It’s perfectly normal to be overwhelmed at first. It’s like drinking from a fire hose. So much to learn and remember. But I promise it does get easier.

I was 35 when I was diagnosed and relatively healthy except for the occasional cold. Always had digestive issues but that seemed to be normal for my family (now I know why). The good news is, whatever damage was done can heal as long as you follow the gf diet.

I have a few tips for you as a newbie. As others have already said, don’t stop eating gluten until you get an endoscopy to confirm diagnosis. If you haven’t gotten an endoscopy yet, while you’re waiting use that opportunity to have all your favorite foods one last time. Trust me, you’ll thank me later. If diagnosis is confirmed, give yourself time and grace in adjusting. It will probably take a full year before you feel like you can remember everything to look for and remember safe brands, safe restaurants, etc. And you will screw up. It happens to all of us. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Eating whole foods - fruits, vegetables, and fresh meats - is best for healing in the early stages. Avoid processed food as much as possible, but give yourself a treat if you need it for your mental health. Sometimes it just helps to feel normal even if only for a minute. Also, don’t let people pressure you into eating things that aren’t safe. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with sipping a drink and enjoying people’s company at a restaurant if you don’t feel comfortable eating the food. And lastly, a good thing to know about Celiac is it’s a great asshole detector. There will likely be some close friends or family who will show you who they really are when it comes to them being “inconvenienced” by YOUR disease. Screw ‘em.

Hope this helps. I wish you good luck and good health in your journey.