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

Are You Bipolar?


skbird

Are you or anyone in your family also bipolar?  

29 members have voted

You do not have permission to vote in this poll, or see the poll results. Please sign in or register to vote in this poll.

Recommended Posts

melisadki Explorer

Stephanie I have been on alot of mood stabilizers and the one I really liked and tolerated well was trileptal...its kinda new to things but it is made from tegretol but there are no weight gain effects and the sedation is quit minimal.

I am not on meds at the moment because I am trying to get pregnant but if I had to be I would choose trileptal again.

Depakote~made my D worse and sedation, weight gain

Neurontin~major sedation, weight gain

Lithium~All around I could not tolerate this one!

Zyprexa~Huge weight gain, huge sedation

Trileptal~a few headaches at start

Hopefully once I get going on this diet I wont need meds anymore......maybe a dream but I sure hope so. :rolleyes:

I have been taking Ativan for the past two weeks and it has helped at times and then I have also been feeling more anxiety and irritation than usual. I don't know if this is from the ativan or just all the stress in my life at the moment.

Ativan can have daily withdrawals I was on this for awhile and soon figured I was getting w/d daily from the med. Terrible to get off too!

I know how frustrating it can be ... IMO Bipolar is from alot of different things such as nutrient imbalance...malabsorption...sugar problems....and of course hormonal...and stress. I guess tackling the whole body approach is a start with a good diet..excercise...relaxation techniques...etc.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



skbird Contributor

Interesting about Ativan - that makes sense. I was on it for two one-year courses before and went through withdrawl both times, not fun. Recently was given Xanax XR which is supposed to last 24 hours and avoid the withdrawl effect. Problem was that xanax is SO addictive. I would take it for three days, in pill a day, and the fourth be feeling agitated without it. I am scared of xanax for that reason.

Having lived through ativan I am not as stressed about it, though I hope I'm not in for a long course. Now an extended release ativan would be useful.

I looked at trileptal and saw that sometimes it causes hypoglycemia which concerned me. I already have problems with that, so it's not big on my list. Anyway, thanks for the info though. I am honestly terrifed (dumb) of gaining weight again. That was horrible, and all the side effects. Also just interviewed for a new job today, grant proposal writer, and am worried about any thinking processes that might be affected by taking a mood-stabilizer. Well, hopefully I'm worrying a lot about nothing.

Take care

Stephanie

tarnalberry Community Regular

There wasn't an option to choose for my answer, but I have second degree (or third) relatives with bi-polar. They haven't investigated celiac, and I'm not terribly close to them, so I've mentioned I've had it, and it's genetic, so they should be aware, but I'm not going to push the issue.

melisadki Explorer
I looked at trileptal and saw that sometimes it causes hypoglycemia which concerned me. I already have problems with that, so it's not big on my list. Anyway, thanks for the info though. I am honestly terrifed (dumb) of gaining weight again. That was horrible, and all the side effects. Also just interviewed for a new job today, grant proposal writer, and am worried about any thinking processes that might be affected by taking a mood-stabilizer. Well, hopefully I'm worrying a lot about nothing.

I didnt know that about trileptal about the hypogylecemia..hmm...I do know it cause a folic acid deficiency and can intereact with birth control. As far a thought processes this was the least harsh one IMO at least for me because I am so sensitive to meds and the sedation I get from them... :rolleyes:

Good luck on your new job. :)

Alot of people on depression forums like lamictal too. I have never taken that one though I heard it can cause a rash if you are allergic.

skbird Contributor

I don't usually get depressed, at least not in the past few years, but the last two weeks I've had hypodepressions where I am suddenly deeply depressed for an hour or few. Sort of like when I am glutened, but I have not been. I think for the most part I am pretty much ok, just the IBS part of the whole thing is really getting to me.

Since I made a lot of food changes I have felt my moods level out considerably, to the point where I feel really calm most of the time. I don't know if that means they were food-related to being with or bipolar. But things have definitely cropped back up for me, and that is a challenge for me right now - because I am in it and also still outside of it, if you know what I mean. Back at my worst I was totally in it, the depression and manias (mostly hypomanias) with basically no ability to see how I would ever get out of it.

Now I'm still "ok" an scared that I will slip away into "not ok"... I think that is also where the fear of gaining weight comes from - means I have lost control of my otherwise calm life.

And about the job - I just got the call, I got it! Woo-hoo! Well, that should help me feel good about things. I am giving it a trial day tomorrow to see if I like it, then going back to my other job and giving my two weeks notice. I'm happy but will be even more relieved tomorrow, after the trial day is done.

Stephanie

FaithInScienceToo Contributor

Hi, All,

Sorry to be a while in tagging on again -

About meds - SSRI's in particular - and whether or not they are necessary for some:

The answer seems, to me, to be a VERY obvious "Yes." - as some people must have them to remain 'able' - because Science has not found all of the answers yet.

The reasons I feel the answer is "YES" :

Researchers still need to do a lot of research to find ALL causes of neurotransmitter imbalance, the same way that researchers need to find all causes of other disorders, including Celiac Disease.

In the meantime, though, it is foolish to think that the imbalances/disorders should not be treated with medicines that have been proven to bring relief to those suffering.

Yes, SSRIs are not perfect - they, like all drugs, have potential side effects.

And, those potential side effects must always be communicated to patients (or their guardians, as the case must be) before prescribing.

SSRI's are without a doubt necessary as an option in the arsenal of treatments against depression. Millions take them precisely because they work.

One example of an SSRI:

Millions take Paxil because it not only treats depression, but it is highly successful in treating social anxiety. My ex-husband's social anxiety was completely eliminated with Paxil.

Now, one could say...what about psychotherapy? Why don't those with social anxiety just get therapy?

Well...some people will not go through the process to truly find the root of their issues (my ex-husband being one of those people), AND still others have suffered so much stress in their lives that it could quite possibly take them decades to sort through it all...obvisouly, in such cases, medicinal treatment is necessary.

Other people simply want relief ASAP, to get on with life, WHILE they go through the psychotherapeutic process.

What I am trying to say here is that...

Life and it's effects on neurotransmitters is not 'a simple' puzzle...NOT black and white.

Yes, some causes of depression have been isolated - but one cannot go back and take away causes such as the past - or genes that created neurotransmitter imbalances ...in such cases, treating the neuortransmitter imbalance with medicine is the only option...treating the cause is impossible at that point...

I do hope that those of you currently promoting the belief that SSRIs are 'bad' will find it in your rational brain to see that such a stance is not only foolish, but "wrong" - you may keep someone from finding relief for their misery...you may even indirectly cause more misery...if you continue to spout that kind of 'nonsense'...

This is not to say that SSRIs, like all drugs, should NOT be used prudently - they should.

And, they also should be reduced in dosage, or even eliminated from a treatment plan, IF POSSIBLE...IFand WHEN the patient's situation changes, such that the body's own ability to balance it's neurotransmitters on it's own returns - that, of course, unfortunately NEVER happens for some, and so they must remain on SSRIs to be well, and to live happy and healthy lives.

Just as some diabetics must use insulin, etc...

There is NO shame in using SSRI's.

Now, for my own experiences:

I, personally, take 12.5 mg Paxil SR (slow release) daily for two reasons:

1) I take 20 mg. Ritalin LA (long-acting) daily, and the Paxil eliminates the side effects of the Ritalin, for me.

2) And, it also helps me not feel deeply sad, ever - something I would feel before using an SSRI - No, I myself do not 'have' bi-polar disease - my older sis does - but, having come from a family 'genetically-loaded' for depression, I accept that my brain is not perfect, just like any other part of my body...and so, it benefits from the 'help' -

I am very grateful for these medicines.

They are the only ones I feel I 'need' in order to live my life to the best of it's potential...

As Dr. Phil likes to say...we are all our own Life Managers...

I feel I am doing a great job...and part of that job is accepting that my brain IS physical...and that sometimes...SOMETIMES...not matter what we do, there will be a need for some medicine to help balance neurotransmitters...

In my case, I am going to take Paxil and Ritalin for the rest of my life.

Having gone gluten-free helped me to lower the Paxil from 25mg to 12.5...

But, I have just learned, from my GYN, that 25 mg of Paxil may take away my night sweats, which came on after lowering the Paxil. She told me that 12.5 mg is not considered to be a therapeutic dose, and that 25mg Paxil has been proven to help some women 'my age' eliminate night sweats!

AND SO...I am now seriously considering upping the Paxil to 25 mg, once more.

I also have a 15-year-old niece who takes an SSRI - in her case, the only time she has felt suicidal is when she went off of the med. Infact, resewarch has shown that more untreated kids with depression are suicidal than those on SSRIs...

As you can see, I hope, no one patient is like another...

Treating depression, and ADD, bi-polar, etc...treating ANY 'mental illness' is not simple...NOT BLACK OR WHITE...

If an SSRI helps one person, there is no guarantee is will help another...if it hamrs one, there is no reason to say it WILL harm another...one's doc must be vigilant with ANY med...and remove it if it causes harm.

I am truly sad about the member who's daughter was suicidal while on an SSRI...

in that case, an SSRI is NOT the med of choice for her, if any med is...

BUT, I hope that she will see that it is not correct logic to conclude that SSRIs are evil, in general, because her daughter didn't benefit...

OK...that's my 2 bucks and 22 cents worth...

Thanks for listening.

Respectfully submitted,

Gina (Faith In Science, Too)

Master of Science, General Psychology

(Emphasis was on on research design and methodology, but I did study Psychopathology and the use of psychotropic meds, also)

skbird Contributor

Good post, Gina. I am not opposed to SSRI's, I just can't take them. For me Paxil induced far more anxiety than I already had. But I am trying to reconcile that not everything in my case may be solved by diet alone. I don't like that idea, but it may be the truth. So it is good to read people presenting both sides of the argument here.

Take care and congratulations, by the way, again!

Stephanie


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



melisadki Explorer

I dont particulary like SSRI's but I have to take them when the depression kicks in. The start up effects I believe alot of times are what causes some people not to tolerate them as for me they are quit agitating at first and I get worse before I get better sort of thing.

I found I did better on wellbutrin until I started having a fast heart rate and blood presure which is really a bummer since this was my favorite med.

Stephanie congrats on the job! :)

Has anyone on here that has bipolar been able to get compeletely off meds once totally gluten-free? Just curious? I really dont like taking meds at all.. <_<

  • 10 months later...
clix Newbie
I'm just curious. I know I've mentioned here before that I was dx'd bipolar 2 about 10 years ago and that since I found out about food intolerances I seem to no longer fit this criteria. But I went to my GP today to discuss my scopes results and other issues (mainly many tests and labs that all indicate I am fine but the reality of ongoing pain and digestive problems) and he suggested the dreaded SSRI's. I said no way, not only do they make me manic, but they remove my sex drive which is not ok with me. Then he asked what else makes me manic and I said nearly every med, minus tranquilizers and narcotic pain pills. So he wants to further investigate the possibility I really am bipolar, or at least a little bipolar, and that this can translate into heightened pain sensitivity.

As much as I hate to go back on the bipolar merry-go-round, it does seem to make some sense that there would be some connection there. I have noticed a lot of gluten intolerant people mention they are bipolar. Just wondering if anyone else has any thoughts on this.

Stephanie

Hi Stephanie and all. This is an old thread but I am interested in this as I am bipolar.

I was dignosed with malabsorbsion syndrome and was injecting vitamins for 2 yrs till diagnosed with celiac while hospitalised psychotic and off the planet! Within three days of the glutenfree diet starting I began to recover despite diagnosis of "Chronic schizophrenia". I had 8 yrs free of psychiatric symptoms, then post partum psychosis after birth of my 2nd child. I have been on the glutenfree diet for 32 yrs! As I got older I had several hospitalisations and was finally diagnosed bipolar. I am taking 10mg per day Olanzapine and 4mg a day Reboxatine.

I have just started to take Omega 3 fish oil (6 capsules a day). I understand some celiacs are low in essential fatty acids and I have persistant dry scaley skin. Research since 2001 on Omega 3's for bipolar is promising and its seems the mechanism is it feeds the brain what it needs for the neurotransmitters to funcion properly rather than affecting the neurotransmitters directly like the SSRI's do. The results indicate Omega 3 may be an alternative to lithium or valporate.

