Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Just Started A Gluten Free Diet And Im Having Some Issues


Molly14

Recommended Posts

Molly14 Newbie

I am into a gluten free diet a week as of today and all this past week I have been experiencing some diarrhea (sorry to be graphic) and was wondering if that was normal? Also i have a bad habit of eating Chinese food. I am craving it and my graduation diner is at a chinese restaurant and i dont know what i could have. Any suggestions?


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Newbee Contributor

For some people it can take awhile for diarrhea to subside even going gluten free. I've found I needed to eliminate a lot of other foods before I really started to have normal stools. Do you have celiac disease? Personally I would avoid the restaurant unless they could tell you they could prepare something gluten free without risk of cross contamination. But I'm a very sensitive celiac so I have to be very careful.

Raven815 Rookie

Be careful of soy sauce. I just had fried rice from a Thai restaurant. My husband went and ordered it and was very specific about them not using any soy sauce or anything w/ wheat. When he brought it home, the rice was brown and I was paranoid to eat it, so I called the restaurant and asked her why it was brown. She said it was from the chili sauce. I asked her what was in the chili sauce and she said she personally read the label herself. I was very pleased. She also said next time we order, I could send my wheat-free soy sauce and they would cook my food with that. I told her how much I appreciated their cooperation. My point is, don't ever be afraid to be paranoid and check everything out very extensively. I have DH, so I don't ever want to have that terrible rash flare up again. It's just not worth it to get glutened. As far as eating Chinese food, just ask as many questions as you have to until you are satisfied that you will not be glutened or cc'd.

Hope I helped, Laura :)

sorairobara Newbie

I would be extremely careful about that chinese food! If the cooks or owners don't speak good english I wouldn't trust them! (Not being racist there's just a huge language barrier there and sadly most Americans won't care or understand your problem even if they speak perfect english) There are so many ways that you could get cross contamination even it everything in your meal is "safe" you don't know how well things were cleaned, where food was stored, what sauces and seasonings that should be gluten free but sadly are not because it seems like companies love adding wheat as a filler in things! If you're not very sensitive you may be able to handle the cross contamination (unless you know the restaurant extremely well. Its safe to assume the there will always be a little) but if you're just starting off being gluten free I wouldn't risk it just yet! Getting healthy can be done but you've got a long road a head of you and you don't need any set backs this early in the game! See if you can bring your own food! Make something so delicious that everyone there is jealous of your food! :)

  • 3 weeks later...
SmnthMllrX Newbie

My first week without gluten was awful for me. I know how you feel about the cravings because for a month after I started eating gluten free for every meal I'd eat I just wanted a sub. I thought the cravings would never go away, but most of them do. I'm going on four years gluten-free and I'll admit I still crave some foods and embarrassingly I dream about eating gluten every now and then but it's easier to deal with. If you can I would recommend changing your graduation party. It's just awful to put yourself through the temptation especially when it's still all new to you. I'm not sure where you live but in my area we have a bunch of gluten-free Chinese resteraunts. My favorite is PF Changs and they also own a 'fast food' chain calle Pei Wei which is also very good. I'd suggest doing some research and finding a restaurant that you can eat at. They have all sorts of gluten-free places now-a-days. After all, it is YOUR graduation party.

Congratulations Grad! And remember if you have more questions or have a bad glutened day we're here and chances are we understand.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      130,303
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Mary Rise Up
    Newest Member
    Mary Rise Up
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):




