Diagnosed coeliac in the summer. At that time I felt completely overwhelmed and posted on here to say that. I was absolutely inundated with messages of support, useful advice, websites to look at, recipes etc. YOU ARE ALL AN AMAZING LOT! THANK YOU!
3 months down the line and I need a moan, no, sod it, a full-blown RANT. I am tired of going out and there being only one, single, icing-encrusted, 20 year old (looks like) cupcake that I can eat. In some weird flavour (ginger, lemon and berry anyone?). I am tired of there only being one thing on a menu I can choose (butternut squash with hot Malaysian curry paste - fine for some but not for me).
I am absolutely fed up of being lumped together with people who make dietary choices of their own free will. I have no problem with people being vegetarians or vegans - I have wonderful friends who are both and I have been educated in what they can and can't eat. But my gluten-free choice is NOT a choice. I have NO CHOICE. This is an allergy, not even an intolerance. And a bad allergy at that. There is no way I would have chosen to miss out on all that lovely bread, cakes, cornflakes, even Smarties ….. I want to shout at the waiting staff in the coffee shops that I didn't choose this, so don't offer me a single carrot to munch (this has happened) because there's nothing else I can eat.
I don't want my lovely DH to miss out on a snack simply because there's nothing that I can eat and he doesn't want me to go hungry.
Why does everyone assume that I will be happy with a nut bar when what I really want is a doughnut?
There is a plus side - of course. We've discovered restaurants that have a full gluten-free menu, not just the odd, weird choice. Friends and family turn up with GF biscuits, take me to GF cafes and generally don't treat me like I'm odd.
I will get there, but am having a bad day …. Thanks for listening.