Anyone out there in Celiacland from North Carolina.

Lisa B.

Hi, I live near Asheville NC - but I don't have celiac disease, my daughter does. I just started a celiac support group in Hendersonville, though, and had a very good turn out. Where do you live? PM me if you want to chat.

Laurie:

I'm on the northeast coast. Edenton, NC. I love the Fresh Market in Hendersonville. We used to live in Landrum, SC for two years when my husband was flying out of Charlotte.

My girls (12 years ago) used to ride horses in Tryon. It is a beautiful place.

I am the one with Celiac and I can sympothize with parents who have children with celiac disease. You know, when it is you, you can handle it. As a parent of a celiac disease child and you are the cook/server, it must be a heavy burden.

I am thinking about getting a support group here. I know of three other people in our small town and I bet there are alot more. Maybe you could give me some pointers on a beginning.

Good to talk to another TarHeel.

Lisa B. (several Lisa's who post, so I am the Lisa B.)

Hi Lisa B:

Too bad we are on opposite ends of the state. I was able to start the support group through the hospital where I work. Someone in the community approached the hospital's community outreach center about starting a group. They needed someone inside the hospital to take a leadership role and of course I jumped at the chance. I've had alot of assistance from Marketing in getting the word out. I wrote a press release which marketing sent out. They helped me with designing a flyer and I distributed it to all the doctor's offices. They also did a short interview with me on the radio as part of their weekly program on events at the hospital. Since I'm a dietitian, I also get referrals from physician when they diagnose people with celiac disease, so I was able to reach those people directly to tell them about the support group.

If you want to start a group, you might approach your local hospital with the idea. Having the support group affiliated with the hospital really helped me get the whole thing going!

That is a wonderful idea to link into the hospital. My "new Doc" is very active with the hospital and he could get me started.

I signed a release form today at his office to get the Gastro. Dr. records (that biopsy confirmed celiac disease) not quite sure that I have him on board yet. I am glad that he is questioning.

I would love to be there with you to watch the trees turn. Enjoy them for me.

Lisa B.

Dear Lisa B.,
I am celiac in Wilmington, NC. Have you heard of any fellow celiacs in this area. I have only been gluten free since Aug 2006 and really haven't found anyone to relate to.
Thanks for your help!
Have a Happy 4th!
Mary Katherine Talley

Well Hello Mary Katyherine!

Welcome to the Board. I live up the coast about three hours from Wilmington and I have a daughter who lives in Wilmington.

I am glad that you found this site. It has helped me tremendously and there is nothing about Celiac that someone can't tell you. Feel free to ask any questions of just vent. We ALL can relate here.

Lisa

I go to my grandmother's between Canton and Waynesville every summer. Maybe we could meet in Asheville ... know any gluten friendly places there?

Carla, I'm on the ocean side of the state. Asheville is beautiful. I think that this was my first thread after joining the Board. My how time flyies

LOL

I read through the whole thread and remembered "Hendersonville" so I was thinking that's where you lived!

I didn't look at the date of the thread when it came up as a new post ...

While we are on North Carolina...if any one comes to the Outer Banks, let me know because it's only about an hour away. Laura might be comming this summer and I hope we can meet for lunch.

Hi! I'm in Raleigh. New Dx, and learning to cope. I was reading through different threads getting tips and making notes. [i]Would REALLY LOVE[/i] to talk to others with more experience. Please feel free to contact me.

Susan

It is so nice to hear of all of you in North Carolina. I often read this board and the information has been invaluable. I have been searching for others with celiac in the Wilmington area, so I was excited to see Mary Katherine's post. I am also in Wilmington and would love to chat and share ideas, restaurants, etc. I have been gluten free for three years. I just volunteered at Camp Kanata's gluten free week and the Raleigh area has some wonderful people who are active in the whole gluten free lifestyle and with different family members who have celiac disease. I'd love to hear from you.

