So, this year, I didn’t post much about Thanksgiving. I didn’t talk about how to navigate the difficult social and emotional toll a holiday dominated by food can have on those with gluten issues or food allergies. I didn’t need to. Most of us were practicing social distancing and staying away from large gatherings.
Gluten Free Bubble
Many of us stayed within our gluten free bubbles. Happily managing our issues without much interference from the judgy or overly helpful “gluten isn’t an issue” people in our lives.
It was lovely.
I’ve been trying to new recipes. Experimenting with flours and other items I would normally shy away from trying. I’ve been testing things out and pushing the boundaries of what I would have normally thought was safe. I’ve been making pancakes and waffles that I had really left behind when I went gluten free. Or trying gluten free replacements for some old favorites, like cinnamon rolls (haven’t found one I like) and breads for grilled cheeses.
I have found that even with all of this experimentation, my health is better. I’ve gotten into a good rhythm. My energy levels are up. I don’t have gastrointestinal distress as much. My skin looks better. I’m sleeping better. All of these things are better. I’m able to live in my gluten free bubble and do better.
I’ve had episodes where I’ve been ill. It is normally when I venture outside my bubble and take too big a risk.
I still see too many posts on social media about people continuing to be sick. If you are still sick, something is going wrong in your diet. This break should be a clue that celiac disease is manageable without medication. It is possible.
End of Pandemic
Hopefully, these pandemic times won’t last forever. We will return to interacting with the world as we did before. Returning to the life before should be easy. With a little more time and confidence under your belt, standing up for yourself and requesting gluten free foods will be easier.
I hope pharmaceutical manufacturers are taking time as well. Preparing, researching, and really understanding celiac disease. I hope they understand the physical, social, and emotional toll it takes on us. Planning for the next round of newfangled celiac drugs to help us deal with ongoing cross contamination exposure. Understanding the comorbidities and other diseases that can affect those with celiac disease even when on a gluten free diet.
I simply hope that within the next 2-3 years there will be something to help us.
Finally
Be thankful for this break in our normally overscheduled world where food on the go is easy and can make us sick. Use this time wisely. Think of it is as a break to make yourself healthy while living inside your gluten free bubble. Hopefully soon, we will have a something to help us navigate this gluten covered world.
Happy Thanksgiving and on to Christmas!!!