  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Wheatwacked
      How high is too high?  I take 10,000 IU vitamin D3 every day.  My blood is stable at 80 ng/ml (200 nmol/L).  Even at 10,000 a day it took 8 years to raise it to 80.  Higher levels of 25(OH)D in blood can moderate the autoimmune attack.  Vitamin D Is Not as Toxic as Was Once Thought Lower vitamin D levels have also been associated with increased OCD symptom severity.  This is a most dangerous popular belief. As mentioned you are suffering from vitamin and mineral deficiencies.  Part of the recovery, that is never explained by doctors, is replenishing your deficits.  Celiac Disease is a disease of malabsorption.  The Western diet is a diet of deficiency.  That is why many processed foods are fortified.  Gluten free foods are exempt.   "I’ve been completely asymptomatic since diagnosis."  There are 200 symptoms that can be caused by Celiac Disease and the malabsorbtion it can cause.     • "Floating, undigested stools for over a year now. Dont think its related to celiac as it was like this since im 17 and not 13-16( i got diagnosed at 13). " Many are misdiagnosed as gall bladder disease.  Choline is needed to create the bile salts needed to digest fat.  90% of our population is deficient.  Eggs and beef are the best source.  The RDA (minimum daily allowance is 500 mg to 3500 mg daily.  One egg has 27% DV.  Broccoli, chopped, boiled, drained, ½ cup only has 7%.  Low choline can cause Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.   Choline and Risk of Neural Tube Defects in a Folate-fortified Population; Could we be overlooking a potential choline crisis in the United Kingdom?;   Choline was formerly called vitamin B4.  I prefer phoshphatidyl choline for supplementation as it is the form we get in food.   • Chronic back pain started gradually, worsens with movement, lots of cracking/popping sounds.  Vitamin D deficiency may be linked to chronic back pain, But I took levothyroxine for slightly low FT4 levels.  I supplement Iodine by taking Liquid Iodine.  50 mcg per drop.  The RDA is 150 mcg to 1000 mcg in the US.  In Japan it is 150 mcg to 3000 mcg.  I take 600 mcg a day. Since 1970 the intake of iodine has decreased in the US by 50%.  Hypothyroidism has increased 50%.  Insufficient iodine leads to the thyroid gland working harder to produce these hormones, and if it cannot keep up, hypothyroidism can develop, according to the Mayo Clinic.   Iodine Insufficiency in America: The Neglected Pandemic.   I see improvement in muscle tone, healing, brain fog since taking the Liquid Iodine.  I could not eat enough seaweed. B1 stops the cramps in my feet B6 speeds up gastric empying and works on my freezing toes at night.  250 mg several times a day sometimes.  Also seems to be helping bowel regularity. 5 mg Lithium Orotate helped me with overthinking.   10,000 IU vitamin D to control autoimmune, mental health. 500 mg Thiamine - neurologic symptoms 500 mg Nicotinic Acid - increase capillary blood flow 500 mg Pantothenic Acid - creates energy from glucose Krebs Cycle 1000 mcg B12 - creates hemoglobin for oxygen transport 500 mg Taurine - essential amino acid, a powerful antioxident that we make indogenously so it is officially labeled "Conditional Essential" as Choline used to be, but not enough when sickness increases inflammation. reduces Reactivite Oxygen Species (ROS are are free radicals.). 840 mg Phosphatidly Choline x 3 - essential for fat digestion, gall bladder, liver, brain fog, cell membranes, prevent congenital spinal defects (along with B6, B12, folate, Taurine. Iodine - muscle tone, testosterone, hyper and hypo thyroid, slow healing.  600 mcg of Liquid Iodine.  Sometimes twice a day, usually added to a drink.
    • Scott Adams
      I completely understand the frustration of finding reliable gluten-free ingredients—it's exhausting when trusted products disappear or companies don't respond to safety inquiries. For teff flour in bulk, check out Azure Standard or Bulk Foods; both often carry gluten-free grains in larger quantities and clearly label dedicated facilities. For soy flour, Anthony's Goods tests for gluten and offers bulk options, though always verify their current certifications. For beans, peas, and lentils, Palouse Brand is a great choice—they're GFCO-certified and transparent about their farming practices. As for lentil elbow macaroni, Explore Cuisine offers similar pastas, though cross-contact policies vary. When companies don't respond, I lean on third-party certifications (GFCO, NSF) or stick with brands like Jovial or Edward & Sons that prioritize allergen safety. It's a constant hunt, but hopefully these leads help! Have you tried local co-ops or ethnic markets for teff? Sometimes they stock bulk African or Indian brands with clear labeling.
    • Scott Adams
      Beans in desserts are a fantastic way to add moisture, structure, and protein while keeping recipes gluten-free. Black bean brownies are a classic, but other beans like adzuki and pinto can also work well—adzuki beans are naturally sweet and often used in Asian desserts, making them great for cookies or cakes. Lentils, especially red lentils, blend smoothly into batters and can replace flour in recipes like blondies or muffins. Since you’re allergic to chickpeas, you might try navy beans or cannellini beans for a milder flavor in vanilla-based desserts. For less crumbliness, blending cooked beans into a paste helps bind the dough, and adding a bit of xanthan gum (if tolerated) can improve texture. If you’re experimenting, start with recipes that replace half the flour with bean purée before going fully flourless. Have you tried using aquafaba (bean liquid) as an egg substitute? It works wonders in gluten-free baking too!
    • lmemsm
