Ellen WIlcox

Topics discussed

Finding gluten-free foods
Celiac e-Mail lists

Video Text

When you first get your diagnosis, and you get this list of things you can’t eat, you really do panic. And the literature says, “These things are everywhere and it’s very difficult.” When you get past that panic and you start learning about what products are out there and find out really how many mainstream products are out there that happen to be gluten-free, it becomes much easier and I found it very useful to have – to buy books that are published that list gluten-free products that are updated every year and I have a database that I purchased online that I keep with me on my Palm Pilot, and have it with me in the grocery store.

When my doctor told me that I did have Celiac Disease and I needed to go on a gluten-free diet, my first question I asked him was: Did I need to start it this moment? And because I had lived with it so long and because I don’t have strong reactions to gluten at the time I ingest it, my doctor felt I could take a couple weeks to get myself ready. So I prepared what I called my “Farewell to gluten Tour” and I made a list of all my favorite foods that I wouldn’t be able to eat anymore. Oreos, popovers, my favorite bread. But on the times I think I’d like that, I do remind myself about all the other wonderful foods that I love that I can eat and how my health is so important to me and that moment of want passes. And I’ve been able to cope really successfully that way.

It is, I think essential to be able to rely on a community of people who have the same disorder. I joined several listservs through the computer and computer groups. And it’s, it’s just the most wonderful thing. People are always posting messages, either with questions or with answers. And I have found it so helpful as far as recommendations for recipes or restaurants or stores and it has made my progress through this disease so much easier.

Once you get the hang of the diet, once you understand how to read – really read an ingredient label, it’s not daunting. It’s second nature. And it’s just not a problem anymore.

I’m Ellen Wilcox and I’m living my life with Celiac Disease.