Bella’s Story: Diagnosed at 55

Here is Bella’s personal story and answers to my list of gluten free questions for the Mary’s Gone Crackers contest. I hear similar diagnosis stories from people of that generation.  My grandmother and father were both misdiagnosed for most of their lives and found out they had celiac after they were 50.

What are the foods you missed the most?
Crackers, chips, most breads.

If you initially did not follow the gluten free diet.  What made you change your mind?

I’m going to add this addendum to say I am almost 60 and didn’t know I was allergic to gluten until I was about 55. As a child the doctor (this was the 1950′s) told my Mom I was definitely allergic to wheat. My mom being fairly naive switched me to white bread (now that I think about this it’s laughable) and kept giving me gluten all my young life. Thinking there was no wheat in white bread and pasta, crackers and such. I was sick all my life. I wheezed, I had no energy to play sports in school, I had mysterious rashes, and 2x a year I had bronchitis. Still gluten intolerance was never mentioned again. It wasn’t until my mid 50′s that I went on a very low carb/high protein diet for the reason of weight loss and suddenly felt great–had energy and all my ailments vanished. I began to do research and realized I probably had been eating wrong (for me) my entire life.

Thank you for your story, Bella!