      This may make you feel better about cross-contamination: https://nationalceliac.org/celiac-disease-questions/do-i-need-new-designated-pans-plates-and-utensils/ https://theceliacscene.com/rethinking-cross-contamination-no-need-to-be-so-careful/ I use Tom's of Maine or a toothpaste that states it's gluten free.  I have allergic reactions to some toothpastes so some of the toothpastes in health food stores are usually safer for me. They're typically gluten free as well. Spices can contain cross-contamination from gluten.  There are a few lists online of spices that are safe for celiacs.  I also grow my own herbs and use them in place of store bought when I can.  I think Badia lists their spices as gluten free and Spice Lab has some gluten free too. Knitty Kitty has a great point about nutritional deficiencies and B vitamins.  I got a lot of aches and pains when I got off gluten.  I tried to replace wheat with other healthy grains like teff, buckwheat and sorghum.  Limiting one's diet too much and not getting enough vitamins, can make someone feel worse.  A lot of the gluten free foods in the stores are made with lower quality ingredients than the wheat varieties.  I try to replace all my foods with homemade options.  Then I know the quality of the ingredients and which vitamins I may be high or low in.  Probiotics or prebiotics can help with bathroom issues.  Better to get them in foods if possible and not pill form.  My doctors keep recommending magnesium too.  It's not supposed to be taken alone, but they don't seem to care about that.  It's easy for vitamin D to be low too.  That was another thing doctors told me to take.  Unfortunately, they didn't monitor it and it went too high.  Again, better from natural sources like food and sunlight.  However, supplementing can help if you're not getting enough.  Some sources say to take D with K2.  You may want to have iodine levels checked.  If you add iodine, make sure to get sufficient selenium for thyroid.  You can get iodine naturally in most seaweed.  Nori may also be one of the few non-animal sources for B12.  Brazil nuts are a good source of selenium and you only need a few a day to meet RDA.  Some brands of nuts specifically say gluten free.  Unfortunately, there are issues with Brazil nut production and they're much harder to find this year. The more you can vary your diet the better.  One study said aim for at least 30 different foods in a week.  You might want to try kiwi fruit.  There were some studies that said eating kiwi improved mood.  It also has a covering which most people don't eat, so that should protect what's inside from contamination. I've limited my diet quite a bit over the years because of migraines, so I know how uncomfortable it can be finding safe foods.  However, I'm afraid limiting diets like that may actually be causing more harm than good.  It's something I'm trying to work on.  I keep trying to expand the number of foods I eat and my recipe repertoire.  I made a list of brands of foods that I've found that are gluten free so I have a guide when I'm shopping.  
    • knitty kitty
      Hello, @Dora77, I agree with you that your doctors aren't very knowledgeable about Celiac Disease.  My doctors didn't recognize nutritional deficiencies either.  I became very deficient in vitamins before I was diagnosed, so having experienced similar, I understand what a difficult time you're having.   Poor absorption of essential nutrients is caused by the damage done to the intestines by Celiac Disease.  The gluten free diet can be low in essential nutrients, so supplementing to boost your absorption is beneficial.  New symptoms can develop or worsen as one becomes more and more deficient.   There's eight essential B vitamins that our bodies cannot make, so they must come from our food and supplements.  These eight B vitamins work together, like instruments in an orchestra.  They need to be supplemented together with essential minerals like magnesium.   Deficiencies in the B vitamins can have overlapping symptoms.  Some symptoms can be traced to specific B vitamins.  OCD can be traced to low Pyridoxine Vitamin B 6.  Yes, I had OCD and washed my hands until my skin cracked and bled.  ADHD symptoms can be traced to low Thiamine Vitamin B 1.  ADHD is something one is born with.  People who are born with ADHD have a metabolic problem with getting sufficient thiamine into their brain cells.  People who develop symptoms of ADHD later in life are more likely to be low in Thiamine.  The same symptoms appear if one is not getting sufficient thiamine from the diet.  Yes, I developed symptoms of ADHD.  These symptoms improved and disappeared after supplementing with Thiamine and the other essential nutrients. I was diagnosed with Type Two Diabetes.  99% of diabetics of both types are deficient in Thiamine because our kidneys don't re-absorb thiamine properly.  Thiamine is needed to make insulin and digestive enzymes in the pancreas.  Poor digestion (floating, undigested stools) can result with insufficient pancreatic enzymes.  The gall bladder (upper right quadrant) needs thiamine to make and release bile which also helps with digestion.  Constipation is also a symptom of Thiamine and magnesium deficiencies.  The thyroid is another organ that uses lots of Thiamine, too.  Low thyroid hormones can be due to insufficient thiamine, selenium, iron, and iodine.  Swelling of hands, face and feet are also symptoms of thiamine insufficiency.   Our bodies use thiamine to make energy so organs and tissues can function.  Thiamine cannot be stored longer than three weeks.  If our stores are not replenished every day, we can run out of Thiamine quickly.  If we do get some thiamine from our diet, symptoms can wax and wane mysteriously, because a twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent improvement in brain function and symptoms.  Thiamine interacts with all the other vitamins in some way.  Many other vitamins and their metabolic processes won't work without thiamine.  In Celiac Disease you are apt to be low in all the essential nutrients, not just thiamine, but thiamine deficiency symptoms may appear first. Talk to your dietician about eating a nutritionally dense gluten free diet.  Keep in mind that processed gluten free foods do not contain sufficient vitamins to be useful.  Processed gluten free foods are filled with saturated fats and excess fiber (that could explain your constipation).  Dairy products, milk and cheese can cause problems because Casein, the protein in dairy, causes the same autoimmune reaction that gluten does in some.  Your current restricted diet is dangerous to your health.  I followed the Autoimmune Protocol Diet (Dr. Sarah Ballantyne).  It's a Paleo diet that promotes intestinal healing.   Discuss with your doctors about correcting nutritional deficiencies as soon as possible.   Interesting reading... https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34165060/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21816221/#:~:text=Lipid-soluble thiamin precursors can,and attention deficit%2Fhyperactivity disorder.
×
×
  • Create New...