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Okay all---here is my article! This is a first draft...let me know what you
all think!!

Ashlie
aka
poor college student


My article
follows***********************************************************************

*****



Gluten and Glutton free in college
By Ashlie Anderson

I have never had a weight problem. However, growing up I battled anorexia and
various other problems with my body image. Early on, I discovered that I had
a talent for cheerleading, I soon joined classes and gyms. Throughout high
school, I was fit, toned, and fairly healthy. I ate what I wanted (when I
wasn't starving myself) and always stayed small. My mother, on the other
hand, battled her weight and health for as long as I can remember. She was
diagnosed with Thyroid disease, when I was in high school. She soon underwent
surgery for a lump on her thyroid and was then medicated. After months, and
then eventually years of treatments, her problems persisted. Soon, my younger
sister, Amy was also diagnosed with Hashimoto, a thyroid condition. I felt
immune to their problems, after all, I was small and ate what I wanted.
My junior year of high school, I managed to contract Mono. It didn't hit me
very hard, but my recovery seemed to last forever. I never seemed to fully
bounce back. My doctor now tells me that some of my problems could have
possibly begun from that bout with Mono.
Upon my high school graduation, I decided to attend school out of state, at a
small Christian University in Nashville, Tennessee. During my freshman year,
my mom's condition continued to decline. She never really told me how sick
she was, she knew that I had enough to worry about. After Christmas she met a
wonderful endocrinologist. He began running various tests to try to figure
out why she was still so sick. Eventually, the test concluded that mom
suffered from Celiac disease. We didn't know very much about the disease, but
we knew that our lifestyle was about to drastically change. Mom began eating
lots of baked potatoes and rice. I dreaded going home to try her new
"Gluten-Free" recipes, I simply wanted pizza and burgers like we used to
have. I hated not eating out at all of my favorite restaurants when I was
home. Then, mom began to feel better, she also began losing large amounts of
weight (she has lost a total of 85 pounds up to date). Then, she began
learning more about Celiac. She then made up her mind that all three of her
daughters had the same problem. I completely refused to be tested. After all,
I didn't have any of the symptoms that my mom possessed. My sister turned up
negative, and my younger sister has yet to be tested.
When I returned home after Christmas break, I began to get sick. I was
fatigued, my muscles hurt, and I began to lose weight. Being away from home,
I didn't have a doctor to treat me. I was tested for Mono again, but it
returned negative. Blood tests did conclude that I was anemic. I continued to
get sick even into the summer months. Finally, just weeks before returning to
school, the doctor finally tested me for Celiac Disease. Two weeks later, the
doctor still had not called. I assumed that the results were negative, and
planned to return to Nashville as a resident assistant for the new school
year.
On my drive to school, I received a call from my mom. The doctor had called
her. My test showed that I did have Celiac Disease. I remember crying the
rest of the way to Tennessee. All I knew about Celiac was that you had to
change your diet, and you never got to eat breads and pizza and all the foods
that normal college students loved.
Depressed and completely overwhelmed I decided that I would simply buy all of
my food and eat in my dorm room. I knew that my small college cafeteria
couldn't (or maybe wouldn't) provide food that I could eat. I drove to Kroger
and walked up and down the aisle searching for food that was gluten free. I
picked up dozens of food packages and read them, only to find the words
"wheat flour", "whey", or "gluten". In the middle of the frozen food aisle, I
called my mom crying. She told me to buy a package of corn tortillas and
lunch meat. I also picked up gluten-free cookies, Lays chips, hot wings,
Breyer's Ice cream, and various other meats and cheeses. I spent $60. When I
returned home and looked at my checkbook, I realized that I simply could NOT
afford to continue to shop like that. That weekend, was our RA retreat. A
large group of students traveled to a camp ground for a weekend of team
building activities and junk food. I cried the first night, when all I had to
eat was a small salad with Italian dressing. By the next morning, I had given
up and was eating cakes, cookies and whatever the other students were eating.
I was fine for the first couple of days, by the time I had returned to
school, I had a terrible Gluten reaction. I then decided to strictly follow
