January 13, 2009 will be memorable for many people, including my roommate and several friends from church, because it was the day they went to the Celine Dion concert. For me however, it will be the day I found out about whether or not I have celiac disease.
What is celiac disease you ask? Well according to the Celiac Disease Foundation, celiac disease is “is a lifelong, digestive disorder affecting children and adults. When people with CD eat foods that contain gluten, it creates an immune-mediated toxic reaction that causes damage to the small intestine and does not allow food to be properly absorbed”. Their website also states that Celiac Disease is not a food allergy - it is an autoimmune disease. That was good to know especially since I thought it was just a food allergy to wheat. I was going to list all of the symptoms of celiac disease, but they’re kind of gross. If you want to know what they are you can go here: http://www.celiac.org/cd-symptoms.php
Now why would I be worried about whether or not I have this autoimmune disease (not food allergy!)? Well for the last couple years I’ve been having this crazy pain in my right upper rib cage. The best diagnosis I have gotten so far is from my BFF (yeah I used again. Don’t hate, hater!) Heather K. who has diagnosed me with an angry weasel stuck in my rib cage. I have been to three primary care physicians, had two x-rays of my rib cage, been to two chiropractors, had one ultrasound, and one nuclear medicine test and I still hurt every day. My current primary care physician referred me to a gastroenterologist who then tested me for the only thing I haven’t been tested for yet which was celiac disease.
Yesterday I had a voicemail from the gastroenterologist’s nurse with no specifics on whether or not I had celiac disease. This freaked me out a little…ok maybe more than a little…and I called her back but was never able to reach her. So this morning after convincing myself that I could live without gluten for the rest of my life (yeah right, who am I kidding? No more pasta?! Eek!) I called the doctor’s office back and finally got ahold of someone who informed me that I was celiac disease free!
Luckily, I am not the 1 out of 133 people who have celiac disease. So I wonder if I really do have a weasel stuck in my rib cage?
Go here for some yummy gluten free recipes: http://www.glutenfreeda.com/top5.asp!!!
This post was submitted by Heather Cobb.
Hello :) I am Anna and new to the site. Right now I live in Nashville (new to the area), and I'm a stay at home mom to my baby who is 7 months old. I recently got married (New Years Eve), and just trying to get involved and meet new people!
Even though we're halfway through February (wow time flies!) I'll post what my New Years Resolutions were... though I've already failed miserably at a couple.
Number One-Blog/Journal at least once a week. I want to write here at least once a week. I think I'll start something private too because writing has always been therapeutic for me, but I have yet to begin.
UPDATE: I'm doing it (and actually writing two now)! Success :). I am new to the blogging world and just loving it. For anyone who is curious, my blogs can be found at
Number Three-Exercise at least 3 times a week. I got a Wii Fit for Christmas (YAY!) and I'm hoping to use it for at least 1/2 hour three times a week. I really need to work off this baby fat, and sitting around, doing nothing isn't helping.
UPDATE: Of course, I failed! I actually did really well, but couldn't stand being weighed every day. Then I got sick, and quit for a week, and never started again. With the nice weather last weekend, I walked for a couple of days with the baby, but that trail hasn't seen me since!
Number Four-PORTION SIZES! Phil and I eat pretty well, but we eat WAY WAY WAY to much! So, I've started cooking for two, or if I do cook more (for leftovers), I make sure we have leftovers. We kind of started this one before the New Year too, but not seriously. I mean we had a wedding and all with a buffet I wanted to enjoy! I've been doing a little reading on the subject and definitely need to do more. I think I'm going to invest in a couple healthy eating cookbooks.
UPDATE: We've been doing really well! I just dish out our food so that you get what you get! I haven't done any reading yet... I think I'll add it to the list for my next library trip.
I've also added one more resolution... I guess you could call it that. We're going to be DEBT FREE! We have started Dave Ramsey's program, took his class (FPU) in the fall, and are working on our debt snowball! I am blogging about the experience at 

3 Responses
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I’m glad you don’t have it… I thought maybe it was a pinched nerve?
I think you are thinking like sukrat, but I think you should cover the other side of the topic in the post too…
Heather,
So glad you got a good report regarding Celiac. Although we live on a restricted diet (no dairy, eggs, or peanuts), I really think those with Celiacs have much rougher diet challenges. (Oh, just an FYI… there is gluten free pasta. {grin})
I hope you do get that angry weasel out of your ribcage soon! I had no idea that Heather did diagnoses.
I’ll have to give her a call…
I also didn’t know you blogged and now I’m going to stalk you. jk.
Becky