Hi I’m Faith! I’m 24 years old and almost five years ago I was diagnosed with a genetic autoimmune disease called celiac.
The doctors made my disease seem easy. “Go gluten free you’ll be fine.” So I did. Closing down my home baking business and forgetting any dreams I had of culinary school.
I kept expecting to feel better. But as the months started to go by it seemed to get worse. Muscle pains, joint pain, migraines, facial numbness, 89 pound weight loss in three months, and then the hair went this past year.
That was a huge blow. Losing my hair felt like losing my identity.
It was the spoon community that helped me find affordable wigs on amazon. Gluten free makeups to help cover the couture bags under my eyes from lack of sleep.
I would get random messages on my Tumblr blog saying “I understand!” “You’re not crazy I’m going through it too!”
I felt very alone in my disease until I found the spoonie communities online.
Yes I have an amazing family, and a gluten intolerant boyfriend. But you can’t always lean on them for support. As one family member put it. “Sometimes we just need a break.” That’s when the spoonie community takes over. I’ve met some amazing friends on here and I hope I continue to.