josh052980

Has anyone gotten an answer one way or the other out of Mars on these? I emailed them and got the generic "We're sorry you experienced an issue, please email us the bar code and packaging dates from your product..." email. I ate a bag of these yesterday and had IMMEDIATE symptoms, which to me either says cross contamination from the pretzel M&M's they make, or I have an issue with artificial colors.

Anyone have any insight here? What are your experiences?

You can make these at home gluten free: All you need is the gluten free Rice Krispies that they sell now in stores, Kraft Jet Puffed marshmellows, and Land o' Lakes butter. Done and done! I've made them several times and no issues at all!

Hi Josh!

This will be long, so please bear with me!
I am so happy to see that you are doing well!   I do not think you were a hypochondriac, per se, hon-- I think you were understandably worried when you did not get well IMMEDIATELY.
That is one of the first things I say to people. Do not be alarmed when the magic doesn't happen in a few months. In fact, the best advice I got when I first came on and wondered if every damn food was making me ill was similar to what I now say to newbies: "It just is what it is, until it isn't."  

It just takes time. The GI tract is long and needs to heal. And yes, every twinge, tummy rumble and ache is NOT always gluten-related. I think most people do not know enough about the digestive system and how many body systems celiac disease affects (creating various perplexing symptoms) and so, they become frightened by what is happening in their bodies. I know I was and so, I learned all I could about celiac disease so I could knock down the fear about it and understand what had gone so wrong inside me.

About 3 months in, I started questioning  posts that made claims that started with "people say" or "I read somewhere" or "you COULD have--- (name a disorder here)--like I do".....

When I asked "Really? I would love to read where you saw that!", I noticed no one came back to show me the proof.  

I am a year into healing myself and still have some symptoms, but I realize it's NOT a new disease and it's NOT the gluten monster getting me in my sleep. I am just STILL HEALING. I am one of the slow healers because of my age and late diagnosis and I accept that fact. I am in rehab to regain my muscles and I still have a few symptoms that make me crazy, but I keep my eyes on the prize: FULL REMISSION! The veterans on here are the ones who instilled a sense of calm inside me--reassuring me that in time, I would feel better, too. I have thanked those people repeatedly for their encouragement.  

I am so sorry to hear you will no longer be visiting the site because there is so much to be gained from shared experiences AND you are the perfect person to help dispel some of the paranoia that evolves--because You GET IT!!

In fact, your common sense approach to living a gluten-free life is  greatly needed.

I, personally, have spent most of my time as a member trying to temper some of the random postings that provoke a sort of "gluten paranoia" from those who claim everything has minute traces of gluten in it (envelope glue and fresh vegetables and fruits, really?) or various theories about "cross reactivity" (I am still waiting for the poster to come back and show me the evidence. She says I was "unfriendly" because I asked for PROOF of these claims. On the contrary, I'm a very friendly person --in fact, I'm a big ole sweetheart   -- but I am not one to accept things just because someone says "this is so" on the internet nor do I wish for any new people reading the forum to start worrying as I once did.

I have always tried to be a "myth-buster" and there are MANY of us on here--too numerous to list all those members I know who are trusted posters--- but you probably already know from reading enough posts. We aim to calm the newbies down and get them to see that gluten is not lurking behind every corner.   

Do many foods contain gluten derivatives? YES! But as I jokingly say: "Life may be a gluten-filled landmine, but being wise about Cross contamination is your Kevlar vest!" Learn to read labels.

Being newly-Dxed is difficult enough. Having to negotiate the nuances of the gluten-free diet if tricky but getting side-tracked by unreliable information is just an added stressor.

I want you to know that the voices of reason on here try very hard to stop that kind of fear-inducing speculation that tends to crop up on the forum. (I guess it happens on any forum, so I am told---- as I do not "forum-hop" myself.) I visited one site ONCE and saw such raging paranoia about perfectly safe gluten-free foods that I have never returned. The last thing I needed as a newbie was to be any more afraid of food than I already was (having been sick for so long).

