Looking Back One Last Time

Here we are on the last day of 2018 - the last few hours before the new year rings in.  I've been considering a lot this past week just what my last blog post of the year would be about.  I don't know about you, but this year has brought some major changes in my life, at work, at home.  Many things stretching me to the point where I thought I may break, yet, I didn't.  I overcame many obstacles and, not on my own.  

The start of this year at work really stretched me close to my breaking point.  In truth, I came really close to throwing in the towel.  But I didn't.  Not because I'm stubborn, though, trust me, I am that (I ain't a ginger for nothing!).  No, if it had just been my own stubbornness, I would have walked away from a job and a company that I've worked at for the past 2 plus decades.  Thankfully, my boss, the HR VP and my co-workers talked me off the ledge.  They showed me support, encouragement and they believed in me and my ability to get through the tough times.  If not for all of them, I would have walked away from a company I love working for.  Their belief in me - even through the meltdowns, and, there WERE meltdowns - brought me through the worst of the stressful times that everyone in the company experienced through the last year of major changes.  I didn't think I could handle the pressure the job was putting on me, that I was putting on myself.  My mental and physical health suffered for it and I know that I'm not the only one who did.  Even when I felt like I was failing, the people I work with believed in me, put up with me and showed me unwavering support.  You never know what kind of a team you truly are a part of until you go through a seemingly impossible situation together.  We weathered through together and not a one of us gave up!  Not on each other, not on the job, not on the company.  And it is beginning to pay off and things are calming down.  I'm beyond grateful to still be with this company that has been so good to me for the last 22 1/2 years!  And it is all because I work with an amazing group of women who wouldn't let me give up, sometimes smacking me over the head with hard truths that I needed to hear.

 What does all of that have to do with Celiac you may ask?  Well, if you are like me, stress can trigger some nasty Celiac symptoms - without the added problem of being glutened!  Even in all of my worst moments of stress and self-doubt, NOT ONCE did I have a full-blown panic attack!!  This is HUGE for me!  And it was NOT because of me!  It was because of an awesome support system I have in the people I work with.  They even love being guinea pigs when I try new gluten free recipes!  LOL  We all need support and understanding in every aspect of our lives.  Because our jobs take up a large portion of our day to day lives, having a great team of co-workers can make such a huge difference!  And, if you can manage the work stress, that will help with mental and physical exhaustion that can complicate your Celiac symptoms.

I also turned 50 in April.  Wow.  I can't believe I am now actually old enough for my very own AARP membership - I have the card, I can prove it!  I thought that turning 50 would depress me, but it is funny - I actually feel more invigorated and alive than I have in a very long time, maybe ever!  January 15th will mark 5 years since my diagnosis and going gluten free.  This past week notwithstanding (I had a migraine that started Christmas Eve and then morphed into a sinus infection later in the week - still getting over it at this time), I actually feel the healthiest I have ever been in my life - overall.  I now not only know what it means to actually feel good, but I have more good days than not good days.

I have grown in so many ways this year and have experienced things I never thought possible.  Mid year the local Celiac Support Group I attend lost it's leader and sponsor and my friend, Susie and I stepped in to keep the group going.  It hasn't been easy and we've had our ups and downs, but we've endured and have kept it going!  We've met and spoken with so many people who have Celiac or have family or friends living with it.  People who were amazed that they weren't alone!  People who wanted to learn more and to be a part of a group of people who are in this journey together.  I think that is what I am most proud of in 2018.  Neither Susie nor I are natural born leaders.  But we both saw the need and felt the urgency to keep this group together and to be able to expand and broaden it's reach to be able to help more people.  We've had some members move away and welcomed new faces as well as those who've been there right along with us.  It has been the most rewarding experience I can remember in a very long time.  

May God bless and keep you as we say farewell to 2018 and greet 2019.  Happy New Year!

The Importance of Family

Family is important no matter what is going on in your life.  But when you have a chronic illness, you really depend on your family being there for you, understanding what is going on or, at least trying to.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the support of their family after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease.  I think a big part of the reason for this is that Celiac Disease is a very misunderstood disease.  There is nothing that modern medicine can do to treat Celiac Disease and there is no cure.  With the only treatment option being to live a completely gluten free existence, many people can't wrap their minds around the realities of it. 

I've heard people say that they think it is a made up disease or a fad because they've read about famous celebrities who went "gluten free" to lose weight.  Because not much is commonly known about this disease, it is easy for people to dismiss it.  They don't understand that the reality is that it is a disease that can wreak havoc with a person's health in many areas and can lead to other illnesses that can cause death.  In my case and others who also have the extreme symptom of anaphylaxis (an allergic-type reaction where the person's face swells up and their airway is cut off because of swelling in the throat) that can kill swiftly.

I feel blessed to have a very supportive and understanding family.  Even those who don't understand the complexities of my disease have shown me love and compassion and so much support.  I don't take that for granted at all.

