"But You Don't Look Sick": The Invisible Nature of Celiac Disease

Naturally Savvy Podcast

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Show Summary

Actress Jennifer Esposito knows firsthand the "invisible" aspect that makes celiac disease so difficult to deal with.

Welcome to our new series, "Throw Back Thursday: Celebrity Edition" (or TBTCE). In the following weeks, we'll be featuring various celebrity interviews from over the years. Hope you enjoy!

TBTCE: Jennifer Esposito

Actress Jennifer Esposito knows firsthand about the "invisible" aspect that makes celiac disease so difficult to deal with.

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Almost daily she hears the phrase, "You don't look sick."

For those with celiac, it can become a constant struggle to get people to understand the pain that you're suffering silently. Just because they can't see it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.

This is especially true if you don't have the "typical" symptoms of celiac. For years, Jennifer suffered from everything from sinus infections to digestive issues and panic attacks. She was labeled a hypochondriac and "dramatic," and doctors put her on medications like Prozac.

Even the supposed "experts" don't always listen, and it can kill your soul to go so unheard for so long… to know something is truly wrong but no one recognizes that's the case.

Jennifer has seen major resistance with the press in accepting that celiac is a serious disease, so just imagine what the normal, everyday person goes through.

What advice does Jennifer have for those suffering from celiac?

First, look your disease in the face, accept it and digest it. Accept your disease for what it is and move forward. Be clear and honest with yourself; it's a journey every day.

Once you accept this in yourself, you can look to those who support you.

Finally, understand those who can't understand; but also seek out those who will always be there for you.

Tune in to Jennifer and Lisa as they discuss the invisible nature of celiac, as well as ways to cope with this painful and often debilitating disease.

Show Notes

[2:34] Jennifer's story and her experience with misdiagnosis of celiac disease and finally getting the answers she needed.

[9:50] Tips for dealing with your invisible challenges.

Show Links

Learn more about Jennifer Esposito.

Read Jennifer's book: Jennifer's Way: My Journey with Celiac Disease–What Doctors Don't Tell You and How You Can Learn to Live Again

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Lisa Roth Collins, RHN
Lisa Roth Collins is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN) and is the Marketing Manager at NaturallySavvy.com. She is passionate about health and wellness and tries her best to make healthier choices every day for herself and her family. Her journey to natural health was driven by her own struggles with digestive discomfort, depression, and anxiety. Lisa returned to school in 2014 to study nutrition at the Canadian School for Natural Nutrition. She threw herself into her studies so she could learn as much as she could to help herself feel better and thrive. Upon completing the program and being certified as an RHN, Lisa began her work at Naturally Savvy where she has been able to help so many people learn to make healthier choices for themselves. Through her work, she has connected with so many incredible people in the industry whether other authors, influencers, or brands. Plus, she is affectionately known as "Techie Spice" because of her ability to wrap her head around technology. Every day she gets up with a renewed sense of energy and ready to make a difference. You can read all of Lisa's content here. In her spare time, Lisa loves to try new recipes, make delicious and nourishing meals, and she is an avid reader. For more information about Lisa, check out her profile on here.