I have celiacs, or, as it's called up north, cupcake fever.
I stole this from RM. I don't know if this is allowed, but it seems like no one on my flist knows I have this so here goes. I'll take it down if I'm actually stealing it.
1. The illnesses I live with are:
Celiac Disease
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year:
Um 2008? I think.
3. But I had symptoms since:
Since I was little I guess.
4. The biggest adjustment I've had to make is:
I can't have anything with gluten in it. Thus can't have a beer, can't eat a good sandwich and most importantly can't go to a restaurant without fearing secret wheat is randomly in something.
5. Most people assume:
That I'm being a stuck up hippie, that I have an eating disorder, that I'm showing off for some reason, that I'm doing it for health reasons (which I sort of am), that I'm a vegan (still don't get this one).
6. The hardest part about mornings is:
My joints are pretty fucked up, and I think one of the reasons for this is because I had wheat for so long. Other then that not any harder then they normally would be. If I have wheat I usually get sick in the morning, which was unpleasant when I was still in school.
7. My favorite medical TV show is:
I don't watch medical TV shows because my dad is a doctor and it annoys me how fake they are.
8. A gadget I couldn't live without is:
My ipod. When I was still sick listening to music was the only thing that got my mind off the fact I was getting sick every day and scared something was really wrong with me.
9. The hardest part about nights is:
When I was still eating gluten I use to get these horrible stomach aches at least once a month. They would last on average six hours and during that I would have fever dreams, cry a lot (I am not normally a crier) and be in a large amount of pain. Glad those are done with.
10. Each day I take [?] pills & vitamins.
I use to take about six each day. Now I take none.
11. Regarding alternative treatments, I:
None. I just live with the fact I can't have certain things, and sometimes forget things like words or places randomly.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness and a visible one, I would choose:
I'm pretty pleased with the fact I have celiacs and caught it before I became older and it had done more damage. When I had it I was constantly afraid I had cancer, or something along those lines, and am very happy it turned out I just can't have bread anymore.
13. Regarding working and career:
It's done nothing, except I had to quit my job at the pizza company. That's not a joke.
14. People would be surprised to know:
If I became sick tomorrow and found out it hadn't been celiacs I'd be devastated. I'm so happy I'm not sick anymore, the idea of not having my quick fix scares the shit out of me. Also, I'm vaguely grief stricken by the idea if I have kids they may have it as well, and my brother's kids are also at risk. I think my guilt will win out and I'll end up not having the kids I may one day want.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality is:
It makes going to a restaurant with others really embarrassing. Having to ask if stuff has wheat in it makes me feel like a total shnuk, but I'm too paranoid not to ask. I also feel bad because I know this stupid. I should take care of myself first.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness was:
Not be sick anymore. I thought I'd be sick forever, but now I feel fine and that's still weird for me.
17. The commercials about my illness
Are nonexistent because America still thinks it's made up.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed:
Eating soft serve ice cream from the Mr. Frosty trucks. Plus eating sandwiches, which I use to live on.
19. It was really hard to give up:
Being invisible to waiters. I hate calling attention to myself.
20. A new hobby I've taken up since my diagnosis is:
Running.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again, I would:
Normal again? Try normal for once. I guess I'd eat what I wanted? I dunno. Gosh.
22. My illness has taught me:
That I don't have to always be sick and that the only person who can make sure of that is myself.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say (about my illness) that gets under my skin is:
It's not real? Every time I hear that I want to have a sandwich and mail them a video of me barfing for two days.
24. But I love it when people:
Describe food to me. It's really odd, but knowing that people are having good cookies, or bread makes me happy.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is:
The fact the fay can not touch iron, but are still strong. We are not meant for this world, but we will still concur and live in it.
26. When someone is diagnosed I like to tell them:
That they won't be sick anymore if they control themselves and that it really is worth it.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is:
Is explains a lot. When I have wheat all my mental and physical problems from the past come back. I never would have thought it would be explained so simply.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn't feeling well was:
Bring me wine. Didn't help, but thanks, Elis.
29. I'm involved with Invisible Illness Week because:
Because I think a lot of people don't even know they have it and it's ruining their lives.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel:
Like I hope people don't think I'm doing this to collect attention or flaunt that I have a weird problem. I just want people to know I'm not being a dick when I ask the wait staff at restaurants a million questions before I order.
