Hey everyone:)
I'm just here looking for anyone from Maryland or even along the east coast to chat with. It would be nice to get to know more people who have celiac and like to do things I like to do. I'm not looking for a date I'm looking to find friends to hang out with or chat with.
I'm 18, I really like sports(football, baseball, nascar, softball, basketball,swimming,etc. ok you get the point ), music,yoga,reading, college(ok I know who likes school but I love my major), and just pretty much anything that's fun to do
Feel free to post here or PM me....

I'm in the Metro Atlanta area... actually Marietta, GA... Big Chicken Town...

I am 36, married, massage therapist, mom to a cute celiac kid... and I write articles for my local co op on Gluten Free living. I am starting a side business as a Gluten Free Lifestyle Consultant... Helping newly diagnosed Celiacs find local resources for good gluten-free foods, local restaurants that are gluten-free friendly, and helping hook them up with support groups...

So far it's not a "money making" business, just a service to help fellow Celiacs.

This Sat. actually, I am doing a talk at the local co op "Life Grocery" in their Cafe on Gluten Free Party Planning... I also talked the Cafe Mgmt. and Staff into having the first Gluten Free Day in the Cafe too where everything served on the menu and hot bar and salad bar is all gluten free!

It's this Sat. 9/3/05 all day in the cafe and I will be speaking from 12-2 ...

that's me in a nutshell!

Hi, Kaiti--I know what you mean. I don't know a single person with Celiac disease, and that's why I love this board--it'd be great to talk to someone more regularly who has celiac disease.

Anyhoo, I'm on the east coast. I live in Blacksburg, VA, but my parents live in northern VA, and I'm up there once a month or so. I'll be 26 Sept. 11, and I teach composition at Virginia Tech (and I love school, so I'm with ya' there!). I like to dance, and I'm into yoga. My favorite hobby is reading. And I love college football!

One of my friends used to go to VA Tech..for his first year of college. His name is Chris. You might know him...how long have you been there?
What kind of books do you like to read? I love to read too.

I live in Georgia right now but was born in Maryland and visit my family and such up there. I usully go to Perry Hall and Edgemere. I can let you know the next time I am up there, if you want.

Yeah, definitely let me know when your around here. I should have talked to more people from Georgia a few weeks ago. We went to Albany, GA. It was a very short trip for my dads business so we left here(14 hour drive) and came back 3 days later so talk about a very short trip. I believe we stayed by Atlanta the first night we were there.

I've taught a lot of first year students, so I may know your friend.

I like reading all kinds of things, though my favorite books for pleasure are mysteries or historical fiction. I like Stephen King, Jodi Poucault, Patricia Cornwell, and historical fiction set in the Elizabethan era. I read so much for teaching that when I read for pleasure I like to escape and read pretty mindless stuff.
How about you? What do you like to read?

I read alot of health related books....they just really intrigue me for some reason. I guess it makes sense considering my major is Dietetics and I love that too. I do love to read a good mystery though and some romance novels are fun to read sometimes too but for the most part I read alot on health.

I bet you have at least met my friend before. Small world

I know what you mean! I'm from PEI, Canada (north-east from Maryland) and I know a few people here who have celiac, but most of them are all older than me. The majority of people at the last celiac meeting I went to here were seniors. It's really too bad that we all didn't live closer together.

Hey everyone!

"Home" for me is Gettysburg, PA, I work in Howard County, MD, I go to school in Philadelphia, and I'm moving to New Jersey soon. So yep, I've got Maryland and the East Coast covered!

I'm 23, enjoy reading, horseback riding, horses and animals in general. I work for a horse magazine.

Kaiti - do you go to school in Frederick? I'm pretty familiar with Frederick - I drive through there to get to work and I sometimes go there to shop, etc. (b/c there is no civilization around me!) In fact, I'm going there to see a movie tomorrow

- Lauren

I live near the Frederick area. And we have plenty of civilization there...let me tell you probably too much of it lol. I have to admit they have some pretty good places to shop though-that is if you can get to the places through the traffic.
They have a really nice movie theater up there that is kind of new...I'm not sure which one you are going to because there are a few up there.
Which horse magazine do you work for? I have friends who live in Howard County. I am familiar with pretty much the whole area around here because I have lived here pretty much my whole life.

