Jump to content

  • 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

Being Gluten Free

dwaters800

Recommended Posts

dwaters800 Rookie
dwaters800
Posted

My son has just been diagnosed gluten sensitive. He has also had Lyme disease and fibromyalgia for 6 years. His doc says these other health problems may be related to a poorly functioning immune system due to gluten sensitivity.

It is somewhat depressing to read how easy it is to "be glutened." Does anyone out there manage to stay mostly gluten free and still lead a relatively normal life? I am devoting all my time for a while to studying how to keep my son gluten free and help him return to normal health. Please tell me that it is possible to avoid gluten and recover.

Ginny

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


KaitiUSA Enthusiast
KaitiUSA
Posted

Welcome :D

Well there is alot of mainstream things we can have and alot of good brands of gluten free specialty foods(there are alot of bad ones but you'll find the good ones with help from this site)

Also, there are some lists that will be helpful..if you would like them you are welcome to email me(email is at the bottom of my signature) and I can send you some lists that will make life alot easier. There are lists of brands that won't hide anything even under questionable ingredients, there is a safe and forbidden list of ingredients, a 79 page long list of gluten free status of products,meds and foods, and more.

It really is not a hard diet to follow once you learn what to look for and what you can and can't have.

Your son can easily have a normal life and still eat alot of "junk food" like other kids do too.

Ther is alot to learn and first and it can be overwhelming but it does get easier...I promise you...it becomes a normal part of your life.

This site is a great resource and filled with tons of people who are knowledgeable and are a great support.

VegasCeliacBuckeye Collaborator
VegasCeliacBuckeye
Posted

Keep the faith, Ginny.

Many of us were in your shoes (or your son's) at one time or another.

Now that you know what makes him sick, some relief should come to you.

You will need to be able to read ingredient labels and you will need to know which items are ok, which are not, which might seem ok but are not and so forth. A number of people on this site have gluten-free lisitngs (a good one if from the Delphi list) and even a listing for gluten-free restaurants (ask celiac3270).

As far as you home, a few precautions you can take is getting your son "his own" pans/pots/toaster/etc. There is some questions about using the ame pots/pans as those with gluten containing food, but this is one way to be extra safe.

Also, label stuff in the cupboard and fridge as "his" stuff. Maybe even get a breadmaker....

Lastly, ask any questions you need on this website. I guarantee someone will have the answer or will find it for you.

Good luck!

Jnkmnky Collaborator
Jnkmnky
Posted

I don't think it's difficult to remain gluten-free. I read about all these people being glutened on this web site and wonder how they manage to do it so often. My son has had two glutenings in 4 years. They occurred at the beginning. It has been three years since a glutening. He's been in pre-school, kinder twice, lived in two states, moved cross country twice, gone to summer day camps... been to theme parks, Las Vegas and more. I really don't see how adults manage to gluten themselves. If you're vigilant with your young children, they won't be glutened.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

How hard it is depends on how adaptable you and he are willing to be. If you want virtually no change from your current lifestyle, then it can be hard. If you don't mind adapting to a fairly large difference, it isn't hard once you get the hang of it. Eating out will never be a simple thing. Having a constant vigilance over ingredients and cross-contamination risks carries its own stress. But you can get accustomed to these things over time. Do give it a few months though, as there is a distinct learning curve.

FaithInScienceToo Contributor
FaithInScienceToo
Posted

I am glad that you are determined to keep your son gluten-free, if that is what he needs to remain healthy!

Personally, I have ONLY one problem now - that is, making sure I find out if my boyfriend's mouth is "Celiac-friendly" before kissing him...

I imagine that your son has many years ahead before he needs to worry about 'safe kissing'. ;-)

Anyway...

There's loads of info here, and a whole section for moms and dads.

I hope you can find ALL of the info you need, and links to even more RIGHT HERE :-) !

Best wishes,

Gina

Jnkmnky Collaborator
Jnkmnky
Posted
Personally, I have ONLY one problem now - that is, making sure I find out if my boyfriend's mouth is "Celiac-friendly" before kissing him...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hmmm.. I never thought about that. I guess I can take comfort in the fact that my son will not be kissing any beer drinking girls when he's a teen! :ph34r: Of course, as his mother, I can assure all that my angel won't be kissing any girls other than his future wife. * I'm allowed my delusions. :ph34r:

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

As far as "how easy is it to get accidentally glutenened?" my answer is, only if you are careless or are still learning the diet and all of the hidden glutens. I've made a few "careless" mistakes in trusting something to be gluten free that someone else made for me, or in eating something from a fast food or chain restaurant that has issues with cross contamination. IF you are vigilant and don't make those same kinds of mistakes, it's a lot easier to avoid getting "glutened" The other exception to this would be if a previously gluten free product changed it's ingredients and is no longer gluten-free, but again, be vigilant about reading labels EVERY TIME regardless of how many times you have checked if that product is safe.

Once you get the hang of the diet it is really pretty easy, and can be an exceptionally healthy diet. As long as one is not filling up on just junk food!

Good luck!

