This is me at age 19 – 20 pounds healthier!

Since my diagnosis of Celiac Sprue 1  1/2 years ago, I have tried to learn everything I could about eating and living healthy. I trusted that everything I was doing RIGHT was healing my tummy and intestines. And I can honestly say that I’ve never “cheated.”

A couple of days ago my GI, or Gastroenterologist, Dr. Sathya Reddy did both a Colonoscopy and an Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which used to be called an Endoscopy. She wanted to see the condition the villi of my small intestines, since I’ve never had these procedures again since my diagnosis. She has also ordered blood work, to see if I’m absorbing the proper nutrients and iron.

After waking from the anesthesia, Dr. Reddy showed me the pictures from both procedures. Because of my age, the colonoscopy showed some diveritculi, which is not serious. My stomach is still digesting food too slowly, I still have and ulcer, and there are still SPRUE in my intestines. What? I was not at all happy to hear this, considering how carefully I’ve been eating.

When I told my family, several of them told me that THEY HAVE noticed a difference, so I just need to be extra careful and keep going – no matter what!

It has made me MORE nervous about eating out, whether it’s fast foods or nice restaurants.I try as much as I can to question the waiters, and the chef when I can.But I know that there are still ways that my food can be contaminated, like being cooked in the same oil as breaded foods, being cooked on a contaminated surface, or having hidden ingredients that I can’t see.

At home I KNOW I’m as careful as I can be. Remember to watch the little things, like using your own butter so you don’t get somebody else’s bread crumbs, as well as jam, honey or anything you use on your bread.

Good information, good friend/family support, and watching EVERYTHING you put in your mouth all counts! It’s worth it, even when things don’t go as planned, to keep trying and not give up!