Struggling...

[murphy203]

in my 4th week and seriously struggling. Today I had a salad with chicken when the other peeps in our meeting ordered PIZZA and from a place that offers gluten-free pizza with no gaurantees about preparations. It was tough to not: 1) order a gluten-free pizza and hope for the best 2) eat with the rest and test whether I will actually have symptoms (at 3.5 weeks gluten-free, I still havent tested my boundaries). Last night, husband and kids got chinese food from an unsafe source and left me in the lurch -- I was seriously mad, as we have a safe source that husband has tried ONCE and did not like. Grrr.... My oldest came home today with 2 different gluten-free cookies -- I know he meant well...

[bartfull]

It'll get easier. I know that sounds hollow right now but it's true. I watch people eat "regular" food all the time and while it bothered me at first, now I see a skull and crossbones superimposed on anything with gluten. I wouldn't even be tempted.

 

So don't give in. One moment of pleasure isn't worth the damage to your health.

 

And remember, if you need to rant, we are here for you. We've all been through it and we all GOT through it. You will too.

 

(((((HUGS)))))

[nvsmom]

Yeah... it takes a few months to get really used to this way of eating.  And giving up convenience foods was really the hardest part.  

 

Smack your hubby on the head with a rolled up magazine for me.  That wasn't thoughtful... Opposite of thoughtful really.  LOL  I know it is (a bit) tough on the spouses to help us stay gluten-free but he's gotta know that last night he was either risking your health or risking your wrath! Not a safe choice for a husband either way.  My hubby compromised by eating out at lunches when he wants quick food.  If I'm there, it has to be safe... so chances are we eat in.  

 

And don't test your boundaries.  Celiacs can't.  We don't all react with severe obvious symptoms but our health will be hurt by gluten.  I am that way.  I will feel poorly for a couple of weeks but it's nothing bad.  It is the arthritis and inflammation, and secondary AI diseases that get me.

 

Stay safe and hang in there.  It will be easier by the summer time.  

[fran641]

Murphy it is hard and anyone who says it isn't obviously doesn't have celiac disease. I hope some of these issues will get better and that you will stay gluten-free for your own health. It can be an isolating disease until the pieces fall into place. Unload here like bartfull said. We have been there and done that.

[icelandgirl]

Hi Murphy...

(((Hugs)))...it can be such a struggle, especially when you are starting out. I can imagine that it was difficult to eat your salad while watching everyone else eat pizza. I'm glad I was a stay at home home when I was diagnosed because the place I worked was always having food for something. Good for you to stick with a safe lunch. Keep doing that. You don't want to test those boundaries.

Your body needs lots more time to heal, but things will get easier in time. I no longer miss gluten foods...I do miss the convenience of being able to pick something up on a busy soccer/football night.

I'm sorry that your husband was insensitive too...that sounds hard. Does he understand how serious this is? Hopefully he's had a chance to read about and understand how important it is that you remain 100% gluten free for life. I know that my husband didn't know anything about celiac disease until I was diagnosed. We left the Dr's office that day and he went to work and did lots of reading. He got home that night and said, "I'm going gluten free with you. I don't want you to have to do this alone." He's my biggest supporter and always makes sure I'm safe. Hopefully you can help him see how important this is to you.

Keep coming back and asking questions and venting...We've all been there!

[Fenrir]

It took me about 6 months to get over it. Now, almost a year into it, I'm pretty well adjusted to it and it really doesn't bother me to have to eat my gluten free stuff when people are having pizza or other favorites from the old days. 

 

Of course, I've gotten a lot better a cooking as well, which helps.

[Jays911]

Almost four months in, I can tell you it does get easier. I am blessed my wife, after reading "Wheatbelly", went gluten free as well. We cook a lot more of our lunches than we used to, but you find good gluten-free restaurants pretty quickly. It is just fast food on the road that I struggle with. Keep the faith.

[murphy203]

Thanks for the support, guys. I definitely have hit a rough patch, but today is a new day, and its the weekend to boot! Yesterday's salad was actually delicious, and I made a frozen Amy's pizza for myself for dinner -- it was pretty good! I ended up with stomach issues in the middle of the night again -- three times so far, each time after I had a gluten-free bread replacement, so something in there isn't working for me yet.

