOR THE DAY: