{"entry":[{"id":"29203088","hash":"8e5d20096fa2d068d11660d0fbf78cb0","requestHash":"gfdougie","profileUrl":"http:\/\/gravatar.com\/gfdougie","preferredUsername":"gfdougie","thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/0.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e5d20096fa2d068d11660d0fbf78cb0","photos":[{"value":"http:\/\/0.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e5d20096fa2d068d11660d0fbf78cb0","type":"thumbnail"}],"profileBackground":{"color":"#","position":"left","repeat":"repeat","url":"http:\/\/1.gravatar.com\/bg\/29203088\/cacaae52f07926bf59e7d75d3435ba01"},"displayName":"GFDougie","aboutMe":"Gluten-free one day at a time! I\u2019m learning.\n \nI was diagnosed as celiac under the age of six years old. This in and of itself is a major breakthrough of statistics in the USA, as I was born in 1971. I had an awesome Pediatrician who had experience in celiac diagnosis. Current statistics state it takes ten years to be officially diagnosed as celiac in the U. S. A. and thirteen years as coeliac in the United Kingdom \u2013 with averages varying widely across Europe. That said there were still some failures in my young Life. I was fed corn flakes as there is no gluten in that, right? Wrong \u2013 barley malt. I was fed vegetable soup with barley in it. There were other food items I was fed without full knowledge of gluten-containing ingredients. We all now know these are the wrong answers in living a celiac, gluten-free Life. Education back then was sporadic at best and poor at worst.\n \nShall we fast-forward to High School and the consequences of celiac disease and Teen-Social Life? I became \u201cthe Rebel\u201d in regard to my celiac disease and ate gluten with abandonment to \u201cfit in\u201d with the \u201cin-crowd.\u201d I developed symptoms I wouldn\u2019t have associated with celiac disease at that time. One of the more pronounced symptoms was Dermatitis Herpetiformis. Of course I also had the usual symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), constipation, diarrhea, and eczema. Not being \u201cfully educated\u201d on the ramifications of celiac disease, I thought these symptoms were normal at the time.\n \nIn my 20\u2019s and 30\u2019s, I had a better respect for celiac disease. However, at that time I still thought standard beer, Modified Food Starch (undeclared), \u201c flavorings\u201d and other ingredients were safe for celiacs. I also did not respect caution with the \u201cshared equipment with wheat\/gluten\u201d labeling. I was not the model or poster-person for \u201cliving gluten-free as a celiac\u201d I realized later. Parts of this portion of my Life led were due to the inconvenience aspect and disrespecting the thought process of survival of Life in regard to celiac disease and being gluten-free.\n \nNow I\u2019m in my 40\u2032s. The Internet has had a profound affect in how I deal with celiac disease. I have learned a lot in regard to symptoms, hidden ingredients, and what \u201cnot to do\u201d in regard to living with celiac and being gluten-free. Twitter interaction has also helped a lot in keeping me updated with potential pitfalls of failure; as well as successful hints, recipes, and products in regard to celiac disease. I\u2019m looking forward to living in a healthier celiac body by being truly gluten-free.\n \nI am an active internet user as I have a fairly new blog: www.glutenfreetip.com and am on Twitter as @GFDougie: https:\/\/twitter.com\/#!\/GFDougie. Please feel free to visit and follow me. \n\nResearch, educate, and advocate all celiac and gluten-free.\n \nPeace be with you.","currentLocation":"Tampa, FL, USA","urls":[]}]}