luvs2eat

What a keeper!!

I'm constantly amazed at the kindness/concern of friends/neighbors. We have an incredibly "gruff" neighbor who now reads labels when he's buying ingredients for something he wants to cook so he'll be able to tell me if I can eat it or not. It really touches me!

Since baking bread was one of my favorite things to do... going gluten free was hard for me. I was diagnosed w/ celiac disease pretty quickly. When people asked me what the symptoms of celiac disease are, I told them that one of the more common ones is unexplained weight loss... then I'd look down at myself and say, "Um... I didn't get that one!"

I spent the better part of a year stuffing myself w/ gluten free food to make up for all the food I could no longer have and gained about 40 lbs!!

Last winter I was just about ready to go to my doctor to ask for some high-powered acid reducer, like Nexium, because I was having such terrible heartburn/acid reflux that...if I didn't know better I'd have thought I was having a heart attack!! I finally had to admit to my carb addiction... I'd literally wake up in the morning and think to myself, "What carb can I make today? Pasta? Rice? Bread?"

I cut out almost all carbs. I ate scrambled eggs for breakfast and, more often than not, ate veggies (cooked broccoli and carrots or zucchini) w/ a splash of ranch dressing for lunch... occasionally adding 1/2 cup cooked brown rice... and a lean protein w/ a salad and/or veggies for supper. The easy part was not having to "think" of what to cook cause I knew I was pretty much eating the same things every day!

Saturday night was my "cheat night" and I'd make a pizza or have some pasta.

I lost 20 lbs in several months and guess what?? No more heartburn!! I was not only eating too many carbs... I was simply eating too much at supper and going to bed w/ too full a tummy!!

The 20 lbs has been easy to keep off. I'd like to lose the next 20, but will be happy to lose at least another 10 using my same method. I've been slacking off on my eating plan lately. Time to jump back on the bandwagon!!

Reading all these responses leave me flabbergasted! My doctor was SOOO nice and really well informed. My symptoms were unrelenting diarrhea and a hugely noisy tummy... I used to say it sounded like wolverines were fighting their way out!! I had no pain or any other symptoms.

He tested me for parasites, put me on a course of medicine for that, and scheduled blood work and a colonoscopy (cause I was 49 and it was a good time for an initial screening).

After the colonoscopy, he came to me w/ the bloodwork and said, "I have good news and bad news."

The good news was that he said he knew how to stop my diarrhea/tummy wolverines. The bad news was that I had celiac disease and could never eat wheat, etc. etc. again.

Done and Done. I consider myself so lucky!!

I think they sound like they're trying to be accommodating and that's good. In fact, I'd RATHER take my own food/desserts so I won't get glutened w/ the best and most loving intentions. My incredibly sweet, late MIL bought me a loaf of gluten-free bread but it was disgusting tasting and I felt like I had to eat it because it was expensive and she went so far out of her way to find it. I'd rather bring my own bread!

I ask people never to cook to accommodate me because I don't trust that I won't get glutened! It's just easier... and safer... for me to bring stuff!

When I started reading your story, I thought to myself, "I'll bet she's around 12." How well I remember that age w/ my oldest. She was once hysterical and yelling at me and I said, "What's the MATTER w/ you??" And she fell into my arms sobbing, "I DON'T KNOWWWWWWWWWW." It's a FUN age.

All that said... I've often thought that being diagnosed at a very early age would have been easier for me. I had 30+ years of cooking and baking (I loved to bake) under my belt when diagnosed. I've yet to taste/bake a chocolate chip cookie that remotely compares to the onces I made for years. I don't bake much anymore, 'cept for the weekly bread loaf. gluten-free bread isn't bad, but it sure ain't the challah bread or crusty country loaves I used to bake! If I'd always been gluten-free, I'd have had nothing to compare.

I'll admit I've said it many times. People have expressed their sympathy, etc. and I've said, "Ya know what? With all the health issues people can have... this is NOTHING. I've just had to learn how to cook differently, that's all."

Cause I've not found it so difficult. We didn't eat a lot of processed food even before my celiac diagnosis and I've always enjoyed cooking. We don't eat out a lot and, honestly, I've found dealing w/ celiac disease WAY easier than being dairy free!!

I found them recently while visiting PA. I was reaching for the bag of Glutino pretzels and tried the Snyder's instead. I thought they were DELICIOUS!! Glutino's have a tiny bit of aftertaste to me. The Snyder's were so crispy w/ no aftertaste.

Of course, since returning home, I'm not finding them anywhere!!

My last intentional glutening was about a year after I was diagnossed. I'd always loved making yummy loaves of beautiful bread and made several different kinds for a party. It smelled so danged good, I cut off a big hunk, slathered it w/ tons of butter, and chowed it down, while my daughter was yelling, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" It was absolutely delicious.

And I had NO repurcussions... none. I started making a list, thinking that maybe I could plan a "cheat" once a month or so. Subway Tuna hoagie, Pizza Hut stuffed crust pizza, a bagel w/ tons of cream cheese and lox, a Philly cheese steak, a Big Mac, any pasta dish in an Italian restaurant...

I realized that I wasn't 100% gluten-free in my everyday diet... peeps here set me straight! My symptoms were fairly mild. The next time I was accidentally glutened, my reaction was way more severe and now I wouldn't put gluten in my mouth for anything!!

But, holy cow... was that bread good!!

This is a double-edged sword for me. On one hand... I can't WAIT for the bisquick... I've missed dumplings in stew! On the other hand... I don't need ONE excuse to embrace convenience food!

Hey... no one can have TOO MANY friends. And friendships that turn into dating/love are the BEST.

Chilis now has a gluten free menu... it's mostly stuff they already offer, minus the bun, etc. We've eaten there several times and ALWAYS make friends w/ our server and explain my issues carefully. I've never had a problem.

http://www.chilis.co...Pages/home.aspx

The gluten free/allergy menu is on the left at the bottom.