10:41

so today i had an appointment with a gastroenterologist (which i almost cancelled a million times because i thought for sure i was fine).

my appointment was at 10:40 and i cut it so close that they took me back before i could even take a seat in the waiting room.  before i knew it, the papers i was supposed to fill out were still empty and the doctor was shaking my hand. then he sat down and said, "So... Celiac."  he began to talk like i had it and i kept trying to convince him (or maybe just myself) that i didn't. turns out the evidence supported his side and just like that... i was diagnosed.   it all happened so fast.

my pcp did a blood test a few weeks ago that i thought was more of a preliminary thing rather than a diagnosis thing, but the gastro doc said that my levels were so high that it really isn't a question on whether i have it or not (especially when we consider my other symptoms, that i thought weren't symptoms, but just life).  he said "when it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it is usually a duck." and this duck is celiac disease.

and that was how it was decided.  at 10:41 my life changed. i had many thoughts racing through my head in that moment, but the first was, "no one will ever have me over for dinner.  i can't eat gluten and i don't eat vegetables."  my second thought was, "i just bought oreos!! and made a cake. DANG-IT!"  my third was, "i ate pretzels last night" (random, i know).

the great news: he doesn't have to go down my throat to take a piece of my small intestine in order to get a closer look (which is what i thought i was going to be scheduling at the end of today's appointment). the not so great news: i have an actual celiac diagnosis, a nutritionist referral, and instructions to eat gluten free immediately.

i know i will survive and i will have plenty of delicious things to eat (ice cream!! chocolate... i'm sure there's more).  in the meantime, i have a lot of learning to do because i don't know much.  luckily, there are tons of gluten-free things out there these days.  i can do this!

if you have any good resources or at least know what candy bars i can eat, please share!