We would like to congratulate Glenys Milicich and Joanne Punch who won a gift pack from Crossed Grain Logo accredited Te Mata Figs for sharing their lived experience of coeliac disease (advertised in the Coeliac Link summer issue).
Glenys writes, "A huge thank you to Te Mata Figs and Coeliac NZ for this yummy treat. It came as a surprise to be chosen as a winner of the giveaway. Being part of a Croatian family meant numerous fig trees on our properties, so I adore figs. Tho Te Mata Figs are nothing like the ones we had, my husband couldn't believe there were fig chocolates, lol he only got a little taste! My story as a coeliac started from birth as my Plunket book and old childhood doctor's records show coeliac symptoms. If it was possible to catch a virus then I did, I constantly had no iron reserves, lived on iron tablets and had mouth ulcers, bad skin and was constantly tired. Despite seeming to be constantly hungry and eating loads, I was always thin and frequently moody.
My mother didn't and couldn't understand my health as I was at the doctor every couple of weeks. I could never get past the tiredness. In 2000 I had my tonsils out, but nothing changed and a last resort had a gastroscopy at which point the wonderful Dr Rafiq Ali from Auckland said the magic words 'I know what's wrong with you, you will be alright'. And the next part of the journey of adapting to the gluten-free diet was easy, with help from my friends which I met at the Coeliac New Zealand Manukau group, and who are still friends 25 years later.
As a result of a late diagnosis I have however been left with osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
My daughter after her second child was born was diagnosed with coeliac disease. The result of the gastroscopy came as a surprise to me as her symptoms were different to mine and I think it was harder for her to get her iron levels right, but she also lives 100% gluten free. Her son (my grandson) was later diagnosed at age three and a half years old, having been short for his age and had other symptoms. Today he is a healthy 6'3" teenager and off to Uni and also lives totally gluten free. I am grateful our three generations of coeliacs are so much better off now than I was twenty-five years ago when I was diagnosed."
Do you want to strengthen our community and provide practical guidance to others?
Sharing your personal experience of living with coeliac disease can have a profound impact on others facing similar struggles. Whether by having a one-on-one conversation, contributing to one of our online Zoom meetings for people newly diagnosed, or hosting an event during Coeliac Awareness Week we encourage you to use your voice to raise awareness about coeliac disease. Many people with a chronic, lifelong condition can feel alone in their struggles. Hearing from someone who has been through the same challenges (and often faced similar scepticism about their symptoms) can validate their experience and help them to feel less alone.