u/Hefty_Economics_9293

For some context, I have been a member of this subreddit for several years now, and I have had celiac disease since age 5. Diagnosed in the middle of kindergarten after being so ill as a child that my growth was stunted. I am very sensitive and have reactions to the slightest cross contamination. No one in my family has celiac, and no one had ever heard of celiac before my diagnosis.

You people on this sub sometimes act like you have terminal cancer. I am not saying don't be upset after a new diagnoses, I am not saying do not miss and mourn your pre diagnosis life, I am not saying do not fight for more awareness of this disease, I am not saying do not rant about the social implications of this disease, ect. I am not trying to diminish your experiences, as they are also my experiences. I am saying: You do not have to be defined by this disease.

You CAN go to the work party and advocate for your needs, so that next time its a birthday party, someone can accommodate you. And they might forget, and you might miss out, but life isn't defined by break room cake! You CAN express to your in-laws your needs at thanksgiving. Maybe they won't listen, and I will never suggest someone consumes something that might make them ill, but maybe they will listen! If not, you CAN still enjoy gatherings with your own food! Is it more work? Yes. Is that unfortunate? Yes! But, you do not have to let it define your experience!

Your family and good friends should hopefully love you enough to accommodate you. Your employer and school must (in the USA at least).

Somehow I was able to get through kindergarten, and grade school, and high school, and college, and my job by advocating for my needs, making things work, and finding what I enjoy eating. You can too. And this was all before gluten free products were available easily in stores. There was no FeelGood Foods brand or anything like that! My life has not been miserable. I will admit that it gets much easier over time.

You WILL find things you like to eat. You will find ways to make your favorite recipes gluten free. Your life is not over, in fact, for many of you, you will feel MUCH better on a gluten free diet. I am very thankful to be able to live in a place and a time that understands this condition well enough for me not to starve to death as a child. So much of this sucks, but there is so much to be grateful for.

Bro