I am sure the glutenfree diet has made my mental illness less severe, and am excited at the potential with fish oil Omega3. The brain gut connection is real and facinating. I hope this information is useful to some one, and it seems there is an alternative to taking medication. I am doing both for the time being.

hannahsue01 Enthusiast
Hi Stephanie and all. This is an old thread but I am interested in this as I am bipolar.

I was dignosed with malabsorbsion syndrome and was injecting vitamins for 2 yrs till diagnosed with celiac while hospitalised psychotic and off the planet! Within three days of the glutenfree diet starting I began to recover despite diagnosis of "Chronic schizophrenia". I had 8 yrs free of psychiatric symptoms, then post partum psychosis after birth of my 2nd child. I have been on the glutenfree diet for 32 yrs! As I got older I had several hospitalisations and was finally diagnosed bipolar. I am taking 10mg per day Olanzapine and 4mg a day Reboxatine.

I have just started to take Omega 3 fish oil (6 capsules a day). I understand some celiacs are low in essential fatty acids and I have persistant dry scaley skin. Research since 2001 on Omega 3's for bipolar is promising and its seems the mechanism is it feeds the brain what it needs for the neurotransmitters to funcion properly rather than affecting the neurotransmitters directly like the SSRI's do. The results indicate Omega 3 may be an alternative to lithium or valporate.

I am sure the glutenfree diet has made my mental illness less severe, and am excited at the potential with fish oil Omega3. The brain gut connection is real and facinating. I hope this information is useful to some one, and it seems there is an alternative to taking medication. I am doing both for the time being.

I have yet to be diagnosed but believe that I am bibolar. I have only been diagnosed with depression. My docs want me to go on meds but I don't like them....it's good to know that maybe there might be an alternative. I also hope that going gluten free will help. This whole bipoler thing is driving me nuts.

clix Newbie
I have yet to be diagnosed but believe that I am bibolar. I have only been diagnosed with depression. My docs want me to go on meds but I don't like them....it's good to know that maybe there might be an alternative. I also hope that going gluten free will help. This whole bipoler thing is driving me nuts.

Hi Hannahsue,

The black dog institute in Sydney Australia is currently conducting trials of Omega 3 oils for major depression.

The original study with bipolar was done by Dr Andrew Stoll who is connected with a company called OmegaBrite. They market an Omega3 oil high in EHA

The fish oil here over the counter with 180mg eicosapantoic acid (EHA) and 120 DHA mean you would have to take 12 caps a day to get 2g EHA (this was the dose in the trials)

They don't really know what the required dose is yet. I am taking 1g EHA a day (6caps of burpless oil) It is supposed to take at least three weeks before you notice results and can take longer

I am certain that if not for the gluten free diet I would be locked in a back ward of an institution somewhere instead of being a graduate in psychology and managing to live well in the community. Stick to the diet.

hannahsue01 Enthusiast
Hi Hannahsue,

The black dog institute in Sydney Australia is currently conducting trials of Omega 3 oils for major depression.

The original study with bipolar was done by Dr Andrew Stoll who is connected with a company called OmegaBrite. They market an Omega3 oil high in EHA

The fish oil here over the counter with 180mg eicosapantoic acid (EHA) and 120 DHA mean you would have to take 12 caps a day to get 2g EHA (this was the dose in the trials)

They don't really know what the required dose is yet. I am taking 1g EHA a day (6caps of burpless oil) It is supposed to take at least three weeks before you notice results and can take longer

I am certain that if not for the gluten free diet I would be locked in a back ward of an institution somewhere instead of being a graduate in psychology and managing to live well in the community. Stick to the diet.

Thanks for the info.

Guest Robbin

Anyone who reads this thread should be EXTREMELY CAREFUL AND DO NOT STOP TAKING YOUR MEDS WITHOUT TALKING WITH YOUR DOCTOR.

My dh is bipolar with psychotic episodes when his medicine is changed in any way. He has many family members with mental illnesses and three family suicides, including his mother. It is a serious, serious illness. He has been eating low gluten (almost completely gluten free) for about 6 months and I noticed his sleeping is better, but his meds have not been changed at all and I don't want them to be. He functions well and obviously needs the medications. I have no doubts that celiac disease can be a cause of mental illnesses, but if it goes undiagnosed, wouldn't it make sense that perhaps the damage has been done and the meds are life-long--just as in diabetes and insulin? Most seratonin production is in the intestines-little known fact that I just read-so it makes sense that the link is there. Many of us have neuro and physical problems that are the result of nutrient deprivation-mental illness is no exception-your brain is a body part too. Please, please be cautious and talk to your doctors about this before stopping any meds.

Fiddle-Faddle Community Regular
Anyone who reads this thread should be EXTREMELY CAREFUL AND DO NOT STOP TAKING YOUR MEDS WITHOUT TALKING WITH YOUR DOCTOR.

Please, please be cautious and talk to your doctors about this before stopping any meds.

Absolutely right. Even if it turns out that you really don't need meds, you want to wean off of them in a very controlled way with your doctor's knowledge. Meds like these cannot be played around with in the way that people in our country play around with over-the-counter meds (which are bad enough)!

I was wondering how many people who NEVER drink caffeine are diagnosed as bipolar, or even how many bipolar people noticed that their initial onset of symptoms coincided with their starting to drink caffeine? Maybe I'm totally off on this one, but I can't help wondering if there's a link there...

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      130,288
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    MsMae
    Newest Member
    MsMae
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):




  • Who's Online (See full list)


