New To Board And Gluten Free

[KateGlutenFree]

Hi,

Been reading this board for a week. and thought I would introduce myself.

Last month heard about celiac on the news and the new blood test. Did some research and thought, maybe this is what I have? History is that I have had GI problems for 10 years. Was diagniosed by one doctor with colitis. Then another speicialist said "no", "You just have IBS". I hate the abdonminal pains, I hate the D&C, but most of all, I hate the fatigue. When I heard about celiac, I thought that would be difficult, but if it worked it would be great! I was a bit disappointed that my primary suggested going gluten free for 2 weeks instead of a blood test. It will take me way more than 2 weeks to even figure out what I am doing.....

Anyway, I thought I would give it a shot. The last day or so I have tried to go gluten free. I am still tired and think I feel like I am going through a withdrawl of sorts.

Anyway, I enjoy reading the post and I am learning so much. I never would have know that I need to be careful about cross contamination!

Am I correct that if I am at a restarant and order a plain steak, a plain baked potatoe that I am safe, or for the most part am I risking cross contamination?

Anyone ever go on a cruise and not starve to death? I am going in Feb through my company and our manufacture, free trip - can't pass up.

I am sure I will have more questions.

Kate

[jrom987]

Hi Kate!

Welcome! You are in the right place to find answers as the people on here know so much! Good luck with this.

I am new to this too but I wanted to add one thing. I may have misunderstood your post but you have not been tested for celiac disease yet? If not, did you know that you MUST continue consuming gluten to get accurate test results? Just a thought .. if you can go gluten-free and feel good and are happy with that, then don't worry.

Ask away any time you have questions. By the way, cross contamination is serious so you have to trust that the people cooking for you are taking you needs seriously too.

Jo Ann

[KateGlutenFree]

I have not been tested, and I did keep eating gluten thinking my primary would have me tested. She suggested that I try going gluten free to see how I do. I guess the assumption being that if I feel better, then maybe I have it.... so here I am, trying to go gluten free. .....

I am/was willing to do it. But I guess not knowing if I "really" have it makes it harder to do it.

I have to admit that I went into this like a soldier with high hopes. (If the pain and fatiuge go away, I will be happy.) As the days go by, I feel like I am not quite as strong as I had thought. It was so hard to go into to wendys with my mother on my first day and get a backed potatoe and ceasar salad with no crutons. The other food smelled so good.

The good news is that I called the company that makes Mike & Ikes and was told they are gluten free!

Thanks for the info on the blood test.

[jrom987]

Kate,

I know what you mean. It is hard eating out with people especially your family. My husband went to a pizza place with me today that has a wide variety of menu items that ar egluten free. It was good. He was able to eat the chicken wings as an appetizer and "real" pizza while I had the gluten free cheese bread and gluten-free cheese pizza. Also got the gluten free chocolate mint cake to share with hubby. That was not as good as it looked. Anyway, my point is, we just need to find places that serve foods we can eat. I always used to order the baked potato and salad at Wendy's even before being diagnosed.

I have been gluten-free for less than three weeks and I do not feel any better yet. My back has been really bad but I think the chiropractor might be part of that problem. I am very, very tired. Just vacuuming the house does me in for a few hours. No white gloves are allowed in my home! The kitchen is really clean as I am so obsessive about getting glutened but the rest of the house is cleaned a little at a time.

Good luck! Feel free to email me anytime you have a question and I will try to help.

Jo Ann

[ravenwoodglass]

"Am I correct that if I am at a restarant and order a plain steak, a plain baked potatoe that I am safe, or for the most part am I risking cross contamination?"

Ask them to cook the steak in a pan not on the grill and make sure no spices, you can salt and pepper at the table.  Bring a packet of gluten-free dressing if you have a salad and watch the waitress wite NO CRUTONS on the slip and you should be okay. Try not to eat at too many fast food places for a while, at least not till your well enough to know if your having a reaction to something.

"Anyone ever go on a cruise and not starve to death?  I am going in Feb through my company and our manufacture, free trip - can't pass up."

You should call the cruise company and let them know you have a food 'allergy' that they will need to accomodate. They may already have gluten savvy staff but if they don't they should make them that way. You may want to bring a general list of no-nos with you to give the cook, make it  pretty enough and they may post it in the kitchen:).

Oh and I'm jealous about the cruise, hope you have a lot fun. Wave at a whale for me if you see one.

"I am sure I will have more questions." 

Ask away, I hope you find the answer to your health problems soon. I'd call the doc and request the blood test Monday.

Kate

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Food]

Kate,

I know what you mean. It is hard eating out with people especially your family. My husband went to a pizza place with me today that has a wide variety of menu items that ar egluten free. It was good. He was able to eat the chicken wings as an appetizer and "real" pizza while I had the gluten free cheese bread and gluten-free cheese pizza. Also got the gluten free chocolate mint cake to share with hubby. That was not as good as it looked. Anyway, my point is, we just need to find places that serve foods we can eat.  I always used to order the baked potato and salad at Wendy's even before being diagnosed. 

I have been gluten-free for less than three weeks and I do not feel any better yet. My back has been really bad but I think the chiropractor might be part of that problem. I am very, very tired. Just vacuuming the house does me in for a few hours. No white gloves are allowed in my home! The kitchen is really clean as I am so obsessive about getting glutened but the rest of the house is cleaned a little at a time.

Good luck! Feel free to email me anytime you have a question and I will try to  help.

Jo Ann

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Food]

Kate,

I know what you mean. It is hard eating out with people especially your family. My husband went to a pizza place with me today that has a wide variety of menu items that ar egluten free. It was good. He was able to eat the chicken wings as an appetizer and "real" pizza while I had the gluten free cheese bread and gluten-free cheese pizza. Also got the gluten free chocolate mint cake to share with hubby. That was not as good as it looked. Anyway, my point is, we just need to find places that serve foods we can eat.  I always used to order the baked potato and salad at Wendy's even before being diagnosed. 

I have been gluten-free for less than three weeks and I do not feel any better yet. My back has been really bad but I think the chiropractor might be part of that problem. I am very, very tired. Just vacuuming the house does me in for a few hours. No white gloves are allowed in my home! The kitchen is really clean as I am so obsessive about getting glutened but the rest of the house is cleaned a little at a time.

Good luck! Feel free to email me anytime you have a question and I will try to  help.

Where did you find a restaurant with gluten free pizza and cheese bread?

Jo Ann

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[nettiebeads]

The fatigue is always the last to go when I've been glutened. The length of time to feel any effects from going gluten-free depends on severity of damage, just how gluten-free you really are and your own body's natural healing rate. My dr. dx'd me years ago just by the diet alone. Much less expensive and invasive as other tests, and just as valid.

[KateGlutenFree]

Thanks so much for all the adivse.

I like the idea of bringing my own salad dressing.

neddiebeads, thanks for the response, it makes me feel better that by diet alone you feel you were diagnosed correctly.

I can see myself eating more fruit. (need to go shopping).

So far I have tried the following gluten free food,

peanut butter cookies. not so great

frozen pizza. ugh

some sort of cracker. pretty good

french fries that say gluten free = very good!!! 10 stars

Thanks again, I am sure I will be back with more questions.

[Idahogirl]

Here are some gluten-free foods I have tried:

Mac & Cheese-okay but not the real thing! especially when sitting next to my kids "real Mac & Cheese"

Cheddar flavored rice crackers-worse than cardboard

Chocolate rice bars-okay but chocolate had a funny taste

Chocolate chip cookies-pretty good, but not Nabisco!

I bought some rice pasta and a chicken & alfredo box meal, but haven't tried them yet. The mac & cheese was $2.50 on sale, whereas my kids' mac & cheese was $.20.