When you're diagnosed with coeliac disease, you get a leaflet, a follow-up appointment in six months, and absolutely no idea what you're doing for the six months in between. This is the post I wish I'd had in year one.
The gut takes longer than you think
Everyone tells you "cut out gluten and you'll feel better," which is true, but nobody tells you the timeline. For me it was weeks before the fog started lifting and honestly closer to a year before my energy felt properly normal again. If you're three weeks in and still exhausted, that's not a sign it isn't working, it's just how long gut repair takes. Be patient with yourself.
Cross-contamination is the actual hard part
Cutting out obvious gluten (bread, pasta, beer) is the easy bit. What took me months to get my head around was cross-contamination: the toaster, the breadboard, the pack of butter someone's used a bread knife in. If you live with people who still eat gluten, you'll need a "clean" toaster, your own butter and spreads (or very strict house rules about double-dipping), and separate chopping boards. This isn't fussiness, it's the actual medical reality of the condition: even tiny amounts of gluten cause the same gut damage in a coeliac as a full slice of bread.
You will get "glutened," probably by accident, probably soon
Somebody will tell you a sauce is fine when it isn't. A "gluten-free" label will turn out to mean "lower gluten" rather than actually safe (yes, this genuinely happens with some imported products, so always check for the UK Crossed Grain symbol or a clear "gluten-free" claim under UK law, not just "may be suitable"). You will eat it, feel dreadful for a day or two, and survive. It's not a failure, it's a learning curve, and it happens to every coeliac I've ever spoken to.
The prescription thing is worth sorting out early
Depending on where you live in the UK, you may be entitled to gluten-free food on prescription, usually bread and flour mixes. It varies a lot by area and isn't the safety net it used to be, but it's worth asking your GP about early on rather than finding out two years later that you missed out.
Tell people what actually helps
"I can't eat gluten" gets you a shrug. "I have an autoimmune condition and eating gluten damages my gut, even in small amounts" tends to get taken more seriously. Harsh, but true. I found being specific with friends and family, early on, saved a hundred awkward conversations later.
It does get easier
I promise it does. The first six months are the steepest bit of the learning curve. After that, checking labels and scanning menus becomes second nature, almost boring. You stop thinking of it as a diagnosis and start thinking of it as just how you eat now.
I'm not a medical professional. This is just what's worked for me. Always check with your GP or dietitian, and see coeliac.org.uk for medical guidance.