For the families of someone living with Celiac Disease, ask questions.  Don't just assume that what your relative is living with is minor or made up or not important.  Celiac Disease has changed everything about their life!  Not only have they had to completely change how they relate to food and what they eat, but they've had to give up or become extremely limited at being able to participate in even the simplest social events, such as dining out with friends, attending a wedding reception, birthday parties, work functions, etc.  Having Celiac Disease can be very isolating.  People often assume that you can "just take the bun off" the burger or that "a little bit won't hurt you".  But that isn't the case.  A little bit - as small as a single crumb can do a lot of damage to someone with Celiac Disease.  It isn't just a bad stomach ache or flatulence or having diarrhea, there is so much more to it.  And whether you understand or not, know that the person you care about is going through something very serious and they need your unwavering support and unconditional love and acceptance.

If you are living with Celiac, remember that your relatives and friends are not necessarily facing the same health issues that you are.  They can only understand based on their own life experiences.  Gently educate them when they will let you.  Be patient with them not understanding.  Remember that after your own diagnosis, you didn't learn everything over night.  Neither will they.

**As for the Holiday Giveaway that I first posted about two weeks ago - sadly, there were no entries received, so there is no winner this time.  My next giveaway will be after the first of the New Year.**

10 Celiac Perks

Yes, you read that right - this post is about what I like to call Celiac Perks.  By now, if you've lived with Celiac Disease for any amount of time, or even if you are newly diagnosed, you are well aware of the myriad of Celiac problems.  However, did you know that there are some perks to having Celiac Disease?  I'll bet you didn't!  Well, I am going to share some of the perks I've discovered over the past nearly 5 years of living with Celiac Disease.  After you read this post, I'm interested in hearing from you what are some of the perks you've discovered on this gluten free journey.

#10. Acquiring a new, twisted sense of humor.  The health issues that come with Celiac Disease are serious enough, but the longer you live with this disease the easier it is to have a sense of humor about it.  I mean no one understands the humor of flatulence quite like a Celiac - other than someone who is lactose intolerant, of course.  But then again, many Celiacs are lactose intolerant so...

#9. Having a built-in excuse not to participate in certain social events that you'd rather not attend.  Not being able to eat the food can sometimes be a good thing.

#8. Not putting on the extra pounds co-workers do from all of the goodies around the office during the holidays because 99.9% of them are not gluten free.

Cookies, pies and cakes, oh my!

#7. Being on a first name basis with the wait staff, chef, manager, owner of your favorite restaurant because you are there so often since it's the only restaurant at which you feel safe eating.  When you find that place that educates their staff, understands what cross-contact is and how to avoid it and puts up with you asking about 100 times each time you dine there, if they made sure to note that your meal is gluten free for health reasons (not to mention the other 100 questions that go into placing your order) there is no place else you'd rather be.

#6. Being selfish and not sharing your food with anyone.  Have you SEEN how expensive gluten free food is?!  Yikes! 

#5. The freedom of bringing your own gluten free meal to social gatherings when one is not provided for you.  Yes, I have done this on numerous occasions and I am able to enjoy myself, knowing that every bite is perfectly safe because I made it myself.

#4. The satisfaction of proving to people who think that all gluten free food tastes like shoe leather that there is some really delicious food out there that is gluten free.  Gluten free brownie, anyone?? 

#3. Becoming a part of an amazing, supportive and strong Celiac and gluten free community.

#2. Becoming my own best advocate.

#1. Stepping out of my comfort zone to help educate, encourage, support and advocate for others in this Celiac/gluten free journey.

And don't forget about my holiday giveaway going on right now!  I am taking entries until noon Central Time on December 15, 2018.  To find out how to enter click here.

 

Holiday Season - The Gift of Giving

Yesterday marked the countdown to Christmas as we said good-bye to November and welcomed December in with a snowstorm!  Well, there was a snowstorm in my area, anyway.

In the spirit of giving that abounds especially during the month of December, I will be doing a special giveaway.  Read through to the end of this post to find out how to enter.

Before I get to the entry rules I want to share with you a post that a friend of mine shared on Facebook that I love and I am doing throughout this month.  It comes from the Passionate Penny Pincher and I think it would be awesome if many of my readers would do this along with me.  On the Passionate Penny Pincher's Facebook page, this Reverse Advent Calendar can be found.  I plan to make all of mine gluten free with as much being free from the top 8 food allergens as possible.  People who are gluten free for health reasons or have food allergies can also fall on financial hard times, not just people who can eat anything.  That's why whenever I donate food for food banks now, I always make my donations gluten free and allergen free as much as possible.  For instance, to avoid peanut allergies, you can substitute something non-nut related.

Many people become especially generous at this time of the year, but it is important to remember to be charitable and generous all year through.  This doesn't mean just in giving gifts or donations, but also other things that matter - your time, your talent, your compassion, your kindness.  These things can't be bought with money and end up meaning the world to the person receiving them.

Now, in the spirit of this holiday season, here is my last giveaway of 2018 (the first through this blog - all of the rest have been through my Facebook and Instagram pages).  This giveaway will include several fun items - though, since it is the holidays, I am not telling what they are because that would ruin the surprise!  

To enter:

1. Follow www.siouxlandceliac.blogspot.com

2. Like @siouxlandceliac on Instagram and/or Facebook (not everyone does both, so you only need to follow on one in order to be entered into the contest)

3. Tag 3 friends on the giveaway post on Instagram and/or Facebook

Only those living in the continental US are eligible to enter.  All entries must be received no later than noon Central Time on Saturday, December 15th.  The winner will be announced in my blog post on Sunday, December 16th.