It's not easy to keep dispelling myths, but as long as I have breath, I will do my part.   Living with Celiac Disease does not have to be that difficult. Living with unnecessary fear just makes it harder.

I would like say THANK YOU you for your post   for two reasons:

(1) that you say you were helped by the members of the site because that is always good to know!

and

(2) that you reported back to us that negotiating a gluten-free life can be achieved successfully and that COMMON SENSE is key to healing just as much as dietary compliance.

Many blessings to you, Josh! I do hope you'll reconsider sticking around and being one of the "voices of reason" we need!

Cheers and continued good health,
IH

I'm going to stay, because you're right; someone who's newly diagnosed, doesn't need to live in fear that if they eat an apple, there's going to be gluten in it for some reason. If I can help even one person feel empowered, or realize that if they lick an envelope, they'll feel fine afterward, then I've contributed something positive.

I'm just at this point where I'm sick of hearing "Oh, gluten free huh? You're going to be living on plain chicken and white rice for the rest of your life." It's preposterous! Gluten free doesn't have to be all doom and gloom, it's about navigating around limitations and finding ways to spice it up, not resigning to an untruth.

As long as I can spread that message, count me in!

I'm going to keep my account active, there's a lot of good info here, but now that I have my feet back under me and have the upper hand on my symptoms, it's time for me to fly on my own. I'll keep posting information as I find it, from manufacturers and such. I've even toyed with the idea of creating a blog where I post nothing but responses to gluten inquiries to manufacturers, restaurant chains and such, but not sure if anyone would read it or find it useful.

I want my goodbye post here to be more of a sign there is light at the end of the tunnel for the newly diagnosed. I beat my symptoms with no medical treatment at all and no diagnosis. That makes me one of a lucky few, but if I can do it, anyone can!

After almost a year gluten free now, I've been through what most of us here have, and some things special to me, as we all personalize this a little bit. Over the course of that time, the one thing that really hit me, and got me to view myself, and this disease in a new way was something my brother said to me in passing. After weeks of having symptoms that were gluten like, despite having been strictly gluten free for months prior, I was in the kitchen and complaining about how I felt, and rattling off lists of what could be wrong, when he looked at me and said, "The only thing wrong with you is that you've become a hypochondriac."

That did it for me, and I realized something then and there; he was right.

Like so many of us, every time I got even the slightest twinge of something being wrong, I'd get on here, or any other site out there and find things that would match the symptoms I was having and make myself think that I was in fact getting worse, when the opposite was true, I was only getting better. The proof of that is in the last 2 weeks for me, I've felt 100% myself, with the exception of a stomach flu I caught last week.

Celiac really is mind over matter. We've all had those nights where you sit up awake, feeling miserable and wondering; was it something I ate? This is where things finally snapped for me. I'd gotten myself thinking that cashews I was eating were making me sick, and I went searching for others who were like minded. I found an old thread which talked about someone having read or heard somewhere that Planter's cashews were coated with flour before being sold. There was no citation for this information, they just randomly threw it out there. And people were eating it up, save for one person, who was the voice of reason and called for the source of the information. The person who originally posted, didn't have this information, stating they'd seen it on a television show.

This is the kind of madness that is, as of today, driving me away from this board. Granted, for every one of the people like above, there's 10 on here who genuinely have done the research and can back it up, but it only takes a few bad apples to ruin the barrel. For a site like this to do what it needs, each and every poster on here needs to be able to back up their claims, either with an email, or phone call to a manufacturer, information given by an MD, or other credible source. There can't be any more of what I described a moment ago, or we'll all become hypochondriac's, afraid of our own shadows.

So how did I beat my symptoms finally? Positive thinking, getting plenty of sleep (I bought a new bed and everything), and knowing that even if I get sick once from gluten, the world hasn't ended, it's just a process that I'm going to have to deal with being Celiac. After all, I'd adjusted my diet once, doing it again to get rid of an offending food isn't a big deal.

