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Hello. My name is Linda and I was diagnosed with coeliac disease
in September 2005. This was a very busy year for me – I married
my wonderful husband in November, we were planning and building
our new home and I changed jobs.
I started having symptoms from January 2005 including a bloated
stomach, regular trips to the toilet straight after eating,
feeling tired and I had also lost some weight. At the beginning
I was pleased to be losing some weight without trying too much
so I could look good in my wedding dress at the end of the year!
But as I lost more weight and had more frequent symptoms I knew
something was not right.
I went to see a doctor and explained all my symptoms. He sent me
for a blood test and an ultrasound of my stomach and the results
came back that everything was fine. I persisted with my doctor
and stressed that these symptoms didn’t feel normal. The doctor
said it must be something I am eating like onions and chillies –
but I told him I don’t eat those foods much at all. Despite not
finding out what was wrong with me, the doctor sent me away and
said to see how I go and to come back if my symptoms continued.
As I had thought, the symptoms didn’t go away so I decided to
see a different doctor. This doctor initially sent me for a
blood test, including testing for the coeliac serology test. The
blood test results came back positive which suggested that
coeliac disease was present. To actually confirm that I had
coeliac disease (as the blood test results can occasionally be
wrong) I had to have a small bowel biopsy. The biopsy results
came back positive and I was diagnosed with coeliac disease.
I finally knew what was wrong with me after feeling unwell for
many months. At that time, I didn’t know what coeliac disease
was and my doctor initially described it to me as a lifelong
change in my diet where my staple foods would become rice and
corn, and that I could no longer eat gluten. I was shocked! I
was trying to understand how I could only mainly eat these
foods as at that time I wasn’t too fond of rice but I loved
corn.
Once I started researching what foods don’t have gluten in them
I was very relieved to learn of the wide range of products
available! I went searching for a book listing gluten free
products and I couldn’t find one. This is what gave me the
inspiration to write this book and to also be able to help
others who are following a gluten free diet.
Once I started eating gluten free foods, the symptoms
disappeared and I slowly started feeling healthy again – which
was a great feeling! I started to put the weight back on that I
had lost and was thankfully still able to fit into my wedding
dress!
I have been very blessed with all the help I have received from
my family and friends in supporting my gluten free diet and I
thank them sincerely for all their help.
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