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College Essay On Celiac Disease

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I was 7 years old and lying in bed trying to fall asleep, but, as usual, the constant, nagging pain in my stomach wouldn’t subside. I had thrown off my blankets in case I was too hot, I had tried falling asleep in different positions, and I had even gotten some antacids, but nothing was helping. Finally, I called for my parents and they came upstairs. As always, they asked me what my pain level was on a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the worst; I said it was a 6.
This had been happening ever since I was 5 years old. When I was 7, I went to the doctor, had seven vials of blood drawn and tested, and it was determined I had celiac disease. The first time going out to dinner since I had been diagnosed with celiac disease was very challenging. When we got there, I wasn’t able to have any of the delicious, soft, warm rolls before the main course. I quickly got tired of having to eat salad for dinner, since there were no other dishes that were gluten free. I also hated the gluten free …show more content…

I suffered through horrible-tasting foods and missed out on flavorful dishes until public awareness of celiac disease grew. Although there is now an abundance of gluten free foods, that doesn’t mean everything about having celiac disease has become easier. I have more choices for what to eat, but I still have to be careful to not eat contaminated food and I have to always be prepared ahead of time in case I don’t have any options for food.
Being diagnosed with celiac disease affected more than just my diet; it also impacted my personality. I have always thought of myself as a very independent person and I think that my independence stemmed from my celiac disease. I also have to constantly speak up for myself to make sure that I am able to eat wherever I go. Being so independent has helped me in school because I am able to reflect on any mistakes I make on exams so that I can strengthen my study

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