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

New To Gluten Free, Not Sure What I Am Allowed To Eat

MrDurden

Recommended Posts

MrDurden Newbie
MrDurden
Posted

Hi everyone, I started being gluten free a few days ago as I have all of the symptoms of someone with gluten sensitivity and would like to see if all of my symptoms improve on a gluten free diet. Obviously I know to stay away from gluten based products such as bread, pasta etc. and products that may contain gluten based ingredients such as sauces or  chocolate, but I was wondering where people stand on products that do not contain gluten ingredients such as wheat but are not labelled as gluten free. I am confused as to whether or not I should be eating these.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

I eat lots of foods that don't say " gluten-free" on them.

Just a reminder - if you want to be tested for Celiac disease, you should not stop eating gluten until all testing is finished.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Welcome. If possible you should be tested for celiac before you go gluten free. If you later decide you want to be tested you would have to go back on gluten for anywhere from a couple weeks to a couple months. That can be hard if you are celiac because at times reactions are stronger after we have been gluten free and the antibodies have calmed down. 

Do read the Newbie thread at the top of the Coping section as it will have a lot of good info for you.

You do need to avoid wheat, rye, barley (malt) and oats. I do consume foods that are not labeled gluten free but I read the labels very carefully before I do. 

MrDurden Newbie
MrDurden
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the advice. I am going to remain gluten free until Christmas and then try gluten again to see if I have a bad reaction to it. If I do then I will know that I am gluten intollerant. I am reading the labels of pretty much everything I am eating now, I am looking out for ingrediants like wheat, barley, oats, rye etc. but am not sure what else to look out for. Im sure a quick google search will give me the answer though.

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

Also, it is easier on both you and your gut if you stick to whole foods at first. Things like meat and potatoes and fresh veggies and fruit. You don't have to worry about reading the ingredients labels because there aren't any, and these things are easier to digest than processed food.

 

And be prepared for gluten withdrawal. You may get headaches and mood swings and an almost dizzy feeling for a week or two. That is perfectly normal and once you're over it you will most likely start feeling better than you have in a long time.

mamaw Community Regular
mamaw
Posted

You are  correct staying  away  from  any of the  wheat  family, rye, barley...Being  wheat free  is not the  same  as  being  gluten free...gluten  lurks  in  almost  every  thing! marinades, sauces,  coatings,  soy  sauce,  beer  &  so  much  more..

I agree  that  you should  stick to a  whole foods  plan... Stay away from  processed  foods  gluten free  ones  too... Eat  healthy  live  foods...

Many  of  us  eat gluten-free  foods that  are   not  made  in a dedicated  facility , others  who  are  very sensitive  can not  risk  that ...

I also  suggest  celiac  testing  even if  has been  done  in the  past, things  can change from year to year....

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

I eat lots of things that do not say "Gluten-Free" on the label. I read ingredients, and know that most major food manufacturers (including Kraft, General Mills, Unilever and ConAgra, among others) will clearly disclose known gluten sources in the ingredients list. I am in my fifteenth year gluten-free, and this has worked for me. Label rules have improved since 2000, so you may be more comfortable with a lesser-known company than I was back then.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

Thanks for the advice. I am going to remain gluten free until Christmas and then try gluten again to see if I have a bad reaction to it. If I do then I will know that I am gluten intollerant. I am reading the labels of pretty much everything I am eating now, I am looking out for ingrediants like wheat, barley, oats, rye etc. but am not sure what else to look out for. Im sure a quick google search will give me the answer though.

 

Keep in mind that if you do decide to test for celiac disease, you will need to complete a gluten challenge consisting of the equivalent of 1-2 slices of bread per day for 2-3 months before you can accurately get tested.  That's why it is often a good idea to get tested for celiac disease before going gluten-free - reintroducing gluten into your life (if it gives you obvious symptoms) for three months is a painful and miserable experience.  You might save yourself a lot of discomfort by getting tested for celiac disease now, and then if it is negative you can try the gluten-free diet and then reintroduce gluten later (if you want).

 

Best wishes in whatever you decide.  :)

MrDurden Newbie
MrDurden
Posted
  • Author

Also, it is easier on both you and your gut if you stick to whole foods at first. Things like meat and potatoes and fresh veggies and fruit. You don't have to worry about reading the ingredients labels because there aren't any, and these things are easier to digest than processed food.

 

And be prepared for gluten withdrawal. You may get headaches and mood swings and an almost dizzy feeling for a week or two. That is perfectly normal and once you're over it you will most likely start feeling better than you have in a long time.

 

Five days into being gluten free and I actually feel more fatigued than I did before, I am tired all day and have brain fog and terrible flatulence. I have had these symptoms for quite some time now but they seem to be worse now. I am hoping this will pass soon.

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

That is gluten withdrawal. Give it another week or so and you'll feel better.

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

Oh yes, withdrawal is horrible. I too felt much worse for the first couple of weeks... doesn't seem fair or right, does it?  LOL

MrDurden Newbie
MrDurden
Posted
  • Author

Oh yes, withdrawal is horrible. I too felt much worse for the first couple of weeks... doesn't seem fair or right, does it?  LOL

How long did it take you to feel better?

  • 2 months later...
Aria-Nozomu Newbie
Aria-Nozomu
Posted

How long did it take you to feel better?