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Dora77
      Sorry for the long post. I’m 18, and I was diagnosed with celiac disease and type 1 diabetes (T1D). My transglutaminase IgA was >128 U/mL, EMA IgA positive twice, and I’m HLA-DQ2 and DQ8 positive. I’ve been completely asymptomatic since diagnosis, even when I cheated with gluten sometimes in the past and used to eat out(2-5 years ago) I don’t get the typical celiac reactions, which makes it really hard to know when (or if) I’ve been glutened. But for the past year, I’ve been the most strict with my diet, and that’s also when a bunch of new issues started. I eat completely glutenfree, never eat out, dont eat food that says „may contain gluten“.   Current Health Problems • 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). • Chronic back pain started gradually, worsens with movement, lots of cracking/popping sounds. Been ongoing for a year now. First noticed in the gym. • Abdominal bulge on the right side, not painful but seems to be getting slightly bigger. Doctor didn’t find a hernia on ultrasound, but it was done lying down (I’ve read those can miss hernias). Noticed it like 6 months ago, couldve been there longer. • extremely dry and mildly swollen hands (this started before I started excessive hand-washing), and bloated face. • Signs of inattentive ADHD (noticed over the past 3 years), now combined with severe OCD focused on contamination and cross-contact. • Growth/puberty seemed to started after going gluten-free. Before that I was not developing. Dont know if any of these are because of celiac as my dad doesnt have those and he is a lot less strict gluten-free then me. I also had pancreatic elastase tested four times: values were 46 (very low), 236, 158, and 306 (normal). Gastroenterologist said one normal value is enough and I don’t have EPI. Family doctor prescribed Kreon anyway (after I pushed for it), and I just started taking 1 capsule (10,000 units) with meals 2 days ago, but couldn‘t see effects yet because I’ve been constipated the last few days. Maybe because of thyroid. I don’t have Hashimoto’s. No thyroid antibodies. But I took levothyroxine for slightly low FT4 levels. My thyroid levels fluctuated between borderline low and low-normal. And recently lowered my dose so that may have caused the constipating. I probably didn’t need it in the first place, and am thinking about stopping it soon.   Current Diet Right now, I only eat a very limited set of “safe” foods I prepare myself: • Gluten-free bread with tuna or cheese • Milk and cornflakes • gluten-free cookies/snacks • Bananas (the only fruit I trust right now) I rarely eat other fruits or vegetables, because I’m scared of contamination. My dad, who also has celiac but doesn’t care about CC, buys fruits, and he might’ve picked them up right after handling gluten bread. That makes me feel unsafe eating them. Even fruit at stores or markets feels risky because so many people with gluten on their hands touch them.   My Home Situation (Shared Kitchen) We’re a family of 5. Only my dad and I have celiac. He eats glutenfree but doesn’t care about CC and sometimes (but rarely) cheats. My mom and siblings eat gluten bread at every meal. My mom is honest (so if i ask her to be cautious, she most likely would try to), but doesn’t seem to understand how serious celiac is. She: • Stopped using gluten flour • only cooks gluten-free meals (but they still heat up gluten bread and also cook gluten noodles) • Keeps separate butter/jam/jars for me • Bought me a stainless steel pan Bu we didn’t replace old wooden utensils, cutting boards, or other pans. The new they bought me pan was even carried home in a shopping bag with gluten bread in it, which triggered my OCD. It also has a rubber handle and I’m scared it might still hold onto gluten. Even if it’s washed well, it’s stored next to other pans that were used for gluten food/bread. Our kitchen table is used for eating gluten bread daily. My mom wipes it but not with soap. I’m scared tiny particles remain. If she made gluten-free bread dough on a board at the table, I’d still worry about cross contmaination contamination even with something under the dough and on the table as at one point the dough would probably touch the table. So I stopped eating anything she makes.   I know OCD is making it worse, but I can’t tell how much of my fear is real and how much is anxiety. Examples: • I wash my hands 20–30 times a day — before eating, after touching anything at home or outside, after using my phone/laptop. • I don’t let others touch my phone, and I’m scared to use my laptop because friends at school or my brother (who eat gluten) have touched it. And it annoys me a lot when others touch my stuff and feels like it got contaminated and is unsafe instantly. • I stopped eating while using my phone or laptop, afraid of invisible gluten being on them. • I wash my hands after opening food packaging (since it was on store cashier belts where gluten food is placed). • I avoid sitting anywhere except my bed or one clean chair. • I won’t shake hands with anyone or walk past people eating gluten. • At school, when switching classes, I wash my hands before getting out my laptop, again before opening it, etc. • I open door knobs with my elbows instead my hands   Job Concerns (Powder Coating, Sandblasting, Etc.) I’m working a temporary job right now that involves: • Powder coating • Sandblasting • Wet spray painting • Anodizing There’s also a laboratory. I don’t need this job, and my OCD makes me believe that dust or air particles there might contain gluten somehow. Should I quit?   Doctors Haven’t Helped My family doctor told me: “Asymptomatic celiac isn’t serious, if you have no symptoms, your intestines won’t get damaged, so you don’t need a gluten-free diet.” I knew that was wrong, but he wasn’t open to listening. I just nodded and didn‘t argue. My gastroenterologist (who’s also a dietitian) said: „If your antibodies are negative, there’s no damage. It might even be okay to try small amounts of gluten later if antibodies stay negative.“ Also said, pepper that says “may contain gluten” is fine if it only contains pepper. She was more informed than my family doctor but didn’t seem to fully understand celiac either.   