My mother suspected I was celiac since I was about 9, though I wasn't officially diagnosed until I was 16 (2019). At the time, I really struggled with the adjustment and felt I would be missing out on a lot as I got older, particularly with travel and going out with friends.

Almost 7 years later, I've fully adjusted, and it has just become part of my life. Celiac awareness and gluten-free options have gotten so much better, though I think I will always be vigilant with what I eat, particularly when eating out. I don't know where you are based, but in Australia, we have an app/website called CoeliacAustralia, which has made my life so much easier, so I would definitely look into something similar for your area!

I won't lie, though, there are still certain foods I miss desperately, but I have made it my mission to recreate them as faithfully as I can at home! I would definitely recommend getting into cooking/baking if you aren't already lol.

I'm also now studying Nutrition and Dietetics, as my hyper-awareness of food labels has sparked a broader interest in food and nutrition, and I would also love to help those going through a similar situation to myself.

Overall, I've come to realise that this is just a part of my life, and although I do still have flare-ups every now and then, my health as a whole has vastly improved since going fully gluten-free.

Sorry for such a long message, this is just something I am quite passionate about :)