And so, I wish you all the best, I've hit a point where I'm finally better, and even if I wasn't, the chances of finding a post which is without citation is too high, so I will not be returning.

The best to you all, and thank you to each one of you who has given me advice over this past year, you've helped me in ways I cannot express. May each of you find this feeling, and I hope you all do.

So I emailed Five Guys because there is a brand new one down the street from me, and everyone raves about their fries, and this is what they emailed back:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dear Josh,

Thank you for taking the time to write in to Five Guys, we appreciate you taking the time to do so. We have received your inquiry in regards to the presence of gluten in our products.

Currently, Five Guys DOES NOT offer a gluten free bun, as we have yet to find a bun we feel meets the flavor of our burger. However, I’d like to advise you that it is absolutely possible for you to order your burger without the bun as our cooks would be happy to meet this request for you.

I would like for you to also know that our buns and the malt vinegar condiment are the ONLY products we offer that DO include gluten

Thanks for your interest in Five Guys. Please enjoy us often as we would be happy to have you as a new guest!

Victoria Cerminaro
Customer Service Representative

_______________________


FIVE GUYS Enterprises, LLC  
10440 Furnace Road, Suite 205
Lorton, Virginia 22079
Phone: 703.339.7624
Fax: 703.339.9501
Email: vcerminaro@fiveguys.com
Web: www.fiveguys.com
Follow us on Twitter! twitter.com/Five_Guys

P  Please consider the environment before printing this email

That stuff is crack in a little tiny jar... It's AMAZING.

So, after 17 weeks going gluten free, and 8 since my last glutening, I'm starting to feel like my "old self" again. Aside from a corn kernel which got jammed into my gums that I'm waiting for to dislodge (unrelated rant, I know, but still a pain)  I'm almost back to normal.

I wanted to thank you all, everyone on this site, and especially everyone who's responded to any post I've made, for your support. This site has been a tremendous resource, and the people are amazing.

Thank you all! I hope I can be there as much as you have been for me.

All the best,

Josh

Well I have had two negative celiac blood tests. But I know this is what I have. I get sooooooooo sick from wheat. Symptoms are severe bloating,alternating constipated,diarrea,acid reflux,ibs,gastritis,anxiety,depression,exhaustion,fatigue,muscle aches,joint aches, stiffness,nasea,stomach cramps,pain or severe discomfort in my stomach,extreme irritability,mood swings and brain fog, geo graphic tongue, skin itchiness with no rash, and constant sinus poblems,itchy throat and ears inside most of the time...
If I avoid wheat almost all the symptoms disappear and the ones that don't are 80% better.

You described almost exactly what I go through! You're not alone here, we'll all be here for you!

I turn 31 on Sunday, and just went gluten free. I'm 5 weeks in and feeling so much better. Looking back, there's been signs all the way back into my early teen years, but they were never an issue so I just overlooked it.

It for sure has gluten in it. From other posts and sites I'm reading, it was for sure the Maalox. I'm beginning to feel better, but every time I get glutened, I start having energy issues, it just sucks me dry...

So after getting glutened earlier this week, I was finally getting back to 100% last night, but had some spicy food. I took some Maalox before heading to bed, and was up in the middle of the night feeling like ass soup.. Turns out Maalox wasn't a good choice after doing some reading. I'm more ranting than anything here... I'm at almost 4 weeks into going gluten free, and I'm hitting that proverbial wall where it feels like there's nothing I can have anymore. It's pretty messed up when something that was intended to make me feel better, will make me feel worse for a few days...

If I get glutened, which I still do cause I'm new to this, I seem to have bad symptoms for a day, maybe 2, and then slowly get better. I've had it take up to a week to get better before, which is beyond frustrating, especially starting out like I am.

I doubt you're alone, I think we each kind of "personalize" the symptoms, and it probably depends on how much gluten you get in your system as well.

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