Sofia’s Autoimmune Story

MEET SOFIA

Hi, I’m Sofia! I am a thirteen year old girl with celiac disease. I’m the youngest of three girls in my family. Jesus has pulled me through everything that has been flying at me! I’m so grateful to have a steady family and faith. I love to write!

 DIAGNOSIS

I had been getting headaches almost daily for 4-5 years at this point. Migraines, all kinds. Stomach issues as well. I was tested for strep, mono, got an MRI and ultrasound. No one had answers. I wasn’t gaining enough weight or growing tall enough. After a blood test we noticed I had a majorly escalated antibody count. At a 90 when it should be at a 7. That’s when things started pointing to celiac disease. I was forced to stay on my gluten based diet until an endoscopy was performed. I soon found out that I was in the latest stage of celiac disease and my villi were all just gone. I wasn’t getting the proper nutrition I needed and it was pulling me down. I got on my diet and it’s been about 5 months since then. It’s a true rollercoaster.

 LIFE CHANGE

Celiac has made school very difficult. Gluten comes out of nowhere and boom, a migraine takes me out for days. It’s hard because it’s so unpredictable, I never see it coming. I’m not very dependable for sports or projects and I feel bad when I have to last minute cancel. Fast food is practically impossible, everywhere I go it’s a hit or miss. It’s been really stressful and it causes a little anxiety. It’s all extremely hard to deal with the symptoms while I’m just becoming a teenager.

 HEALING

Just my diet and chiropractic care. I am on many supplements for my GI, vitamin d3, collagen, and enzymes. I also have a prescription for migraines called rizatriptan. There are no specific medications for celiac, so when it hits, I just wait it out. Take a bath, drink plenty of water.

 STRUGGLE

The stress. It’s hard to be a girl. It’s hard to be on such a strict diet and still not feel all the way better. Checking every label or being jealous of whatever everyone else gets to eat. I realize I’m lucky there’s a way to help me feel better, but it’s hard to work through. I struggle with finding goood restaurants to eat at as well because of cross contamination issues.

INSPIRATION

It assures me that a strong foundation will pay off. The comfort that God will deliver me through it all. I know that life is tough, but with God, so am I

Find Sofia | @sfiebranz