Blog entry on NFCA

I wrote a blog article for the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA). The article discusses the importance of a gluten free club on campus, how to approach dining services, and the importance of surrounding yourself with GFFs (Gluten Free Friends).

Check it out here.

Much Love,

Emily

Gluten Free Happiness

All too often it seems we like to dwell on the bad stuff. But this morning I woke up realizing how many wonderful things happen in my gluten free world that I forget to remember.

• Friends: Friends, Friends, Friends and more friends. GFFS are the BEST! I am a summer camp counselor and on our last day of camp I received a special gift. My co-counselor (who is 16 years old and has heard me discuss how easily I get sick) went all the way to our Gourmet Girls Gluten Free bakery on the complete opposite side of town to buy me a cupcake and gift card! Even more, she drilled the staff about whether or not they washed their pans and were careful not to get any gluten in my cupcake (even though it's a dedicated gf restaurant :) ) What a wonderful friend!

• Boyfriend: My boyfriend is about as sweet and understanding as they come when it comes to me being gluten free. We went to Five Guys one night and he was so concerned about me the whole time but was so excited I could have french fries. I told him the fryer was dedicated and it didn't look like the fried anything else and he responded saying, "Yeah and did you notice that the buns look like they are pretty far away from the fryer?" <3 I love his support. Obviously I was taking a risk-night eating there, but he tried to help reassure me and pay attention to their kitchen.

2013 Summer Road Trip

• Family: My aunt and cousin came to visit in June. Every summer they get excited to help me make something new and gluten free. They are just really supportive and wonderful family that I have. Even better, my aunt just texted the other day with a story about a co-worker who was having lots of medical issues and my aunt mentioned me and CD. She got tested and come to find out she has Celiac! It's a great feeling when your story is spread and others can be helped.
  I was also able to visit my brother and sister in-law in Denver and go to a celiac event there. Their freezer was stuffed with Udi's food for me and we went to breakfast at Le Peep 2x and Udi's Cafe 2x! I love my family... and Denver!

Family at Dove Mountain in Tucson

Le Peep "Peasant Potatoes"

Udi's Cafe Margarita Pizza

Le Peep French Toast

• Community: What an awesome community we have. My mom and I recently went to the Phoenix Celebrate Celiac event with Gluten Free Calendar and I was able to attend the Denver event with my brother! At the Diamondbacks Celiac Awareness Game the announcer talked about our auto-immune disease and how serious it is. They have a separate gluten free concession with so much wonderful, safe food. The line was super long with all the celiac and gluten intolerant folks. It was a great night :)

Chandice from Gluten Free Frenzy

Katie from Udi's Gluten Free Foods

My mom and I at the Diamondbacks Game

Much Love,

Emily

Endoscopy & Colonoscopy

Yep. I'm about to go there.

A few weeks ago I went to have my endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures done. Let me tell you, it's not pretty. But let me also tell you, it's the best feeling ever when it's over with. You work so hard to get the prep down and keep it down, and your reward comes when it's all over!

Before you read this, I should warn you, things are about to get weird.

The most interesting moments can be found below: 

• First, reading what I can eat 

• That list was about 3 items long. I had jello, chicken broth, and fluids fluids fluids; Nothing red or purple though. This gets difficult when you wait until the last minute and don't have time to make jello and the only pre-made jello is red and orange.

• Talking to my 40-something year old boss about a procedure her mom had done a few years ago, but she's not yet had done herself, when I am 20 years old, and asking God, why me!?!?

• I know, I know. I'm dramatic.

• Spending an hour downing the shots of prep and then sucking on lemons and limes as chasers just 2 days before my 21st birthday.

• Lets just say... Tequila went down pretty smooth after 2 liters of salted-lysol tasting colonoscopy prep.

• Waiting the hours and hours for something to happen... and waiting, and waiting. 

• Turns out it didn't work on me like most people! My gastro doc suggested I have the split colonoscopy prep (movi-prep) in which you're given one liter before bed and one liter in the morning, which I appreciated because of my issues with nausea. All the instructions and everything I read said it doesn't take long before the chain reaction begins. But I'm here to tell you that if this happens with you, all is well, and the prep in the morning will help things move along just fine. My paperwork said my prep worked completely... Gross.

• Getting blood drawn before the procedure after not having eaten for 40 hours.

• My suggestion... don't get your blood drawn before this! I was getting all too close to the passing out zone.

• The nurse putting my IV in and saying "don't pull your arm away!"

• Mhmm. 'Cuz that's really going to help. I love nurses, but come on. At this point I had no strength.

• Getting wheeled into the O.R. and my doctor asking if I wanted anything. 
• I remember saying "I want Food. I'm really really hungry." Then she proceeded to ask if it was OK if she played music and turned on Lady Gaga. HA! My doctor's pretty cool. 

