R & R ( Ranting And Raving)

 :: Rant #1  ::

Pet lovers You know who you are!

It irritates me when Pet owners care more about what there animal eats...then what they eat....I mean about 90% of people with celiac have NO IDEA that the have celiac disease in the first place. So when I'm switching television stations and i come across a dog food or cat food commercial I want to scream!!!!!! Especially when the voice over lady says "do you know what's In Your dogs food ....yada yada yada GLUTEN...yada yada yada.....excuses me did she really just say that?!?!?!

Are they serious ????? Dog food has gluten ? 

Well lets not feed our pets gluten but let's go to a fast food restaurant  and eat as much gluten as we can! 

I can't speak for everyone with Celiac problems ....but really people it can get annoying when you don't care for your own bodies! 

::  Rant 2  ::

Our Food is not TERRIBLE. sometimes it can be gross but then again so can gluten filled foods.so be nice don't rub it in our gluten free faces that we can't have CUBAN BREAD????? don't Say...."your food tastes like cardboard. Have some empathy!
There are times where I want to go on strike because I cant eat Gluten and there are times where I just want to cry BUT over the years (for the most part)I have Embraced my Gluten Free Life.

::  Rant 3  ::

Short an sweet......
I HATE READING LABELS!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALL THE TIME !!!!! ( LOL I really do) how do I know what to look I've said this in all my blogs Gluten is in everything! Well it is. 
thank you Sweet Jesus for my Iphone and google.

nuff said.

::  Rant 4  ::
even shorter...
Eating Gluten free is not a fad for people with CELIAC !
It's not going anywhere!

::  Rant 5  ::
Last but not least
When you go to the store and purchase something Labeled Gluten free and when you get home you notice that it says the product was processed in a WHEAT FACILITY! ARE YOU SERIOUS?????
HOW ANNOYING IS THAT?!
CROSS CONTAMINATION!!!!!!!
Why the heck does it even say GLUTEN FREE ON THE BOX ?


the purpose of my R&R is to OPEN YOUR EYES!
to my fellow Celiacs YOU are NOT Alone.
to my friends and strangers that are reading because they rock (It's just to give you a better understanding to my MADNESS)
thank you for letting Me vent.

xoxo
Eli

*-Tell me your thoughts what makes you mad about celiac  what have you embraced? -* what would you like to read about?

   Eli.felix717@gmail.com

.

Cheaters NEVER Prosper!

Why do people cheat ?

 Cheating is serious !!!

No I'm not talking about relationships.

 I'm talking about GLUTEN. If you have sensitivity to gluten or celiac disease in general cheating is the worst thing you can do.

 trust me your body will know! There's no way to sneak around and cheat on being gluten free.

Celiac disease is serious. I've had people ask me If I ever cheat and automatically say NO! Are you crazy? I don't wanna feel that pain anymore ...sure I joke about eating papa johns pizza with extra cheese and extra sauce sometimes but that doesn't mean I'll do it! 

Gluten has the worse effect on my body...it feels like a group of people jumped on my stomach over and over again.

Come on people!!!!

I met a mom of a 13 year old who also had celiac disease. She said if her daughter was good she'd let her have regular waffles or pizza...she'd just enough gluten so she wouldn't get "sick". Whhhhhhaaaattttt?(in the minion voice ) I wanted to scream at this woman!!!!!

What the heck are you thinking you are rewarding her with GLUTEN!?!?!?!? Did a doctor tell her "hey it's okay for her to have gluten sometimes...or she can just take the pain...???

I was brand new to the GF lifestyle when I met this woman and her daughter so I wasn't sure what to say or do in that situation!

But now I can say it without hesitation Say NO to GLUTEN if you have celiac disease ! Say NO to the Pain! Yes gluten is amazing!!!!!! If you don't have Celiac problems <------- but if you do and you eat it....you are basically Killing your insides!!!  You are weakening yourself!  Whether its ....

• Abdominal cramping*****
• intestinal gas*****
• Distention and bloating of the stomach*****
• Chronic diarrhea or constipation (or both)*****
•  Steatorrhea – fatty stools
• Anemia – unexplained, due to folic acid, B12 or iron deficiency (or all) Unexplained weight loss with large appetite or weight gain ****

(found on  www.celiac.org)

More you want more okay here you go...

