The Struggle is Real

I was anemic, had severe abdominal pain, and my bowel movements were a combination of diarrhea and constipation. When I finally went to the doctor, I was diagnosed with IBS and given medication. The medication intensified my abdominal pain so I re-visited my doctor. His new diagnosis was ulcers so new medication. After a week and with no improvement, I called my doctor and he referred me to a gastrointestinal specialist.
My first appointment was simply to explain what was going on. After examining my abdomen, the doctor said it could possibly be my gallbladder or colon but we would start with an EGD to get a better view. My second appointment was my EGD and there were no visible abnormalities but they would know more when the results from my biopsy came back.
The phone call…”you have celiac disease.” The doctor didn’t elaborate on my condition, other than start eating gluten free and schedule an appointment. I was relieved and happy but it didn’t last long. In fact within hours, I was crying and scared. It was clear my life was about to change and I had no idea what kind of damage had already been done. I didn’t even clearly understand what it meant to be gluten free.
Now almost a year later, I’m still learning and doing my best to remain gluten free.