Honestly, I think it differs for everyone. I have heard people say they felt better after two weeks, I've heard two months. As for me, I think it takes longer every time I break my diet. (Hard headed in-laws that don't understand, no matter how hard you explain celiac are the worst!)

LauraTX Rising Star
LauraTX
Posted

Honestly, I think it differs for everyone. I have heard people say they felt better after two weeks, I've heard two months. As for me, I think it takes longer every time I break my diet. (Hard headed in-laws that don't understand, no matter how hard you explain celiac are the worst!)

 

Welcome to the forum, Aria! :)

I strongly urge you to keep strictly to a gluten-free diet if you have Celiac disease.  If your in-laws are hard headed and coerce you into eating gluten, it is a good idea to remove yourself from the situation and not do that.  Cheating on a gluten-free diet will make people not take you seriously in the long run, and most importantly, can lead to things like cancer.  The payoff of peace now is not worth the long-term health risk.

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. ElenaM
      - ElenaM posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      0

      I think I am gluten intolerant

      Hello everyone. I am Elena and am 38 years old. I suspect I have a gluten intolerance even if my celiac panel is ok. I have the following symptoms : facial flushing, Red dots not bumps în face, bloating abdominal distension, hair loss, depression anxiety even with meds and even bipolar. Fatigue extreme to the point of not being able to work. All of ...
    2. JulieRe
      - JulieRe replied to JulieRe's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      6

      Oral thrush question

      Hi Everyone, I do appreciate your replies to my original post. Here is where I am now in this journey. I am currently seeing a Naturopath. One thing I did not post before is that I take Esomeprazole for GERD. My Naturopath believes that the decrease in the gastric acid has allowed the yeast to grow. She has put me on some digestive enzymes...
    3. Ceekay
      - Ceekay replied to slkrav's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      3

      Gluten free beer ?

      I'm sure it's chemically perfect. Most of them taste lousy!
    4. Rejoicephd
      - Rejoicephd replied to JulieRe's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      6

      Oral thrush question

      Hi @JulieRe. I just found your post. It seems that I am also experiencing thrush, and my doctor believes that I have fungal overgrowth in my gut, which is most likely candida. I'm seeing my GI doctor next week, so I'm hoping she can diagnose and confirm this and then give me an antifungal treatment. In the meantime, I have been working with a functional...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to oscarbolduc's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Advice while waiting for testing

      I'm so sorry you're going through this—the "gluten challenge" is notoriously brutal, and it's awful to deliberately make yourself sick when you've already found the answer. For the joint pain, many people find that over-the-counter anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen can help take the edge off, and using heating pads or warm baths can provide some direct r...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,894
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    catsrlife
    Newest Member
    catsrlife
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • ElenaM
      I think I am gluten intolerant

      By ElenaM · Posted

      Hello everyone. I am Elena and am 38 years old. I suspect I have a gluten intolerance even if my celiac panel is ok. I have the following symptoms : facial flushing, Red dots not bumps în face, bloating abdominal distension, hair loss, depression anxiety even with meds and even bipolar. Fatigue extreme to the point of not being able to work. All of these after I eat gluten. Could I have non celiac gluten sensitivity? Thanks anyone else with these symptoms?
    • JulieRe
      Oral thrush question

      By JulieRe · Posted

      Hi Everyone,  I do appreciate your replies to my original post.   Here is where I am now in this journey.  I am currently seeing a Naturopath.  One thing I did not post before is that I take Esomeprazole for GERD.  My Naturopath believes that the decrease in the gastric acid has allowed the yeast to grow.    She has put me on some digestive enzymes.  She also put me on Zinc, Selenium, B 12, as she felt that I was not absorbing my vitamins. I am about 5 weeks into this treatment, and I am feeling better. I did not have any trouble taking the Fluconazole.  
    • Ceekay
      Gluten free beer ?

      By Ceekay · Posted

      I'm sure it's chemically perfect. Most of them taste lousy!        
    • Rejoicephd
      Oral thrush question

      By Rejoicephd · Posted

      Hi @JulieRe.  I just found your post.  It seems that I am also experiencing thrush, and my doctor believes that I have fungal overgrowth in my gut, which is most likely candida.  I'm seeing my GI doctor next week, so I'm hoping she can diagnose and confirm this and then give me an antifungal treatment.  In the meantime, I have been working with a functional medicine doctor, doing a candida cleanse and taking vitamins. It's already helping to make me feel better (with some ups and downs, of course), so I do think the yeast is definitely a problem for me on top of my celiac disease and I'm hoping my GI doctor can look into this a bit further.  So, how about you?  Did the candida come back, or is it still gone following your fluconazole treatment?  Also, was it awful to take fluconazole?  I understand that taking an antifungal can cause a reaction that sometimes makes people feel sick while they're taking it.  I hope you're doing better still !
    • Scott Adams
      Advice while waiting for testing

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I'm so sorry you're going through this—the "gluten challenge" is notoriously brutal, and it's awful to deliberately make yourself sick when you've already found the answer. For the joint pain, many people find that over-the-counter anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen can help take the edge off, and using heating pads or warm baths can provide some direct relief for the aches. For the digestive misery, stick to simple, easy-to-digest foods (like plain rice, bananas, and bone broth) and drink plenty of water and electrolytes to stay hydrated. It feels like the longest month ever, but you are doing the right thing to get a clear diagnosis, which can be crucial for your long-term health and getting the proper care. Hang in there; you can get through this! This article, and the comments below it, may be helpful:    
×
×
  • 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.