my diet. For the first week of school, I ate the $60 dollars worth of food in
my freezer.
By the time the food ran out, I was back to eating whatever I could find in
the cafeteria. I continued to have reactions, and continued to eat what I
wanted.
A few weeks into school, I received a call from my sister. My mom had been
hospitalized. I flew home to find my mom pale and very ill. Her blood
pressure had bottomed out and she was close to death. The doctor's ran
various tests and even took her into outpatient surgery to perform an
endoscopy. The found nothing. Her Celiac disease was under control, so they
were running out of ideas. Miraculously, she began to get better. I competed
in a Miss Georgia preliminary pageant that weekend, but my mind was on my
sick mom at home.
As a biology student, I began a course in Anatomy. I soon began discovering
various clues to my mom's illness.  Meanwhile, she continued to have these
"episodes" at home. The doctor's did tests and tried various medications. She
continued to get worse.
A specialist in Atlanta finally began finding answers to my mom's problems.
She was finally diagnosed with Addison's disease. All of her autoimmune
problems seemed to fit together. The doctor told her that she was dying, but
now that they could treat her, she would be okay. Mom's little episode really
impacted my view of my own disease. I began to research Celiac Disease and
the problems associated with it. I realized that I had been exhibiting
symptoms for quite awhile, I just never knew that Celiac was to blame. In
fact, my most prevalent symptom is irritability, which I attributed to an
earlier diagnosis of Post-Traumatic stress syndrome.
My grandmother was diagnosed with Celiac a few months ago. Since then, she
has been living gluten free. We had our first Gluten-free Thanksgiving this
year. I hate to admit it, but it wasn't that bad. In fact, I have begun to
like certain Gluten-free foods. I especially enjoy the homemade bread that my
mom makes.
The biggest problem facing me now, is simply finding food that I can eat. I
used to worry about being gluttonous and eating until all hours of the night
while studying. That isn't a problem anymore. Now, I worry about not finding
enough food to fill me up. I joined an online support group and began writing
to various people for suggestions. There was an influx of replies from fellow
Celiacs around the states. I had suggestions for food, offers for dinners
out, offers for free care packages and samples (which I can't wait to
sample!), and even a couple of mothers who wanted me to meet their sons.
While competing in Miss Georgia prelims, my platform was always abstinence
education. After research and my mom's illness, I realized the need for
Celiac awareness in the states. I have since changed my platform to Celiac
awareness and look forward to working with other Celiacs and medical
personnel to try to advocate Celiac disease. I also look forward to
completing my education in biology so that I might look into graduate school
in medicine. I feel like there is a large need for medical professionals who
are informed about Celiac and other Gluten Intolerant ailments. I am planning
a walk for Celiac in my home state of Georgia for this spring. I am also
looking forward to participating in the Nashville area support groups.
Even though I may never be able to eat pizza out with my friends, I can still
enjoy a great homemade wheat-free pizza. I know that my life will never be
like it used to. I am okay with that, because I realize that I have a better
chance at being healthy by living the Gluten-free life. I don't want to
suffer like my mom and grandmother have. I am thankful that I discovered my
problem early on.
I have since discovered my love for baked potatoes. I top them with cheese,
bacon, even butter and Gluten-free salad dressing. I eat a lot of salads and
fresh fruit. I love Wendy's chili and potatoes. I eat a lot of rice and
grilled chicken. Tacos and corn chips are a new food groups for me and my
family. My mom makes me a wonderful wheat-free sandwich bread when I am home,
my boyfriend even likes it! I have found a great health food store in
Nashville, and I love their gluten-free cookies.
I must admit, I still "cheat" every now and then. It especially hard right
now during finals, when I sit lobby duty in the dorm. Girls are always
sharing pizza and donuts with their favorite resident assistant! Of course, I
realize that I will always have a Gluten reaction and must begin all over
again the next day eating healthier. I simply take it one day at a time. I am
thankful for my mom and grandmother. I am glad that I don't have to live this
life alone. I am also thankful for my new Celiac friends and especially a few
"Gluten-free fairy godmothers". But, thanks to my diagnosis, I have a
healthier,  long gluten and glutton free lifestyle to look forward to!

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