My coeliac story

From having a condition to living with it…

“10 years ago I got a diagnose - coeliac. Luckily my sister had just  recieved it one month before and I had read about it and was pretty sure that it had been there for at least 10 years already…

I was happy to find out  that I have a coeliac disease. It meant that I got a relief through understanding what caused me all the health issues - iron deficit, mouth ulcers now and then, iching elbows and knees,  constant lack of energy and need for too much sleep.

My body was just not getting enough nutrition through my damaged small intestine and other organs started to get affected as well…so imagine the happiness - finally I will start feeling better!

It was slow process, but successful. Years went by where I was feeling myself as a coeliac. It meant that I was learning to live with it. To know the struggles and happy moments with the new condition which ruled my life - literally - as everything started going around food suddenly.

Yes, I have always loved food and cooking, but for a while I didn’t like it anymore. Eating out was hard. There were only safe options I chose and actually was not giving myself all the different food and nutrition I should have.

Gluten free diet can be intimidating at first - especially when one doesn’t have support. Luckily my family and friends have always been very understanding and supportive - but I cannot even imagine how hard it is for people who have told that even their closest people are mocking them for having coeliac as it was some kind of “fake disease”.

That’s where patient organisations and their support groups come in. I was lucky to have been guided to Estonian Coeliac Society by my gastroenterolgist - she told that they will help you understand the gluten free diet and live with it.

And yes - that was one of the biggest help I have recieved from the kind people in the society, sharing their own experience and making you understand that you are not alone, and that you can survive and even get well!

Today I just know that I live with coeliac disease and help others to live with it as well. I am grateful that I decided to become a volunteer at patient organisation."