Yep, I think Frederick is growing a little too fast for itself! The roads and stuff can't keep up - I always get stuck in traffic coming home through Frederick. I'm going to the theater in that new-ish shopping center (the one that has Ann Taylor Loft and a Starbucks by the entrance)... I forget what the theater itself is called.

I work for a magazine called The Equiery. Our office is close to Mt. Airy. It's kind of the middle of nowhere haha... www.equiery.com

Yeah, I know where you are talking about..I always go to Starbucks before or after I go see a movie there. It's one of the Westview theaters...very nice theater there in my opinion...probably because it was built not too long ago.
Your work is not too far away from me...I told you more in the PM I sent you though.

Hi! I'm on the East Coast, but I'm up by Boston MA (North Shore). I'm 34 years old, a computer virus analyst (geek! ) and the only other interesting tidbit is that I'm getting married in October.

I don't know many celiacs around here, though I work with one, but I don't get to talk with him much as he travels extensively. I hope you don't mind me posting in here.

Hi Beth,

We have a lot in common! I live in MA as well. But west of Boston. I Work in Newton as a Sales Engineer in high tech (Geek ). I am 37 (almost 38) and married with 2 stepsons.

I had positive ELISA IGA and IGG tests about 4 weeks ago.

I don't know anyonw with Gluten Intolerance or Celiac's and my diagnosis is new. I would love to chat sometime.

KJ

Hey Beth, I'm on the North Shore too, in Manchester...where are you??

Lauren M.: Where in NJ are you moving to?

Deb M.

I'm on Cape Cod and I'm a former perl programmer (former geek) I'm now a stock broker!

Susan

Deb,

I'm moving to Deptford, NJ. Are you familiar with the town?

- Lauren

Hi Kaiti,

How are you? I live in New Jersey, about 30 minutes from NYC. Im 36 and married. I met my wife in Holland, I was stationed there in USAF. And she just came over here in April, after all the visa paperwork etc. I have 1 class left for my BA, taking the class on-line. Well, I would like to keep in contact whenever possible. Good luck with school. Oh Im planning a trip to Annapolis, MD soon, any suggestions? Take care.
-Joe

Joe-
PM me or email me sometime to keep in contact. I can definitely help you out with some places to visit while your up here.
I also do some online courses right now, love it because I can actually have a life while I'm in school at least for now
Talk to you soon

Hi Katie,

I live in Ellicott city, Md. I see you are starting college soon. What college are you going to? I went to Towson University, graduated in 2001. I have a degree in psychology, but I work in IT. It's really great so many celiacs are on the eastcoast. We should all keep in touch.

Traci

I know Newton a bit. My ex worked at Brandeis, so we drove by newton all the time.

I would love to chat sometime. I was only diagnosed this past May so I can only imagine how you feel. I know for myself I'm still a bit narked off. But yeah, I'd love to chat and/or share recipes.

I'm technically in Lynn, but I'm 3 blocks from the beach and Swampscott. I love it here.

Wow!! How cool is that?! I wouldn't mind being a geek on the Cape. How do you find tourist season?

How did you go from programming to stock broker?

I'm right down the road outside Richmond , Va. Married and semi-retired. Play lots of golf and build bluebird houses and study the species. Enjoy life and good health thanks to gluten-free diet. Looking foward to cooler weather.


