Hello and welcome!
It was nearly 15 years ago when I first encountered coeliac disease. I was having breakfast with a girlfriend and her new beau. Before we could order he called the waiter over and asked if there was something he could have instead of bread to accompany his eggs. The waiter consulted the kitchen and offered a side of french fries. What is this crazy condition that allows you to order chips for breakfast I wondered?
A little over a decade later and a visit to any of the cafรฉs on King St, Newtown where that first encounter took place and youโre hard pressed to find a cafรฉ that doesnโt offer a couple of gluten-free options and have gluten-free bread as standard. Weโve certainly come a long way.
My own experience of this gluten-free life started three years ago. My partner Bart suddenly became seriously ill. He had food poisoning symptoms that lasted several weeks and he quickly lost an unhealthy amount of weight. Symptoms that will be oh so familiar to many of you. On one of our visits to the GP, she suggested he eliminate dairy and gluten to see if the symptoms eased. At the time this wasnโt difficult to introduce as he wasnโt keeping food down anyway. But it turned out to be the wrong advice, because when other tests came back negative, heโd been off gluten too long for a blood test to indicate if coeliac disease was causing his symptoms.*
Multiple gastroscopies and several specialists later, we finally found the cause of his problems. A tumor, the size of a grapefruit was growing on the outside of his stomach. To remove it, the surgeon had to also remove two-thirds of his stomach in a procedure known as a partial gastrectomy.
Itโs now six-months post the operation. What remains of his stomach is extremely sensitive and vigilantly following a gluten, dairy and alcohol-free diet seems to be the only thing keeping him out of the bathroom.
During all this, I was surprised to learn that Australia didnโt have a magazine available from newsagents to support, educate and enrich the lives of those on this gluten-free journey. We hope that Australian Gluten-Free Life will be this and more. As Iโve spoken to more and more people with coeliac disease and other medically diagnosed gluten-related illnesses, Iโve learnt that a diagnosis doesnโt come without a story. We all have one and this is our space to share, laugh and support one other.
Australian Gluten-Free Life isnโt about what one canโt eat, but instead celebrating and enjoying a life without gluten. Whether itโs been 40 years or four-weeks since your diagnosis we are sure youโll find something useful on the pages within.
Iโd love to hear from readers about your journey and your thoughts on our very first issue.
You can reach me via email: [email protected]; our Facebook page Australian Gluten-Free Life or through the contact page here our website.
In health and happiness,
Cara Boatswain
* If you believe you have coeliac disease please see your doctor and request to be tested before eliminating gluten from your diet.