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Freedom Feature: Brianna Wolin “A Different Survival Guide”

by 54 Comments

Connecting the celiac disease and food allergy/intolerance community together by sharing our stories to food freedom. From our beginning struggles to striving after a diagnosis, we can all relate and help each other out by sharing what we’ve learned and our unique personal journeys.

The Freedom Feature | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Sharing our stories to food allergy freedom

Round two of the Freedom Feature is already coming at you! I’m excited to have Brianna share her story with you, as it’s very unique and not your typical celiac story (but when are they typical!) I’ve only recently connected with Brianna, but she is such a sweet girl and has been though the wringer with her health! But what’s also awesome about this stellar young woman; she’s been gluten-free for 15 years! That is beyond veteran status! She knows just how much the community has changed and the struggle it was years ago! A fellow trail blazer, “before it was cool”. Take it away, Brianna!

Freedom Feature: Brianna Wolin "A Different Kind Of Survival Guide" | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Connecting the celiac disease and food allergy/intolerance community together by sharing our stories to food freedom. From our beginning struggles to striving after a diagnosis, we can all relate and help each other out by sharing what we’ve learned and our unique personal journeys.

background: who are you?

My name is Brianna and I am a 20-something biomedical engineering student at the University of Michigan graduating in fewer than 100 days! I’m very attached to my hometown, Chicago, and my two tibetan terriers currently enjoying this frigid cold! My younger sister (best friend) attends Tufts University in Medford, MA and I hope to visit her very soon.

what was life like before your diagnosis? 

When I was 4 years old, my mom caught me drinking my own bath water. As a type 1 diabetic herself, the warning signs were clear—the extreme thirst and excessive urination were strong indicators to her and she immediately checked my blood glucose. My life suddenly went from concern-less to a series of over-planned events. At the time of my type 1 diabetes diagnosis, the physicians ran a panel of blood work that revealed a high TTG level—the indicator for celiac disease. However, I was not “sick” and false positives can occur in type 1 diabetic patients, so I was sent home with my parents and a bag full of vials and syringes to begin my new life. Within the year, I’d lost a lot of weight, had a distended stomach bloated out a foot in front of my slight frame, and was constantly in stomach pain or vomiting after eating.
(Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac are commonly linked and often come hand in hand.)

how did you find the right doctor and end up getting properly tested and diagnosed?

I was immediately brought in for an endoscopy at a local children’s hospital, where the GI said my villi appeared normal and that something else was the culprit. My parents were not convinced and had my slides sent to the recently-local, world-renown expert in celiac disease, Dr. Stefano Guandalini. I was his second patient in the United States at age 5. (Dr. Guandalini is the FOUNDER of the renowned University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center! Celiac envy!)

how did life change after diagnosis?

As “the most sensitive celiac” my doctor has ever seen, I’ve been living the 100% gluten free life for over 15 years, combined with a host of other food allergies and intolerances and need for low-carb/low glycemic index eating for my personal type 1 diabetes blood glucose management. Though some diabetics do not elect a low-carb diet, I’ve found it’s been best for me, but don’t be entirely fooled—this chocoholic gets plenty of chocolate every single day, and I am not afraid to indulge in a beautiful gluten free meal or dessert!

why did you start your blog? what did you hope to achieve out of doing so?

My blog, A Different Survival Guide, is pretty much a big slap in the face to everyone who has told me “I could never do that.” I write about living with diabetes, celiac disease, and multiple food allergies in college, which began the day I stepped on campus and had to rent my own apartment because the dorms couldn’t provide appropriate food for my needs. I know my blog is for my very special niche community, but my followers are sometimes diabetic-celiac, but many identify with one or the other, or general food allergies/intolerances. I hope that my blog is both informational and inspirational to young people headed off to, already in, or just after college learning to navigate a very different world living with chronic illness.

what makes your blog unique and what does it (or what you hope) add to the community?

I hope that my blog is both informational and inspirational to young people headed off to, already in, or just after college learning to navigate a very different world living with chronic illness.

do you have a celiac/food allergy tip to give?

Always opt for the naturally gluten free/allergen-friendly foods first. The least number of ingredients is often the safest! And, of course, as my doctor said when I was first diagnosed and has since become a life mantra, “when in doubt, leave it out.”

have any favorite gluten-free foods or brands to share?