FaithInScienceToo Contributor
FaithInScienceToo
Posted
Hmmm..  I never thought about that.  I guess I can take comfort in the fact that my son will not be kissing any beer drinking girls when he's a teen!  :ph34r:  Of course, as his mother, I can assure all that my angel won't be kissing any girls other than his future wife.  * I'm allowed my delusions. :ph34r:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes...you are enjoying those delusions, I see ...lol...

But, hey...you're right...your son WILL have to think before kissing :-)

That is NOT a bad thing for a mom to know! ;-)

Gina

Smunkeemom Enthusiast
Smunkeemom
Posted

It is difficult at first, but it gets easier once you find some gluten free comfort foods. I promise the difference you see in just a couple of weeks will be worth all the stress of finding what is okay to eat.

I started out thinking of things that I knew my daughter enjoyed and tried to figure out a way to make them gluten free.

It will be fine, there is a lot of food now that is gluten free and sometimes you can get it at a regular grocery store, it is becoming very mainstream. I am so lucky that my daughter was born into a time where gluten free is so easy, I am smiling thinking about how much better it will be when she is my age :D

a lot of restraunts have gluten free lists too, call your favorites and ask, I have been able to get free samples from some of them for my daughter, then if she likes it I know where I can go to get her pre-made food for like church picnics and such. :D

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Wheatwacked
      - Wheatwacked replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      50

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      Raising you vitamin D will increase absorption of calcium automatically without supplementation of calcium. A high PTH can be caused by low D causing poor calcium absorption; not insuffient calcium intake. With low D your body is not absorbing calcium from your food so it steals it from your bones. Heart has priority over bone. I've been taking 1...
    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      @catnapt, Wheat germ has very little gluten in it. Gluten is the carbohydrate storage protein, what the flour is made from, the fluffy part. Just like with beans, there's the baby plant that will germinate ("germ"-inate) if sprouted, and the bean part is the carbohydrate storage protein. Wheat germ is the baby plant inside a kernel of wheat...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      50

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      Hello, @asaT, I'm curious to know whether you are taking other B vitamins like Thiamine B1 and Niacin B3. Malabsorption in Celiac disease affects all the water soluble B vitamins and Vitamin C. Thiamine and Niacin are required to produce energy for all the homocysteine lowering reactions provided by Folate, Cobalamine and Pyridoxine. Weight...
    4. Florence Lillian
      - Florence Lillian replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      11

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hi Jane: You may want to try the D3 I now take. I have reactions to fillers and many additives. Sports Research, it is based in the USA and I have had no bad reactions with this brand. The D3 does have coconut oil but it is non GMO, it is Gluten free, Soy free, Soybean free and Safflower oil free. I have a cupboard full of supplements that did not agree...
    5. catnapt
      - catnapt replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      highly unlikely NOTHING and I mean NOTHING else has ever caused me these kinds of symptoms I have no problem with dates, they are a large part of my diet In fact, I eat a very high fiber, very high vegetable and bean diet and have for many years now. It's considered a whole foods plant based or plant forward diet (I do now eat some lean...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,356
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    JAGAPG
    Newest Member
    JAGAPG
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Wheatwacked
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      Raising you vitamin D will increase absorption of calcium automatically without supplementation of calcium.  A high PTH can be caused by low D causing poor calcium absorption; not insuffient calcium intake.  With low D your body is not absorbing calcium from your food so it steals it from your bones.  Heart has priority over bone. I've been taking 10,000 IU D3 a day since 2015.  My doctor says to continue. To fix my lactose intolerance, lots of lactobacillus from yogurts, and brine fermented pickles and saurkraut and olives.  We lose much of our ability to make lactase endogenosly with maturity but a healthy colony of lactobacillus in our gut excretes lactase in exchange for room and board. The milk protein in grass fed milk does not bother me. It tastes like the milk I grew up on.  If I drink commercial milk I get heartburn at night. Some experts estimate that 90% of us do not eat Adequite Intake of choline.  Beef and eggs are the principle source. Iodine deficiency is a growing concern.  I take 600 mcg a day of Liquid Iodine.  It and NAC have accelerated my healing all over.  Virtually blind in my right eye after starting antihypertensive medication and vision is slowly coming back.  I had to cut out starches because they drove my glucose up into the 200+ range.  I replaced them with Red Bull for the glucose intake with the vitamins, minerals and Taurine needed to process through the mitochodria Krebs Cycle to create ATP.  Went from A1c 13 down to 7.9.  Work in progress. Also take B1,B2,B3,B5,B6. Liquid Iodine, Phosphatidyl Choline, Q10, Selenium, D and DHEA.     Choline supplemented as phosphatidylcholine decreases fasting and postmethionine-loading plasma homocysteine concentrations in healthy men +    
    • knitty kitty
      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @catnapt, Wheat germ has very little gluten in it.  Gluten is  the carbohydrate storage protein, what the flour is made from, the fluffy part.  Just like with beans, there's the baby plant that will germinate  ("germ"-inate) if sprouted, and the bean part is the carbohydrate storage protein.   Wheat germ is the baby plant inside a kernel of wheat, and bran is the protective covering of the kernel.   Little to no gluten there.   Large amounts of lectins are in wheat germ and can cause digestive upsets, but not enough Gluten to provoke antibody production in the small intestines. Luckily you still have time to do a proper gluten challenge (10 grams of gluten per day for a minimum of two weeks) before your next appointment when you can be retested.    
    • knitty kitty
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @asaT, I'm curious to know whether you are taking other B vitamins like Thiamine B1 and Niacin B3.  Malabsorption in Celiac disease affects all the water soluble B vitamins and Vitamin C.  Thiamine and Niacin are required to produce energy for all the homocysteine lowering reactions provided by Folate, Cobalamine and Pyridoxine.   Weight gain with a voracious appetite is something I experienced while malnourished.  It's symptomatic of Thiamine B1 deficiency.   Conversely, some people with thiamine deficiency lose their appetite altogether, and suffer from anorexia.  At different periods on my lifelong journey, I suffered this, too.   When the body doesn't have sufficient thiamine to turn food, especially carbohydrates, into energy (for growth and repair), the body rations what little thiamine it has available, and turns the carbs into fat, and stores it mostly in the abdomen.  Consuming a high carbohydrate diet requires additional thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  Simple carbohydrates (sugar, white rice, etc.) don't contain thiamine, so the body easily depletes its stores of Thiamine processing the carbs into fat.  The digestive system communicates with the brain to keep eating in order to consume more thiamine and other nutrients it's not absorbing.   One can have a subclinical thiamine insufficiency for years.  A twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent increase in brain function, so the symptoms can wax and wane mysteriously.  Symptoms of Thiamine insufficiency include stunted growth, chronic fatigue, and Gastrointestinal Beriberi (diarrhea, abdominal pain), heart attack, Alzheimer's, stroke, and cancer.   Thiamine improves bone turnover.  Thiamine insufficiency can also affect the thyroid.  The thyroid is important in bone metabolism.  The thyroid also influences hormones, like estrogen and progesterone, and menopause.  Vitamin D, at optimal levels, can act as a hormone and can influence the thyroid, as well as being important to bone health, and regulating the immune system.  Vitamin A is important to bone health, too, and is necessary for intestinal health, as well.   I don't do dairy because I react to Casein, the protein in dairy that resembles gluten and causes a reaction the same as if I'd been exposed to gluten, including high tTg IgA.  I found adding mineral water containing calcium and other minerals helpful in increasing my calcium intake.   Malabsorption of Celiac affects all the vitamins and minerals.  I do hope you'll talk to your doctor and dietician about supplementing all eight B vitamins and the four fat soluble vitamins because they all work together interconnectedly.  
    • Florence Lillian
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Florence Lillian · Posted

      Hi Jane: You may want to try the D3 I now take. I have reactions to fillers and many additives. Sports Research, it is based in the USA and I have had no bad reactions with this brand. The D3 does have coconut oil but it is non GMO, it is Gluten free, Soy free, Soybean free and Safflower oil free.  I have a cupboard full of supplements that did not agree with me -  I just keep trying and have finally settled on Sports Research. I take NAKA Women's Multi full spectrum, and have not felt sick after taking 2 capsules per day -  it is a Canadian company. I buy both from Amazon. I wish you well in your searching, I know how discouraging it all is. Florence.  
    • catnapt
      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      By catnapt · Posted

      highly unlikely  NOTHING and I mean NOTHING else has ever caused me these kinds of symptoms I have no problem with dates, they are a large part of my diet In fact, I eat a very high fiber, very high vegetable and bean diet and have for many years now. It's considered a whole foods plant based or plant forward diet (I do now eat some lean ground turkey but not much) I was off dairy for years but recently had to add back plain yogurt to meet calcium needs that I am not allowed to get from supplements (I have not had any problem with the yogurt)   I eat almost no processed foods. I don't eat out. almost everything I eat, I cook myself I am going to keep a food diary but to be honest, I already know that it's wheat products and also barley that are the problem, which is why I gradually stopped eating and buying them. When I was eating them, like back in early 2024, when I was in the middle of moving and ate out (always had bread or toast or rolls or a sub or pizza) I felt terrible but at that time was so busy and exhausted that I never stopped to think it was the food. Once I was in my new place, I continued to have bread from time to time and had such horrible joint pain that I was preparing for 2 total knee replacements as well as one hip! The surgery could not go forward as I was (and still am) actively losing calcium from my bones. That problem has yet to be properly diagnosed and treated   anyway over time I realized that I felt better when I stopped eating bread. Back at least 3 yrs ago I noticed that regular pasta made me sick so I switched to brown rice pasta and even though it costs a lot more, I really like it.   so gradually I just stopped buying and eating foods with gluten. I stopped getting raisin bran when I was constipated because it made me bloated and it didn't help the constipation any more (used to be a sure bet that it would in the past)   I made cookies and brownies using beans and rolled oats and dates and tahini and I LOVE them and have zero issues eating those I eat 1 or more cans of beans per day easily can eat a pound of broccoli - no problem! Brussels sprouts the same thing.   so yeh it's bread and related foods that are clearly the problem  there is zero doubt in my mind    
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.