Ep 160 Family Tip of the Iceberg
A Conversation with Dr. Jenny Jagers
Let’s start the blog with the show notes for this Episode –
Diagnosis stories are always interesting. Some are very short, some take longer, and some standout because of their complexity. On this episode I speak with Dr. Jenny Jagers, who has a doctorate in medicine, but is not a medical doctor. She was able to recount her time before diagnosis, as well as the varied symptoms that led to confusion and a negative test for celiac disease. The real story though occurs after she receives her diagnosis. Jenny is from a very large family and what she did next had a profound effect on so many others. Jenny is now a volunteer with the Calgary Chapter of the CCA and it’s very clear, she is going to continue to make an impact on the lives of so many going forward.
Sue’s Websites and Social Media –
Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com
Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com
Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast
Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA
Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com
Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com
Instagram – @suesgfbaking
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL
Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com
Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com
My Thoughts –
Families come in all shapes, sizes, and temperaments. When one of us gets a diagnosis of celiac disease, we turn to our families to share our “discovery” in hopes that our experience might help them learn more about their genetics and possibly unlock a solution to ongoing health issues.
I’ve always found it curious that many people “don’t want to know” about our diagnosis. They don’t want to think it might be a “family issue” and effect them as well. It can often be an uphill battle to get other family members on board with the possibility that celiac may be the cause of other family health problems.
When I think about this dis-connect, I’m drawn back to the vilification of the gluten free diet. We’ve all heard the “jokes” about gluten free food, and how it’s just an inconvenient choice that makes any meal difficult for everyone. We sometimes want to blame those who do not have celiac disease and choose the diet for other health reasons, for fuelling the idea of self-importance and communal inconvenience. I try never to go down this path.
It does seem the public “bad rap” that has identified the gluten free diet has become a stumbling block for other family members. They can’t get past the inconvenience to see the diet for what it really is – our medicine.
When I think back before my diagnosis to the times I ended up flat out on the floor in my room, after a meal, writhing in pain, ready to do anything that would stop this from happening, gluten free seems so easy.
If only others could embrace the restrictions of the diet to understand that we don’t require expensive, invasive medical procedures, or require life-long medications that mess with our immune system and could have profound side-effects. Embracing the gluten free diet is not easy for those who stand by us and watch us struggle, especially in the early days of a diagnosis, but the big picture is so much more important. Gluten is our enemy. Removing gluten is our medicine. Simple, but not easy.