In February 2010, my Anti-tissue Transglutaminase Antibody test for Celiac came back at 20. A normal result was below 4. There was no doubt that something was wrong, but to confirm Celiac you need an upper endoscopy. My doctor at MN GI prompt requested one and two weeks later, as I was waking up (very quickly) from being put under, he said, "I legally have to send this test to the lab to confirm, but you have absolutely no villi left in your intestine. You have Celiac."
I was smiling from ear to ear. FINALLY! Finally a diagnosis that made sense. Finally, I hoped, I will feel better. In that moment, I didn't think about all the things I could never eat again, all the challenges I would face on a daily basis, or how long the battle to feel better again would take--no, in that moment, I was happy.
My dad (who graciously took me to my test) and I went to the Pancake House for my first gluten-free meal: pancakes. They were...good? I don't remember. I just remember enjoying every bite knowing I was not going to get sick ten minutes later.
For weeks, I continued to be on a natural high--I was going to feel better! I'm not crazy! And then something even better happened--I started feeling better. Like really, really good. My co-worker even commented to me, "Your face is so much brighter! You can see it in your eyes." Everything, absolutely everything got "brighter" within two weeks of being gluten-free. It was still going to be a long road ahead to feel 100%, but I was well on my way.
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