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So You Want to Start a Celiac Support Group?

celiac disease support group
Celiac Disease Support Groups Are Priceless

I was diagnosed in 1996 when “celiac” and “gluten free” were still foreign words.  I remember the first conversation I had with a fellow Celiac.  I sat on the floor in my bedroom, confused and overwhelmed, listening to the kind voice on the other end of the telephone talking me through gluten free condiment options.  She introduced me to our local support group and within a few years, I was standing as the president.

Support groups serve a great purpose of providing grass root support from others in a similar situation.  This is priceless for newly diagnosed Celiacs and those who love them.  There can be an initial overwhelming sense of confusion and helplessness.  The good news is that even though there is a learning curve, it gets much easier!  And local support groups can be a huge help in the process.

Whether you want to start a support group or improve an existing one, these tips can help get you motivated and succeed.

Step by Step Guide: Beginning the Gluten-Free Lifestyle

FOR THE NEWLY-DIAGNOSED CELIAC AND DH’er STEP-BY-STEP:  BEGINNING THE GLUTEN-FREE LIFESTYLE©

by Janet Y. Rinehart, Houston,  and Lynn Rainwater, San Antonio

BEGIN

A definite diagnosis of Celiac Disease (screening blood tests plus endoscopic biopsies) and/or Dermatitis Herpetiformis (skin biopsy) means a lifetime commitment to a gluten-free diet.

  • Take full advantage of your local chapter membership.  Our group leaders and contacts have experience with the gluten-free diet.  We can help you acclimate to the changes in your lifestyle. We welcome your questions.
  • Join national celiac support groups, for example:

Simply Gluten Free Magazine Embraces Gluten-free and Allergen-free Living

Gluten Free Works Jennifer Harris

simply gluten free magazine
Photo: Simply Gluten Free Magazine

There is a new magazine dedicated to gluten and allergen-free living set to hit the market this Fall called Simply Gluten FreeCarol Kicinski, author, blogger, and speaker, is behind the new bi-monthly publication and its mission to provide knowledge and support to those seeking optimum health for themselves and their families.

The magazine, which will also be published in digital format, will be loaded with easy-to-prepare recipes with page-after-page of food photography. Wendy Gregory Kaho will serve as the editor of the magazine and a pool of very familiar and talented gluten-free bloggers will serve as the

Fibromyalgia and Gluten

christie bessinger gluten free works

Have you been told that along with Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance, you also have Fibromyalgia? If you have, you’re not alone. What exactly is Fibromyalgia? Well, there are certainly a lot of theories out there about what it is, and how it should be treated. Up until recently, it was considered an “invisible disease” (much like Celiac), and doctors would often diagnose it if they couldn’t find anything else wrong with you. In other words, instead of telling you, “you’re a hypochondriac,” they would say, “You have Fibromyalgia,” and give you an anti-depressant like Cymbalta, to help ease your symptoms.

Thankfully, with more and more people (especially women), complaining of similar symptoms, Fibromyalgia has finally gotten recognition as a legitimate disease. Some of the typical symptoms are

The Celiac Disease Resource – Upstate New York

The Celiac Disease Resource, Inc., (TCDRI) is a non-profit organization founded in 1995 and incorporated in 1999. Our organization is dedicated to providing educational information to the general public by regular meetings, special events, printed… 

Gluten-Free in Fresno! Meeting January 26th

For anyone who lives in or near the Central Valley… we will be having our first Gluten Free in Fresno support group meeting THIS WEEK!

Here are the details:

When: Wednesday, January 26th, 7:00-8:30 pm
Where: Whole Foods Market Fresno, Salud Room 
Who: ANYONE who is living or is interested in living a Gluten-Free diet

The Atlanta Gluten-Free Dinner Club

We currently have 338 members and have held 84 meetups since October 2003 The purpose of this group is to share experience, strength, and laughter with other Celiacs while enjoying gluten free meals at area…