Change of Life - The Day I Became a Coeliac

Change of Life - The Day I Became a Coeliac

Christine Moohin
Well you could say the lights did go out, a few months before, I had woken up on Christmas Day and felt like my whole body had been smashed, I wasn’t sick as such, just very sleepy.  I put it down to doing a lot of extra hours at Christmas and for this was a bit harder on the body to pull through.
After a week and it not subsiding I went to a doctor, as I had to compete in a State Titles for sport.  They did some blood tests, and ordered to have an endoscopy, my first surgery.   For the month leading up to the operation, I went out to a lot of restaurants and ate all my favourite meals at all the different businesses in town.  All containing gluten, and at the time feeling no effect on my body, but realising now my body was already numb, bloated and carrying a lot of fluid.    
On the day of surgery, I felt I wasn’t going to walk out the same, but didn’t do any research prior of what is meant to be a Coeliac.  I was put under anaesthetic , to when I woke up I was told the words by a specialist “you are now a Coeliac, no more gluten for you”, which I immediately cried.. not really knowing what it meant, but also realising the world that I knew wasn’t going to be the same again.  It may sound a little dramatic, but at the time it was all scary and new.

My sister partner picked me up from hospital, and as I needed food, we had to go to the supermarket to find what was “gluten free”. I think we went with some sausages, looking back now there was a heap of gluten free stuff but it’s interesting to note how we can make it hard for ourselves.   Over the months followed I was confused until I started to read up myself of what it meant to be “ A Coeliac”, and ask more questions at the specialist.  People were telling me you could still have some gluten, and the specialist told me yes, if you want to give yourself cancer.

 

"This was a real call to not listen to others, and to research what it is.  How sensitive the body actually is."

 

The feeling of isolation was initially felt, for every time I went out to a restaurant, I wasn’t able to eat.  It also seemed every time I did try to eat something, I would get awfully sick, often throwing up in the restaurants and having to get home fast and leaving mid dinners.  Instead of having dinner parties at my own house, I would go into an isolated state and not go out for dinners or socialise with anyone, I saw it as simpler and at least I didn’t get sick. At the time it wasn’t worth the pain that followed, or the anger that came through at others when they couldn’t provide a simple Gluten Free meal.

This would be a common occurance, the more I wanted to fit in with everyone at the dinner table, the more I would get sick.  I would get frustrated at ordering, and at other times get others to place the order because I couldn’t deal with the people taking the orders.  I can see now how I always complicated it , and then how it never came through clear, so then I was delivered that in the meal, hence always getting sick.
We get what we ask for, and as with anyone with an allergy, we have to explain it to people for them to understand if they are to provide a loving meal prepared with care.
The journey as a coeliac was only just beginning, I started to eat Organic foods, as I would find they generally were naturally Gluten free.  In this time, I got a job at an Organic store on my day off from hairdressing, and it was here I learnt how to cook and eat to nourish the body.  I also met a group of inspiring people that ate the same way and inspired to cook simple meals that were delicious.  It sparked something in me, to get a bit creative and with this started sharing biscuits with them to get feedback on what they thought.
The organic store became a haven to be able to connect with people as they did their afternoon shopping, and supporting and guiding them if they needed assistance.  Some people were new to the Gluten Free world, just like I was.  Of course I shared all my favourite chocolates with them.
Moving onto now life as a Coeliac is almost in the background, I don’t say poor me. At the foreground is the support for people with allergies.

"Inclusiveness in a world where separation around a shared meal, doesn’t need to be the lived way."

 

It is my responsibility to ring ahead if going to a new restaurant to see if I can eat there, and if not, I can bring along a dish to enjoy a meal with friends. Simple. When having a gathering and everyone brings a plate, most people enjoy creating a dish for everyone, they do the research and deliver a tasty dish.

Living with Coeliac Disease doesn’t have to be debilitating, but can be if we are in the misery that we are different, it’s all too hard and constantly feeling sick. Attending to each day and preparing ahead for when we may need food but may not have access to anything. This is the vitality to wake up with every day.

Travelling internationally and domestically, I always take a snack pack. I'm a frequent flyer so definately don't rely others to feed me. If we don’t want to get sick we have to assess what we are putting in our mouths.

In the past I have made some wrong decisions, and not gone with my body when I feel it had traces of gluten, but relied on the business telling me it was definitely gluten free. It’s one crumb, that can make us sick. Sounds stupid, but the indigestion of just one crumb attacks our body and we all have different reactions/responses.

The weight change in my body, as I lost about 15kgs initially in a short space of time. Simple lifestyle changes and introduced simple foods, gluten free is naturally everything that isn’t in packet. - ie fresh fruit and vegetables, and wholesome meat.

After consuming more sugar and salt than my body could process, from packaged biscuits and cakes. The love of baking really took off, and I wanted to share it with everyone.  My first market I sat at a stall and sold a couple of packets of biscuits, I could easily have been crushed but decided to develop a business with chatting to a few business mentors on how I could expand and reach more people.

A year later Mooz Gluten Free was created.  To be able to share a delicious biscuit or cupcake with you all, one that people say - is this actually gluten free? Yes I can absolutely assure you, no Gluten enters my house.  I love to bake fresh in the early mornings, as I am a hairdresser by day/night. I hope you enjoy Mooz Gluten Free, and if you would love to see a product in the range, please let me know, we are forever expanding.  

Loads of Love,

Christine 

Owner-Baker-Coeliac

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