Tom

Hi Kaiti and everyone,
Well, I live in Frederick, Maryland and worked there until last month. Now I work in Myersville, just a few minutes away. So, yeah, I know Frederick and Mt. Airy and the rest of the area. I'm 50 but still going to school part time. I was dumb and didn't go at 18, so finally went several years ago and got my AA (at Frederick Community) Now I'm trying to finish my BA from UMUC. I only have 9 more credits, so I'm going to try to finish in May. But that leaves little time for anything else right now. Sigh. A couple of friends and I were thinking of seeing Serenity at that movie theater Friday night, if anyone else wants to join us.
I'm new to this board - actually I haven't been diagnosed celiac yet, but I'm pretty sure I have it. Also DH - I've had this skin condition for 25 years now, little blisters on my hands, arms, legs and feet that itch like crazy - I scratch, and end up with sores all over. I told my doctor 10 years ago I couldn't eat pasta because it gave me a stomach ache but now after several more celiac symptoms have shown up the doc finally thinks maybe I should get tested. After reading about celiac disease, my only response was, "well, if there's anything here I don't have, I guarantee you someone in my family does!" Going down the symptoms and related diseases was like going over my family's medical history - Type I diabetes, thyroid disease, colon and stomach cancers, Addison's disease - every member of my family has one of them by age 50, and many much younger. Anyway, what I'm working on is getting the skin test - if that's positive, then I've got it and don't have to go through the intestinal biopsy. Either way, the dermatologist and the gastroentologist that my doctor uses both have a couple of months waiting period for appointments. I made an appointment with the dermatologist, and have been trying to eat gluten-free for the past few weeks (the skin biopsy, from what I've been told, will be positive for several months, maybe years, unlike the intestinal biopsy where if the villi heal in a few weeks, won't show the disease if you're gluten-free.) I have noticed a difference, I feel much better gluten-free and can already tell big time if something with gluten accidently slips in - which has happened a couple of times. I haven't figured out all the "hidden gluten" tricks yet. But I'm working on it.
Sorry this is so long, but thought I'd introduce myself.
Debbie

Also in the area.

Hi KJ,
I live in MA too.....in the Western part of the state. I was diagnosed 9/20 after losing 18 lbs! Unfortunately, I didn't need to lose any weight.
I changed my diet immediately and have noticed a difference. Have you changed your diet? I just had an upper GI done today and am having an endoscopy procedure in a couple of weeks....just to rule out anything else that may be going on.
I have 2 teenagers who were tested yesterday.
I have a pretty bland diet at the moment, but do have access to a few people who also have celiac so hopefully I can get "product" info from them.
Let me know how you are doing.
Donna

Hey- I saw all the Massachusetts people on here so I revived the thread. I'm in Portsmouth NH but grew up in Lynnfield, MA and all my family and my husband's family is in MA too- Peabody, Beverly, Reading. I love Manchester and my therapist (I need one after this year!) is right on the Swampscott/Lynn line too. I'm down there all the time if you guys want to get together and form our own little support group. Or just email back and forth. Feel free to email me through the board. Hope to hear from you, Beverly

i am from south carolina, i used to go to school in savannah, ga.

Hi everyone - I'm new to the forum and have found all the information very helpful. I've been gluten-free since April 2003. It's nice to that there are other people like me out there!

I'm 24 years old and I recently moved from Philadelphia to Fairfax, VA (not too far from Kaiti). I really enjoy reading what you all have to say. Take care!

Welcome to the board You will love it here...the people on here are so knowledgeable and supportive. Feel free to contact me anytime...you don't live to far away from me...there are quite a few celiacs I know that also live around here
There should be like a gluten free state where all the celiacs live in the U.S ..that would be cool.

Hi, everyone! I saw New Jersey mentioned. I live in Burlington Twp. which is midway between Phila. and Trenton. I'm a 49 yr. old married mom of 2 sons. I grew up in central NY and have lived in the Atlanta, GA area as well as in northern NJ-Warren Co. My husband was transferred around a bit. We've been here for almost 10 yrs. now and absolutely love it here. Its so nice that we have this forum to go to as I, also, have never met anyone else with celiac disease.

Hi, Kaiti!!

I love the way you spell your name! I live in Richmond, VA. I'm 25, and I recently graduated from Oklahoma City University with a Master's in Musical Theatre. I work with regional theatres around the metro area, and I'm a substitute teacher in one of our local counties. Like you, I don't know a SOUL with celiac disease. I've been gluten-free since July of 2004. It's hard to go through it alone, but it seems we're both making the best of a unique situation! Best of luck to you. Stay in touch, okay?!

Katie

Hi Beverly, there is an awesome restaurant in Beverly MA with tons of gluten-free food, and a very understanding staff - let me know if you are going to be in the area and we can have lunch there! It's called the Organic Garden, it's on Cabot Street. My email is mscarr@verizon.net.