1. The illnesses I live with are:
Celiac Disease
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year:
Um 2008? I think.
3. But I had symptoms since:
Since I was little I guess.
4. The biggest adjustment I've had to make is:
I can't have anything with gluten in it. Thus can't have a beer, can't eat a good sandwich and most importantly can't go to a restaurant without fearing secret wheat is randomly in something.
5. Most people assume:
That I'm being a stuck up hippie, that I have an eating disorder, that I'm showing off for some reason, that I'm doing it for health reasons (which I sort of am), that I'm a vegan (still don't get this one).
6. The hardest part about mornings is:
My joints are pretty fucked up, and I think one of the reasons for this is because I had wheat for so long. Other then that not any harder then they normally would be. If I have wheat I usually get sick in the morning, which was unpleasant when I was still in school.
7. My favorite medical TV show is:
I don't watch medical TV shows because my dad is a doctor and it annoys me how fake they are.
8. A gadget I couldn't live without is:
My ipod. When I was still sick listening to music was the only thing that got my mind off the fact I was getting sick every day and scared something was really wrong with me.
9. The hardest part about nights is:
When I was still eating gluten I use to get these horrible stomach aches at least once a month. They would last on average six hours and during that I would have fever dreams, cry a lot (I am not normally a crier) and be in a large amount of pain. Glad those are done with.
10. Each day I take [?] pills & vitamins.
I use to take about six each day. Now I take none.
11. Regarding alternative treatments, I:
None. I just live with the fact I can't have certain things, and sometimes forget things like words or places randomly.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness and a visible one, I would choose:
I'm pretty pleased with the fact I have celiacs and caught it before I became older and it had done more damage. When I had it I was constantly afraid I had cancer, or something along those lines, and am very happy it turned out I just can't have bread anymore.
13. Regarding working and career:
It's done nothing, except I had to quit my job at the pizza company. That's not a joke.
14. People would be surprised to know:
If I became sick tomorrow and found out it hadn't been celiacs I'd be devastated. I'm so happy I'm not sick anymore, the idea of not having my quick fix scares the shit out of me. Also, I'm vaguely grief stricken by the idea if I have kids they may have it as well, and my brother's kids are also at risk. I think my guilt will win out and I'll end up not having the kids I may one day want.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality is:
It makes going to a restaurant with others really embarrassing. Having to ask if stuff has wheat in it makes me feel like a total shnuk, but I'm too paranoid not to ask. I also feel bad because I know this stupid. I should take care of myself first.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness was:
Not be sick anymore. I thought I'd be sick forever, but now I feel fine and that's still weird for me.
17. The commercials about my illness
Are nonexistent because America still thinks it's made up.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed:
Eating soft serve ice cream from the Mr. Frosty trucks. Plus eating sandwiches, which I use to live on.
19. It was really hard to give up:
Being invisible to waiters. I hate calling attention to myself.
20. A new hobby I've taken up since my diagnosis is:
Running.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again, I would:
Normal again? Try normal for once. I guess I'd eat what I wanted? I dunno. Gosh.
22. My illness has taught me:
That I don't have to always be sick and that the only person who can make sure of that is myself.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say (about my illness) that gets under my skin is:
It's not real? Every time I hear that I want to have a sandwich and mail them a video of me barfing for two days.
24. But I love it when people:
Describe food to me. It's really odd, but knowing that people are having good cookies, or bread makes me happy.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is:
The fact the fay can not touch iron, but are still strong. We are not meant for this world, but we will still concur and live in it.
26. When someone is diagnosed I like to tell them:
That they won't be sick anymore if they control themselves and that it really is worth it.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is:
Is explains a lot. When I have wheat all my mental and physical problems from the past come back. I never would have thought it would be explained so simply.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn't feeling well was:
Bring me wine. Didn't help, but thanks, Elis.
29. I'm involved with Invisible Illness Week because:
Because I think a lot of people don't even know they have it and it's ruining their lives.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel:
Like I hope people don't think I'm doing this to collect attention or flaunt that I have a weird problem. I just want people to know I'm not being a dick when I ask the wait staff at restaurants a million questions before I order.