• Dental enamel defects
• Osteopenia, osteoporosis
• Bone or joint pain****
• Fatigue, weakness and lack of energy*****
• Infertility – male/female
• Depression*****
• Mouth ulcers
• Delayed puberty
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet*****
• Migraine headaches*****

(found on Www.celiac.org)

And some long term conditions <---

• Iron deficiency anemia****
• Early onset osteoporosis or osteopenia
• Vitamin K deficiency associated with risk for hemorrhaging.  
•  Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
• Central and peripheral nervous system disorders - usually due to unsuspected nutrient deficiencies Pancreatic insufficiency Intestinal lymphomas
•  other GI cancers (malignancies)
• Gall bladder malfunction **** (that happened to me because I went 20 years Eating Gluten)
•  Neurological manifestations

( found on www.celiac.org)

Now do you understand why I freak out when people cheat?????

why would you do that to your BODY????
 YES I AM Lecturing you :) because if I don't who will?? 
Take care of your body its the only one you'll ever have!

I wish Everyone was More educated about Celiac Disease....Doctors , Nurses , Hospital staff ,Mothers , Fathers, Sisters ,Brothers, Aunts ,Uncles, Friends and so on.

Please Help Me Raise Awareness and Educate.

Don't Cheat Stay Gfree If you have Celiac problems <3

xoxo thanks for letting me vent

-Eli

Please feel free to email me eli.felix717@gmail.com

Getting Down to Gluten Free Buisness

First off  Happy Celiac Awareness Month

This month is not only CELIAC AWARENESS Month it is also MY 4 year Anniversary in my Gluten free Adventure.

Do you  know the Facts ????

(I sure didn't!)

Gluten is everywhere! 

Gluten is in everything!!!!!   

(No dramatization) not only is it in wheat,oat,barley,rye and flour.

(Meaning cookies cakes, beer oatmeal....pizza...the list goes on and on)

By Now your thinking oh please Eli (rolling your eyes and all)

 so let me ask you...

Is there gluten in the following 

• shampoo
• conditioner 
• tooth paste
• Hairspray 
• mousse 
• gel
• Make up 
• Perfume 
• Body wash 
• Soap
• Laundry detergent 
• Band aids 
• Shaving cream
• Chap stick
• Hand sanitizer
• Lotion  
• vitamins 
• Candy
• Gum
• Play dough 
• envelopes
• chocolate
• ice cream
• coffee creamer
• medicine
• salad dressing
• cheese
• sauce

 The answer is YES <--- there is gluten in all of those products

(for the most part you can find all of that in a gluten free version)

the reason why I listed more non-food products was so I can Point out that Gluten is everywhere.

sometimes It can really be a nightmare!

People always ask me if I have an outward reaction to any of the products from above.

Yes if you have celiac disease you can have an outward reaction.(sometimes people have no reaction)

For example : when I used a non gluten free shampoo, I felt like my head was rolled in a red ant pile!
another time when I used a NON GF LIPSTICK!!!!! Oye it Was Terrible my mouth puffed up like Eddie Murphy in the Nutty professor!!!
and my last example....BAND AIDS!!!!! what the french toast!!!!! who saw that one coming???? I had a cut and suddenly it turned into another WORLD on my leg because of my band aid!
(Well that changes EVERYTHING!)

read your labels people!!! look things up I  told you in my last post GOOGLE is My best friend when it comes to my Health. if you have Celiac disease it should be your best friend too!

I feel very blessed to have friends who make me GF Cupcakes and order GF Pizzas for parties and events. it really helps to have friends and family support. especially when you feel like you are all alone and you can't EAT ANYTHING! (that can get depressing!)(I BELIEVE IN FOOD) They also take the time to learn more about the Disease and help me spread awareness. They call me or text me when they see new things at the supermarket! Those are the little things in life that Make me Happy.

I have An amazing hair stylist (also like a sister to me ) who thankfully researched all the products before using them on my head. She also shared those facts with her co-workers so they can know difference (now that's spreading Celiac awareness!) It still Amazes me that that Gluten is In hair products.

I hope you feel alittle more educated today on celiac disease...
This Gluten free thing Can BE HARD But you are NOT ALONE!

thank you for reading and sharing <3

all my love
Eli

if you have any request or even questions please email me :)
Eli.felix717@gmail.com


HAPPY CELIAC AWARENESS MONTH!!!! GO OUT THERE AND EDUCATE OTHERS!!

Now What?

Now what?? I’m on a Diet for LIFE! (I say that all the time. It drives my friends crazy.)

Now that you know my celiac story...here's how the beginning of the rest of my gluten-less life happened and is still happening....