MaryAnn

Hi there MA people

I live in Leominster MA. I was just diagnosed with Celiac though I am not 100% sure about the diagnosis. Just a blood test and "you have celiac". Sould I get a seond opinion on this?
I did start the gluten free diet and I'm looking for local support groups...any suggestions?

France

Hi!
I'm excited to see there are folks from Massachusetts here! I'm from Western MA too - Springfield area and have just begun the testing for celiac disease. My son too. We'be been gluten free for almost a month and have felt great but now have to go back to eating gluten in order for the doc to see how sick we are and for the tests to register properly. ugh.

I'm glad to have found this site as I know of only one person so far who has celiac disease and it sure would be nice to get to know more folks with this and learn how to live with celiac disease!

Cathy

Hi Cathy,
Where are you getting your tests done? I think I might need further testing.
The gluten free diet seems to be working but certain things like coffee make me ill and coffee is suppose to be safe.

France

Sorry no east coast here.....I can't seem to find anyone on here from Kentucky.

MaryAnn- I went to the Organic Garden cafe last week and had falafel for the first time in almost a year! I almost died of happiness. thanks for the recommendation! Beverly

Hi everyone! I'm also new to this whole thing. It's been 2 weeks now? Anyway, I live in NYC; I saw some New Jersey and a lot of MA, anyone from NYC or anywhere close to the city? New Jersey is close.

I'm 21 and almost done with my undergraduate degree. I also work at a law firm and I'm engaged! I live in Manhattan and love to do all the "city stuff." Anyone else?

Also, if anyone lives in or near the city, do you know of any gluten free resturants? I "used" to eat out all the time, every meal, but starting Thursday, I'm going to have to change my whole lifestyle! It's going to be hard always being on the run.........any tips from anyone? Or quick easy and healthy gluten free food?

-Danielle (Dani)

I am on Long Island--about 40 miles maybe from Dani--I live in East Islip--Deb

Hi France,
What kind of coffee? Plain coffee? There may be something else in there that is bothering you and it's not gluten. Do you add any creamer or anything? Those can have gluten. I have other food allergies so have to watch out for those too. Anyone else have issues with coffee? I can't drink it on an empty stomach but I don't suppose that is the same thing.

I am having my tests done here in Springfield, through Baystate Medical Center and they sent my results to a lab in Cambridge.

What kind of tests are you looking to have done?

Cathy

I living in the northeast coast of North Carolina ( I think most everyone here knows that).

France- Coffee makes me violently ill. I've never been able to figure it out. I can handle caffeine in diet Coke, but coffee rips my GI tract to shreds. I've always been that way.

I live in NY - just outside of the city, but work in the city. I'm 28, and just got married a couple weeks ago.

I work as a business manager for a magazine - which basically consumes the majority of my life, but for fun I like to go to concerts (preferably hard rock and heavy metal - you would never know by looking at me that is what I listen to). I'm an expert shopper, and love to just watch movies and be social : )

I feel like I just wrote a personal ad - lol!!!

Hey Dani,

Not only do i live in NYC, but I am in my last year at Fordham Law school. I just turned 24. Are you planning on going to law school? I also know several gluten-free restaurants in NY- risotteria is downtown, supposed to be great. Also Sambuca on W72nd- ive been there and they have a good gluten-free menu. Where in manhattan do u live? i have a great grocery store in midtown, and a good one on the upper east side too...feel free to email me if u want more info: stefikaplan@gmail.com
cant believe there arent more NYC people on this site!!!

Dani - if you need a wedding planner I'm still in the whole planning mode so ask any questions you want - hehehe!!!

No but seriously, where I work we have more engaged girls than you can possibly imagine. I'm already helping 1 of my good friends with her wedding. She literally has recruited me as her planner.

I had the most amazing vendors so if you need any recommendations let me know. And if you want we can meet up for gluten-free pizza at Risotteria : )

We should all meet up there...ive heard its delicious! (and then on to dessert at happyhappyhappy or babycakes!)