Hidden Foods! Was Doing So Well!

[Missmtl]

So at my Dr's suggestion of going gluten free to see if it would help with my health issues of truncal weight gain, bloating, nsusea, burping, rashes, joint pain and fatigue, i started a gluten-free diet last Friday. It went amazingly well! My bloating went down to barely noticeable, i lost 3 pounds, no stomach pain, gas or bloating etc i was thrilled!

I made pizza last night using bob mills gluten-free crust mix and it is the first time for me to eat pizza snd not feeling sick or instantly ballooned tummy!

After dinner, my bf offered me a strawberry twizzler, I had 2 without thought that it might gave gluten in it and within the hour, i got little white bumps on my arms, stomach and puffy look in my legs, thrn burning and tingling hands, sore tummy and nausea, swollen red lymph node on jaw line near my ear!

I woke up this morning still feeling sick and bloated, bumpy and itchy.

I feel depressed, how will I get through this without making mistakes?

Is there a site that has a comprehensive list to type in and see if its gluten free that is accurate?

[psawyer]

I am not aware of a source such as you are looking for, and would not recommend it even if I did.

 

The problem with a list--any list--is that products change all the time. A list is based on a moment in time. The example of the product you have in hand may be newer, or older, than the information in the list.

 

It does seem overwhelming at first, but over time you get to know what isn't safe and what to question. If in doubt, read the ingredients. Wheat must be clearly disclosed in both the US and Canada. Rye and oats don't appear in unexpected places, but barley can be listed as malt without disclosing the source in the US.

 

Canada adopted new rules effective August 4, 2012, that require all gluten sources to be explicitly disclosed by naming the grain in question. Products packaged prior to that date may still be in stores.

 

Read the ingredients.

[kareng]

The easiest rule to live by right now is:

 

Read the ingredients on everything with an ingredient list and don't eat anything you haven't prepared yourself or seen prepared. 

 

 

There are apps but they are limited.  There is no way they have info for every brand of everything.  Some compensate for that by saying the unlisted items have gluten, even when they don't.

[Gemini]

Twizzlers have wheat in them and it's clearly marked on the package.  Like others have said, you have to read all labels from now on.  This will become second nature very quickly so relax!

You will get there, even if you feel overwhelmed right now.

[notme]

yes, you will get very good at 'package flipping' - remove package from shelf, flip package over, read package (til you see gluten), flip package back over, put package back on shelf.

 

it's a little easier now with the allergy warning following ingredients if it's not clearly listed in the ingredients.

[Adalaide]

I live by the motto of every label, every time. I'm buying something I bought last week? I read the label. I'm buying more than one of something? I read all the labels. At home when I pick something up in the pantry, if I can't remember the actual store trip when I purchased something, I read the label. Eventually it will become second nature.

 

And just so you don't get disappointed later, if you walk into the grocery store and start picking up licorice, nearly all of it has wheat. Enough that it took me no time at all to realize I would never find good licorice in a store again.

[Pegleg84]

Yup, no more casually accepting offered food. Ask: What is it? what's in it? where's the package? I need to read the label. If you can't find out what's in it, don't eat it!

It's a learning curve, definitely. we've all messed up, and feel horrible, then get better, then mess up again, but you get better at it, and eventually it'll become second nature.

 

In the meantime, it sounds like the gluten-free diet it working for you! Which is great! This is just a bump in the road. Too bad it has to be so unpleasant.

 

I don't like licorice anyway, but I do believe you can find it gluten-free in health food stores on occasion, but just the black stuff.

 

Happy Healing

[alesusy]

"package flipping"! I love that definition....

May I add my Italian experience? We have a very active AIC association here (Associazione Italiana Celiachia). They actually print (and also have on their website, constantly updated) a list of all gluten-free products on sale in Italy, including those you find in normal supermarkets(which mayonnaise to buy? etc). Also a list of all hotels and restaurants in Italy guaranteeing gluten-free food. Plus, they give out certification to gluten-free products.

 

However, while I do trust them, it is not enough. Plus, I'm lactose-intolerant and a good part of those gluten-free foods is still going to make ME sick. Plus, they deal with food and proclaim for instance that lipsticks and hairspray and cosmetic creams are not ever a problem.  My own experience has been different. So - it's back to the learning curve and reading all labels, always.... and to package flipping!

[GottaSki]

Welcome!

Yep...package flippers are us!

Take a look at the "Newbie 101" thread -- it gives wonderful advise that will speed your transition to your gluten-free life. The transition is tough...I was brought to tears regularly during grocery store missions out of package flipping -- especially when I had to start carrying "cheaters" to read some of the teeny tiny print. It does become second nature....the best thing to do is think outside perimeter shopping - you see al the whole foods without many ingredients - meat, dairy, fruits and vegies are all found here....limit the processed foods...even processed foods labeleled gluten-free can be tough on your healing digestive system.

Hang in there and focus on that first piazza that didn't make you ill.

Read the newbie thread and ask lots of questions...it really does speed the transition