I have a wide variety of brands that I support and love. I’m very attached to companies including Canyon Bakehouse, Glutino and Udi’s, Enjoy Life Foods, and my latest find, Whole Note Baking Mixes for their absolutely incredible crepe mix! I write a lot of brand and product reviews on my blog, so be sure to check it out for all the yummy scoop!

can you share your favorite recipe with us?

In terms of recipes, as a college kid, I’m all about winging it and throwing together things that are simple and quick (except when baking—because goodness knows, the result is often quite nasty without a recipe!) I love to throw together a quick southwest salmon bake (oven to 475, line pan with foil, put salmon inside and top with salsa, frozen corn, and shredded cheese, then seal the foil up into a little pack and cook for 45 minutes!) or a simple stir fry (with tofu, San-j sauce of choice, canned bamboo shoots and water chestnuts, some chopped onion and broccoli!).

what do you hope to see in the future; for yourself and the gluten-free/food allergy community?

In the future, I’m truly hoping for a medical discovery that would allow me to no longer concern myself with cross-contamination. It’s hard to be so sensitive that even a gluten-free menu at a restaurant is all too likely to still get me sick (I’m in bed for a week from one molecule of gluten). In terms of my niche reader community, I’m hopeful that my readers become more comfortable commenting on my posts and sharing their personal stories and helpful tips!
Isn’t Brianna fabulous? She is such a strong young woman and one tough (gluten-free) cookie! She knows how to take care of her health, just how her body needs and she doesn’t care or let one anyone might say get in the way of that! Show Brianna some love and connect with her on her blog or twitter!
So tell me:
+ Do you follow the “when in doubt, leave it out” mentality? Yes! It’s never worth the risk!
Remember you can submit your own Freedom Feature!

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Comments

  2. kimmythevegan says

    Great story – thank you for sharing this Brianna. I love your positive attitude! It seems like someone could easily feel sorry for themselves in your situation, but you really have overcome a lot.
    Love your mantra: “when in doubt, leave it out.”
    As someone with a dairy allergy – I agree completely!

    Rebecca – I’m really enjoying your series and meeting new bloggers =)

    Reply

  6. Jess | Make and Do Crew says

    I’m new to your blog and I like this series! I have never gotten a celiac test because I figured out I can’t tolerate gluten with my naturopath 10 years ago and now I don’t want to go back to eating it in order to get the test 🙂

    I love that we can’t find so much information about food allergies online now though. Existing in the real world is sometimes a little lonely when it comes to this kind of stuff!

    Reply

  7. Patrick Weseman says

    Very interesting. One of best friends has to eat a gluten-free diet. So, I have become a little bit of an expert at finding places that offer gluten-free choices. The problem I have is that most of those places are seafood places which I can’t eat. But we make it work.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  8. Marla says

    Thanks for sharing your story Brianna and thanks Rebecca for having this series. I have dealt with a lot physical problems but never with Diabetes so my heart goes out to anyone especially with the diabetes Type 1. Brianna

    Reply

  9. Nikki Frank-Hamilton says

    I love this series, I don’t know anyone in my circle that is gluten free, other than me. It makes things really difficult, I always carry snacks to get through the day. But I cannot imagine how hard this path was for Brianna, to be diagnosed so young, it’s hard enough now, I can’t fathom how it was 15 years ago!!! Kudos to you for having this series and to people like Brianna who blog and help others to navigate their diet in a gluten filled world!

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      I know! 15 years ago, you were totally on your own. If you wanted bread…you baked it yourself!

      Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Please see a doctor before switching his diet! You’ll never know if you don’t get tested for celiac first!

      Reply

  15. Farrah says

    I haven’t come across Brianna in the blogging world yet, so thank you for featuring her! 15 years is amazing! That salmon sounds amazing (I’m probably biased as it’s my favorite protein other than chicken)–can’t wait to try it out!!

    Thanks for sharing your story, Brianna! :]!

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      She a very quiet smell blogger 😉 She’s to busy being a badass celiac!
      Yes! Salmon and chicken….the world’s greatest 😉

      Reply

  25. lyndzut@gmail.com says

    Oh brianna! I can totally relate. That was me back in 2001. Yes, i’m old. That’s when i went to college though. haha. You have to take care of you and you did just that and more. Truly inspiring!

    Reply

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Hey there, welcome to Strength and Sunshine! I’m Rebecca and I’m so glad you’re here! This is your go-to destination for delicious, fun, and (mostly) healthy gluten-free and allergy-free recipes, tips & tricks, advice, as well as celiac and food allergy coaching services!

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