George Lawrence

Topics discussed:

Finding food you can eat
Eating in restaurants

Video Text

Well I’ve had this disorder since about March or so and I’ve learned that you can eat really normally. But the thing that you – for me – is bread. I have to admit I was known as a bread lover. Maybe that did me in. I don’t know. But I have to say that I haven’t found a substitute for it, but I don’t really mind not eating it. In fact, I have my lunches with – sometimes – my secretary because I’m on the run and she’ll say “Well” you know “I hate to eat in front of you with bread.” I say, “Well no I don’t mind.” And I don’t mind not eating the bread anymore because I know it’s not good for me so I just have to go on and find something else.

I think the toughest part is eating out. And it’s a big learning curve. I can remember the first lunch I had soon after I had this problem I called my wife up and said, “Hey,” – ‘Cause she was interested how I’d do at lunch – I said, “Hey you know I did great. I had this pea soup and peas, I don’t think contain gluten. It’s a vegetable.” And she said, “Well was it thickened?” “Oh it was great! It was really thick,” you know. “Well, that was – that as thickened with flour.” I said, “Oh my goodness. I didn’t know that,” you know? So you make these – you keep making these mistakes and you keep learning and it’s a learning curve.

I went out with friends after golfing and they went to a pizza place to have some beer and pizza. I realized right off I – you know – I couldn’t join with them. And ordered some fish and it was breaded. And they felt great after the meal. They, “Well, guess that’s our supper. We’re going to go home now.” I said, “Wait a minute. I haven’t had my supper yet. I thought we were going someplace else.”

One wants to be as perfect or normal as possible so when I can’t participate in the food that’s laid out for a luncheon at work or whatever, I feel sort of out of it. And it’s a little embarrassing to – you know – open up my little bag and eat my own little food. And so it’s hard to get over that – you know – that one is different. I’m not saying this is really what I believe, but perhaps people don’t want to invite you out, you know to their house and cook for you. It’s a – it’s difficult to prepare a – harder to prepare a meal that’s gluten-free. So there’s extra attention directed toward me – or the person who has this disorder – and it’s something that I think in the beginning was a little embarrassing for me, but I think I’m getting better.

My liver was telling me that there was some injury occurring. My bones we a little thin, so there was some injury. So I’m glad I found out so I could make the changes. And hit the golf ball a little further.

I'm George Lawrence, and I'm living my life with Celiac Disease.