Getting to a diagnosis of Celiac Disease was like running a marathon in bare feet. The first symptoms occurred 18 years ago - a strange pressure on my left backside in the soft spot, unbelievable bloating, trips to the bathroom that lasted way too long with such horrific cramping. I clearly remember thinking, "Oh, I must have food poisoning." But how does one have food poisoning once a week for 11 years?

Now, you must know that these are just the symptoms. These symptoms occur to this day if someone even double dips their knife into my peanut butter or uses my toaster. All it takes is a crumb of bread or a dash of modified food starch, and I am down for the count. During those 11 years I was sick probably 75 percent of the time. It was so cyclical. The symptoms would start within 20 minutes of being contaminated with gluten and then the true misery started: I would get sick, stop eating (because if I did eat I got sicker), go see the doctor ... hear those famous words, "We cannot find anything wrong," leave almost in tears and then wait the seven to 10 days to finally feel better.

During those days I was so tired, I felt like I had a paper shredder in my gut. My stomach hurt so badly, I felt like I was being socked in the stomach repeatedly. I was cranky, my joints ached and I made my family miserable. The only way I felt better was to go to bed and lay flat on my back. It seemed to relieve the pain. This was a hard thing to do with youngsters to take care of. So, I would tough it out and run our household while being in constant pain. There was not a prescription medicine that helped. Not even painkillers. I had a doctor's bag of pills. I was semi-diagnosed with Colitis, Irritable Bowel Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Pancreatitis, Ulcers and mental health issues. You bet I had a mental health issue, I was constantly sick. So, the treatment was: Try these meds and see if they would make me feel any better.

When I think back, I must have asked my internist 100 times (she had a Master's degree in nutrition) if I should see a specialist. Her answer was always the same: "Elaine, your tests are negative, you must have a nervous stomach." Tests show tumors and masses but what they do not show is inflammation. Her suggestion was that maybe a psychotherapist would be a good option. Arrrgh!

Finally a diagnosis was on the way. I had been traveling in a country where I did not like the food, so I would live off bread, beer and malt balls. I came home sicker than ever. My doc finally sent me to a brilliant GI, and guess what: One blood draw and there it was like a hazard: Celiac Disease.

My life was about to change.

What I have learned is that back in the day when doctors were in medical school and they would get to the chapter on Celiac Disease, their professors would tell them to skip it because they would never encounter a patient with this illness. Well, here are the stats: One in 133 people have this disease (it is not an allergy - it is genetic); and of that 133 people, 95 percent are not diagnosed. So, if you have an unexplainable and continuous stomach issue, do not change your diet but do ask your doctor to run a Celiac blood panel or gluten sensitivity test. Do look at www.gluten.net.

The symptoms do not just manifest themselves in one's stomach. The monster also attacks skin, fertility, anemia, bone density and more. You do not have to have Celiac Disease to be gluten sensitive. The solution for most people is a gluten-free diet. Unlike an allergy where you sometimes are able to re-introduce the allergen, cheating is really not an option, unless being sick does not bother you.

In Part 2, I will talk about getting your arms around cleaning out the kitchen and learning how to cook in a gluten-free home.

Elaine B. Taylor is founder and president of The Taylor Family Foundation, whose mission is "Preserving the wellness and enhancing the quality of life for children in Northern California with life-threatening illnesses, disabilities and youth at-risk through unique therapeutic experiences and support." Elaine has won many awards for her work, including the Gilda Radner Philanthropic Award and Unsung Heroes of Compassion with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She has been named Woman of the Year more than once. A former top account executive for both Minolta and Canon USA, Elaine has developed youth camp programs, mentored other nonprofits, and has been actively involved in philanthropic and volunteer work all of her adult life. She has been an advocate and educator for pediatric HIV/AIDS, and a board member of the Livermore Valley Wine Auction. Her greatest accomplishment is balancing family, work and personal time with grace and compassion.