Vicki Himmelstein

I'm from a very small town in nc there are NO doctors that specialize in or even familiar with celiac disease i feel so frustrated that i can't get information this disease much less a glutten free diet every thing i've read has come from the web site celiac.com

Hi Susan: I live in Durham and was diagnosed 3 months ago tomorrow. Would love to communicate. I am an active senior citizen and this has really put a damper on my outdoor activities. Don't really know how to begin communications as I am just barely computer literate and am working my way through. As frustrated as I feel sometimes regards celiac, this forum surely does help. Gladys

I live in Clayton, NC (about 30 min SE of Raleigh) and I work in Raleigh.

Momma Goose, I wish I had been more active on this board a month ago...I was just on a weekend vacation in Edenton! It's certainly a lovely town. I was staying in the historic district just a couple blocks from the courthouse and the sound.

I am also in Wilmington and would love to meet other celiacs in the area. I was just diagnosed this week.

Holly

We're also in NC-- Pilot Mountain. Also a tiny little rural town. Good to see so many other NC people on here!

-Sarah

I'm also in NC if anyone wants to share favorite restaurants, etc. Try Biaggi's in Cary if you are near Raleigh as they have gluten-free pasta on the menu and a knowledgeable staff (I think it's www.biaggis.com) and the World's Best Carrot Cake in Asheville NC (chocolate gluten-free carrot cake, yum). Other options I've found are Bonefish Grille, Carraba's, Chick-Fil-A, and Outback.

My husband surprises me with orders from Foods By George (he orders online) sometimes - pricey but really good.

By the way, I recently discovered that I am having reactions to dairy as well...anyone else have this come on after being diagnosed celiac disease and going gluten-free?

lcmiller,

Welcome! Yes, it is often suggested that those who first go gluten free due to celiac/intolerance to go diary free as well. Dairy is absorbed on the tips of the villi which may have been damaged due to the gluten consumption.

Dairy may be introduced again once the villi are healed.

I was recently told that I have Celiac Disease and was wondering if you know of any Support Groups in Hendersonville, NC. Thanks

Hey Kwatts,

You are in the northwestern part of the state. I used to live about 20 minutes south of Hendersonville and loved the Fresh Market. Now, I live on the eastern part of the state.

I have included a list of support people in your area. They can direct you to where to shop and dine:

http://www.celiac.org/connections.php


On Celiac.com, you will not find better experts and kinder people to help you walk through your journey with Celiac. We are glad that you have joined us.

If you have any questions, and I am sure that you have millions, please feel comfortable to ask. That's what we are here for.

I do not know if anyone who has helped with getting a support group has posted on this thread in a while, but I am going to try and get one started for Fayetteville area. If there is any thoughts, ideas, or anything that could be of use let me know, Please!!!!

I'm another Raleigh-ite

Momma Goose, we had some friends that used to live in Edenton. It's beautiful there. I grew up in southeastern VA, Suffolk. It's about a hour to Edenton (if I remember) and about an hour and a half to the OBX. I miss being so close to the ocean...

Liz

Yup, that would be us. PM me about your friends, perhaps we know them. Raleigh really is a small town, you know. We send our kids to go to school there and they never want to leave. Well, some appreciate "home".

Where do your kids go to school?
When I first moved here from Suffolk, I though this place was HUGE!! But my husband and I have been here 4 years now and doesn't seem so big anymore. It's big enough for me... of course everything is very compartmentalized, so you really never have to go more than 5 miles from your home if you don't want to. I have two groceries within walking distance, a drug store and a gym... along with quite a few eateries. What else do you need? lol

Your kids will appreciate home as they get older. It probably seems small to them now, but there's nothing quite like home.

Those living in Hendersonville, NC- I am the manager at Potenza, an italian restaurant downtown, and we just started a gluten-free menu that includes pastas. My younger brother has celiac so I know how difficult it can be to go out to eat. I am not trying to shamelessly promote my restaurant but I do want to let people know that there are options out there and more and more people are becoming aware of celiac disease. I would love feedback on what peoples needs are when they are dining out.