• My memory is blank from that point on until I was at the Gluten Free Club fondue party that I, being the over-committing freak that I am, decided to plan for that night.

• I should add: I was very, very frightened about the anesthesia for this procedure. A few years ago I had oral surgery in which I woke up during the surgery and was unable to communicate. I shared this with my doctor and we've since realized that I metabolize meds very quickly, so she gave me benadryl to help me sleep more. This. Was. Amazing.

• I should also add, that they are right when they say, not to make any legal decisions, drive, or expect to remember any conversations you have. The whole night is a bit of a blur, even though I felt completely coherent!

• Best part? Receiving the paperwork afterwards that says "schedule another colonoscopy at age 50; Woot woot!"

The next day I woke up and went to ride my horse. I know, not the best idea. This didn't go like it did in my head and after trotting a few steps it hit me, in the gut, "a foreign object was inside my body yesterday." 

That night, at midnight, I turned 21. So, I won't share the details of what happened, but lets just say they told me no alcohol for 24 hours, and midnight wasn't until hour 33. I would also say, that they spray your throat with numbing medicine. I felt good for the entire day. But with my 21st shenanigans and such my throat hurt bad the next day, and that was not just the tequila.

So, the good news is that I felt well enough to think I could ride. Looking back, I would not have scheduled this procedure right before my 21st birthday. Despite feeling better after 24 hours, I still did not feel great. 

My Tips before your colonoscopy:

• Drink enough fluids. Gaterade & Powerade are helpful to stay hydrated if you easily tip over like me. 

• Read the instructions more than 24 hours before and make your yellow/green/blue jello early!

• Make some good chicken broth, because that's all you're gonna be eating.

• Schedule your colonoscopy early but not too early.

• Mine was at 12:30 and by the time they started it was almost 2 pm. That was a long time to wait without eating. On the other hand if you schedule too early, you have to wake up earlier for the prep in the morning, if you have a split prep. You have to give yourself at least 4 hours before the procedure to drink the prep, and get rid of it. 

• Buy lemons and limes - and use them! Even though I felt nauseous by the end of my prep, the lemons and limes were a big help. 

• Bring something in the bathroom with you to soothe your tush. Also bring some entertainment (I brought my knitting and nearly finished a scarf).

Good luck and may the force (gross) be with you!

Much Love, 

Emily

Woo Woo

We got #4 !!!

The University of Arizona was named number 4 on Udi's list of top 10 colleges that cater to gluten free.

Although we still have a long ways to go in improving gluten free practices and cross-contamination, we are on the right track and I could not be more proud to be a Wildcat!

If you have questions or would like more information about the gluten free practices at the U please feel free to contact me or check out our page or facebook.

Bear Down, Arizona!

-Emily

Domino's not-so-gluten-free, pizza

So the internet has gone crazy on the issue of dominos GF pizza and I've decided to voice my opinion as well.

I HAVE to chime in... right?!

In case you haven't heard by now (you have to have been hiding under a rock), Dominos has announced a new gluten free pizza crust. Well, gluten free meaning, the initial ingredients of the crust are free of gluten. However, by the time it gets to your house, it is anything but free of gluten. There is NO separate kitchen area (meaning there is flour flying around everywhere), no separate utensils, counter spaces, ovens, ingredients... nothing. So yes, when they make a regular cheese pizza and throw too much cheese on it and toss some cheese back in the container, that cheese is contaminated with gluten that will soon be used on your "gluten free" pizza. The company has stated that the pizza is not intended for celiacs... so basically it is meant for those on the new "fad' Gf diet- wonderful.

Their main point behind the entire thing is that the pizza is good for those who are "mildy gluten-sensitive." Oh really? Then why are you calling this pizza "Gluten Free" and how exactly is that still OK for those who are gluten-sensitive?

So what's your opinion on the matter? Will you be ordering domino's "gf" pizza?

Much Love, 

Emily

Ryan Gosling; mmm

LOVE Him + Gluten Free Memes? = OMG!

Thank you Ryan Gosling. For your beautiful, beautiful face. Making gluten free just a little bit better...

Much Love, 

Emily

Company Replies Page

#DearReader

Check out my newest page to the Right --> titled "Company Replies"



This page will have all email correspondences I have with various companies regarding the status of their gluten free products. The most exciting new one I found out about is a local restaurant called Eegees. I learned that their french fries are gf (they don't fry anything else so there is no Cross-contamination as far as I am aware) and their eegees drinks, which are like slushys - but SO much better - are gf!

I should also share that our local Chik-Fil-A now serves grilled chicken nuggets (on the kids menu) that are gf and the french fries here have their own fryer so they are also gf! You can also still get the chicken breast filet without a bun, wrapped in lettuce, which is also GF.

*Check with your local Chik-Fil-A before confirming that the fries are gluten free (without cross-contamination) and they have a separate fryer.*