Well it was hard and sometimes It still very hard when I can't have a normal priced pizza or Cuban pastries. I could list all the food I miss the most but then I will just make you hungry and make myself upset.

The grieving stages (anger, depressed, acceptance)

Angry & depressed

Looking back I wish I could have told y’all that I kicked butt at this GLUTEN FREE LIFE from day one.

The first couple of months living Gluten free I was completely lost. I felt so alone. I thought to myself… “Nobody knows what it feels like to have celiac disease” (all that cry me a river...play a violin type of attitude...Not my finest hour.)  I was so angry that I couldn't eat anything I would normally eat. So I stuck to salad mixed with tuna and GF Italian dressing. The smell of bread disgusted me to the point I couldn’t walk down the bread aisle in the supermarket. Don’t even get me started on how many times I ruined RICE PASTA!!!!! (I still do…I make corn pasta instead.) I would cry in the middle of a restaurant if a they messed up my order. I was a serious mess!!!! (I apologize now to all my friends and family who had to deal with me during my crisis.) It was a dark time for me.(I know it sounds dramatic but seriously it was.) (At this point you are either thinking I’m a complete nut or you feel my pain.)  well if you knew me before Celiac disease you would know.... I LOVE FOOD and trying new foods. My freedom of food was taken from me I was so angry and depressed. Normally when people get depressed they eat? What the heck was I suppose to do??  Be depressed and starve!? yup and for the first couple of months thats exactly what I did.

 

Acceptance 

I slowly started accepting celiac disease. I checked out websites such as.             

·         www.celiac.org.        

·         www.celiaccentral.org

·         www.triumphdining.com

I goggled everything! (still do)

I got a whole bunch of apps for my iPhone.

And books :) I did my best learning as much as I could. I mean it's my life I got to live it right?

  I also joined a support group

 (They broke up quick I have no idea why) it was nice having people understand what was going on. It was nice to feel like I wasn't alone. That is why I have created this blog. Just so you can feel a sense of support and understanding. I hope this blog helps.

I promise my next blog will be longer

Xoxo Eli

*-Tell me your thoughts-* what would you like to read about?

   Eli.felix717@gmail.com

My celiac story...

 

I was Diagnosed with Celiac disease in May 2009

 

and this is MY Celiac Story:

The problem started way before I ever went to the doctor and my symptoms only worsened as the years passed. I want to say I started getting sick when I was 15 years old, but I over looked it because I figured it was just me being cautious about my weight. In October 2008 (20 years old) I went to the doctor because I was constantly having shooting pains across my stomach and chest. I told her I was throwing up and in constant pain. My doctor had no clue what was going on and said “hey, maybe its acid reflex.” So she gave me medication for acid reflex and sent me on my way. The medicine didn’t work… (Well did you expect it to work?) I continued having issues such as Vomiting, constipation, bloating, ect. Honestly it's not something I would brag about . I hated constantly running to the bathroom after I ate gluten...at one point I thought "am I pregnant what the heck is wrong with me?”

In April 2009 I found a new doctor (a Gastroenterologist) who saved my gluten-filled life! I remember it like It was yesterday...we sat down in a small room and I listed all of my symptoms 

+ Abdominal cramping

+ Intestinal gas

+ bloating in my stomach

+ Diarrhea

+ Constipation

+ Large weight gain (even though I was throwing up) 

+ migraines and headaches

+ weakness 

+ Joint pain 

+burping (alllllll the time)

+ vomiting

And more I remember the paper was filled from top to bottom.

He told me it sounds like you have an allergy. We're going to need to run some test. The next week I went back for my upper endoscopy (basically they stick a small camera down your throat and check out what's going on in your body)

I woke up from my procedure screaming "I had a dream!!!" Lol I'll never forget the look on their faces. The nurse came over and handed me a grape juice box. Shortly after my doctor came to my side with the news....he said "I noticed some irritation in your stomach you may have celiac disease.... (Doctor say what????) He started explaining the irritation in my body and said he would be sending me to quest diagnostics for some blood work. then we can confirm that it is or isn't celiac disease.

After going to quest 5x's no Exaggeration and my blood work was complete ( test IGA and IGG ) the doctor called me and confirmed what I already knew deep down in my heart...."Elizabeth you have celiac disease all you need to do is cut gluten out of your diet and you will be better" (2 weeks before my 21st birthday) NOW WHAT??????? I guess I just have to be Gluten Free…Easier said the done. Stay tune for my next blog 

xox Eli

 Ps. I would love to read about your celiac stories or gluten free adventures feel free to email me at eli.felix717@gmail.com