Some members of my family have celiac disease and we have been gluten free for over a year now.
It is difficult at first, especially if you are trying to do run 2 households, those that eat gluten and those that don't. I started out that way, but quickly changed to all gluten free because my 18yodd would get so sick from just cookie crumbs or bread crumbs and in a house of 7, crumbs are a part of life. Besides, I don't have the time nor energy to cook 2 meals. We are a family & as a family we help one another whenever we can & this helps my sillies.
It does take a while to feel better. Some feel it right off but will have setbacks. No one is sure why but there was a lot of damage done to your body before you discovered this & it is healing at this point. Each time you get glutened or cheat (and please don't think I'm accusing you of doing that...my daughter did about a month after going GF and she paid dearly for it...doesn't do that anymore) you set yourself back so you need to be very careful. Make sure you know 100% that the food you are eating is gluten free, it is hidden in so many things.
One mistake many new celiacs make is trying to compensate for their diet restriction by increasing the amount of carbs they eat, not intentional but as more of a habit/comfort. By carbs I mean breads, pizzas, cookies, pastas, pancakes, etc. I always recommend for newbie celiacs to start off simple, meat, fruit and vegetables then slowly add in the funner stuff (yes I said funner, LOL) such as the above mentioned list. Keep a diary of what you are eating to see if you're not filling up on carbs and ignoring more of the basics.
Also, have you had your children tested? They need to be. When my mil found out she had this 10+years ago, she told us to go because 1st generation relatives have about a 30% higher chance of having it. I ignored her. So for 10+ more years, my celiac family suffered w/o us connecting the dots.
My 18yodd was the 1st to be diagnosed through observation in 2006. She went dairy free at age 13 thinking that was her issue (and in a way it was...as most celiacs are also lactose intolerant. It is advised to go dairy free for 1 year after CD diagnosis to let the villi heal enough to absorb the lactose) and she got better. But would still have issues. Then at 17, we moved to another state her Senior year of high school, broke up with a guy that turned out to be a nightmare & her condition worsenend. Her hair was falling out, she was getting thinner & finally when she said I've quit eating lunch at school because it makes me sick...it hit us and we went gluten free right then. Her health improved DRASTICALLY. She gained 15 pounds (which she needed), her hair stopped falling out, she stopped running to the bathroom. But she didn't feel like doing cartwheels in the yard really. Celiacs are low in iron, therefore always tired...something she fights every day. But she does feel so much better here a year later.
After we started the diet only then did my husband realize how much better he was feeling. When you have felt crummy your whole life you don't know you're not suppose to feel that way, you just assume it's normal. My mil was in her late 50's when she was diagnosed, went through the Army and everything with this disease not realizing that not everyone had diarrhea everyday or stomach aches.
I hope you have picked up some cookbooks, they helped me SO much. Store bought gf bread is icky (haven't found one I like yet) and EXPENSIVE. Like I said, we are a family of 7 and we'd go through 2 loaves at one sitting and that's about $10. So I make my own. LOVE Bette Hagman's The Gluten Free Gourmet Bakes Bread and Carol Fenster's Wheat Free Recipes and Menus...saved me big time in the beginning. Another GREAT book is Living Gluten Free for Dummies by Danna Korn.
And last but not least, find a local Celiac Support Group. Although your husband graduates in May, the little time you might have with them could prove invaluable. Here is a link to one in your city http://www.glutenfreelouisville.org/ I wouldn't worry about bringing a snack to that next meeting just GO. I am the President of the Memphis Celiac Support Group & we love it when new people come in & we are able to help them through this process. I am also part of a yahoogroup called SillyYaks (play on words there) but it can be overwhelming to a newbie as we are VERY talkative sometimes but I found it So very helpful. We have files of restaurants that offer gf menus, candy (Easter is around the coner) that is safe, recipes, all sorts of information... http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SillyYaks/
And it could be also you have not completely gotten rid of all the gluten...it is a sneaky protein. Companies are not required to reveal it in foods, only wheat and so it can be hidden in things such as 'natural flavorings' 'carmel coloring' 'spices'..one never knows for sure. I have gotten very good at calling 1-800#'s printed on the product while standing in the grocery store. Your local group can help you sort out all that & the Silly Yaks group can too. And you can always email me privately at ____@____.com if you have any further questions.
It sucks to have this for sure but my children know it could've been far worse if we hadn't caught it when we did. Untreated CD can lead to cancer and they are so so much happier and healthier now. My 18yodd said of all the diseases out there to have, this is the best one because all it requires is a change of diet to get better. And I will tell you that we far healthier now than we did pre-gf because we are more aware of the junk found in food. It's really been a blessing in disguise.
I wish you the best of luck. I know that deer-in-the-headlight feeling but it will pass and this way of life will become 2nd nature to you I assure you. Hope to talk to you soon.