Questions I Need Help With 1. Is it realistically safe to eat food my mom cooks, if we get separate pans/ and boards even if gluten is still used in the same kitchen? There will always be low risk of cc chances like that she will still touch stuff that was touched by her and my siblings after they ate gluten. And as there are gluten eaters in the house and she also prepares and eats gluten. So would opening the fridge then getting the food and touching the food be okay? So basically what i am doing, washing my hands multiple times while preparing food, she would only wash it once before, then touch anything else (for example water tap or handles) that were touched with gluteny hands, then also touch the food. I dont know if I ever could feel safe, I could try telling her how important cc really is. And I trust her so she wouldnt lie to me then be careless about cc, but idk how safe it really can be if she and everyone else keeps eating gluten and touching stuff in the house after eating. 2. Do I need to worry about touching doorknobs, fridge handles, light switches, etc. that family members touched after eating gluten? What about public places like bus handles or school desks? Or like if i went to the gym, I would be touching stuff all the time, so there will be small amounts of gluten and those would get transferred on my phone if I touch my phone while in the gym. But I want to knos if it would be enough to do damage. 3. Is an endoscopy (without biopsy) enough to tell if my intestines are healed? I’d pay privately if it could help and if i dont get a refferal. Or do i need a biopsy? 4. Could my job (powder coating, sandblasting, etc.) expose me to gluten or damage my intestines through air/dust? 5. Do I need certified gluten-free toothpaste, hand soap, shampoo, or moisturizer? (For example: Vaseline and Colgate don’t contain gluten ingredients but say they can’t guarantee it’s gluten-free.) 6. Is spices like pepper with “may contain traces of gluten” safe if no gluten ingredients are listed? Or does everything need to be labeled gluten-free?  7. Is continuing to only eat my own food the better choice, or could I eventually go back to eating what my mom cooks if she’s careful? 8. is cutlery from dishwasher safe if there are stains? Stuff like knives is used for cutting gluten bread or fork for noodles etc. I often see stains which i dont know if its gluten or something else but our dish washer doesnt seem to make it completely clean. 9. I wash my hands multiple times while preparing food. Do i need to do the same when touching my phone. Like if i touch the fridge handle, I wash my hands then touch the phone. I dont eat while using my phone but i leave it on my bed and pillow and my face could come in contact with where it was.  10. Do i need to clean my phone or laptop if theyve been used by people who eat gluten? Even if no crumbs fall onto my keybaord, i mean because of invisible gluten on their fingers. 11. Does medication/supplements have to be strictly glutenfree? One company said they couldn‘t guarantee if their probiotics don’t contain traces of gluten.  12. I had bought supplements in the past, some of them say glutenfree and some of them dont(like the brand „NOW“ from iherb). I bought them and used them when i wasnt washing my hands so often, are they still safe? As I touched and opened them after touching door knobs, water taps etc. It was like a year ago when i bought those and even though i was eating gluten-free, I never worried about what i touch etc. I know this post is long. I’m just extremely overwhelmed. I’m trying to protect myself from long-term health damage, but the OCD is destroying my quality of life, and I honestly don’t know what’s a reasonable level of caution anymore. Thanks for reading.
    • lmemsm
      I've been making a lot of black bean brownies lately because it's one of the few gluten free dessert recipes that actually tastes palatable.  I've also seen chocolate cake recipes with black beans.  Someone mentioned a cookie recipe using lentils in place of flour.  Just wondering if anyone's run across any tried and true recipes using beans, lentils or peas for desserts?  I've seen a lot of recipes for garbanzo flour but I'm allergic to garbanzo beans/chickpeas.  Was wondering if adzuki or pinto beans might be useful in replacing some or all of the flour in baking.  Since gluten free flours can be crumbly was hoping the beans might help produce a better, less crumbly consistency.  Any recommendations for recipes?  Thanks.
    • lmemsm
      I've seen a lot of recipes for chia pudding, so I decided to make some with chia, water, cocoa and honey.  Didn't like the taste, so I added ground sunflower and ground pumpkin seed to it.  It tasted okay, but came out more like frosting that pudding.  I used to make pudding with tapioca starch, milk powder, water and sugar.  It came out very good but I haven't figured out what to use to replace the milk powder to make it dairy free.  Most starches will work in place of tapioca starch but quantity varies depending on the type of starch.  If I didn't add enough starch to get a pudding consistency, I'd add gelatin as well to fix it.  Avocado and cocoa makes a good dessert with a pudding like consistency.  Unfortunately, I have a bad reaction to avocados.
    • lmemsm
      Seems like when I find a gluten free product I like, the producer stops manufacturing it and then I have trouble finding a new gluten free source for it.  What's worse, I've been contacting companies to ask if their products are gluten free and they don't even bother to respond.  So, it's making it very hard to find safe replacements.  I was buying teff flour at nuts.com and they no longer carry it.  I noticed Naturevibe has teff and soy flour.  However, I can't get a response as to whether their flours are safe for someone with celiac.  Can't get a response from Aldi if their peas are safe for someone with celiac either.  I know Bob's Red Mill has teff flour but was hoping to get a large quantity.  I've been using up the 20 ounce Bob's Red Mill teff flour too quickly.  Does anyone know of a good source for teff or soy flour?  Any recommendations where to get gluten free beans, peas or lentils?  I found some packages of gluten free beans at Sprouts but not much variety.  I've also been looking for lentil elbow macaroni and it seems like no one is making that now that Tolerant was bought out.  Any suggestions for safe sources for these types of ingredients.  Thanks.
    • chrish42
      All I can say is this site is great!
×
×
  • Create New...