[badcasper]

and bake yourself a chocolate cake [king arther brands the best] betty crocker icing too and eat it in front of him and don't share! that's what I do at work when they order dounuts and pizza for everyone. I live alone but work is tough! Bless you!

[badcasper]

and if calories are an issue there are lots of delicious foods to replace cke.  my favorites are honeydew melon and canalope.

[Fenrir]

Namaste sells big bags of gluten free flour at Sam's Club or Costco pretty cheap (for gluten free stuff) and they have a really good recipe for brownies on their website. They are my go to baked sweets now days. 

[ravenwoodglass]

Thanks for the support, guys. I definitely have hit a rough patch, but today is a new day, and its the weekend to boot! Yesterday's salad was actually delicious, and I made a frozen Amy's pizza for myself for dinner -- it was pretty good! I ended up with stomach issues in the middle of the night again -- three times so far, each time after I had a gluten-free bread replacement, so something in there isn't working for me yet.

Did you order that salad from a restaurant or bring it from home? Being woken in the middle of the night with an upset stomach can be a sign that we have been glutened. That said it can take some time to heal and trying to eat only food you prepare yourself can help speed the healing. 

[nvsmom]

Be careful with Amy's Pizza.  I think I remember reading somewhere that it is made in a facility that uses wheat.  I could be wrong - I don't buy Amy's.

[LauraTX]

Hopefully I can offer some advice on the husband part of this story.  It is going to take him longer to "get it" because he is not living it.  We went through the same thing like the chinese restaurant situation with In N out Burger.  It is in an area we go shopping at and on a Saturday night when all the sit down places have an hour long wait there is no way I am going to one and trusting the busy kitchen.  So I will ask to go to in and out.... when I first tried it I thought it was awesome, and the only place in that area I can get burger and fries.  Well, my husband didn't think it was all that great and would refuse to go.  Finally I talked him into it and when I told him "I know you think this place sucks, and if I could eat at one of those other good burger places I wouldn't want to eat here either.  But out of my choices, this is the only place where I can eat a burger and fries and feel close to normal."  That put it in perspective for him and now he offers to take me any time we are over there.

 

It is a struggle, but communicate with him what you are going through and feeling.  It will help him understand and eventually take a burden off you.

[murphy203]

lol, some good husband revenge recommendations above, which he probably would deserve if he wasnt so CLUELESS! And some good advice. Tonight I made italian meatballs with gluten-free breadcrumbs, gluten-free pasta, and nobody died -- imagine!!! Barilla gluten-free penne pasta seems to defy the laws of nature and actually tastes normal, especilly smothered in meatballs and sauce. And meatballs just dont care if the breadcrumbs are gluten-free.

I dont think I was glutened with the salad (but I know it was possible), its just that I have picked up a patten of sympoms when I have gluten-free bread products, maybe because of the xatham gum. I tossed the remain 2 Udi's hamburger rolls in the trash. I really like Amy's products in general, so having to abandon them is a little sad for me, but doable. I love to cook, I'll find a pizza recipe that works.

[murphy203]

OMG following up on the gluten-free dinner I made: my husband has had an EXTREME gastro reaction to the gluten-free food I made, symptoms like food poisoning. Five trips the the BR so far. The kids and I are fine. Anyboday experience something like this????

[LauraTX]

If you and the kids are fine and ate the same thing, it may be something else he ate or a bug he caught.   Some people can't do xanthan gum but we already know this is not in your meal, so unless he has a problem with a specific ingredient that you have yet to pinpoint, it may just be bad timing caused by something else.  Usually bad meals don't make you sick until a few hours later or the next day, depending on what is going in.

[Mitchie K]

Thanks for the support, guys. I definitely have hit a rough patch, but today is a new day, and its the weekend to boot! Yesterday's salad was actually delicious, and I made a frozen Amy's pizza for myself for dinner -- it was pretty good! I ended up with stomach issues in the middle of the night again -- three times so far, each time after I had a gluten-free bread replacement, so something in there isn't working for me yet.

 

Hey there, I noticed that you ate an Amy's pizza and had some tum trouble? My throat closed up immediately after eating that brand, I looked on the back of the box, although it says gluten free it also says its processed in the same facility as wheat. Just a friendly warning for you, I can't eat Amy's pizza brand. 

[Wheatless32]

Yeah you have to looked very carefully for the made on shared equipment label, Amy's is no good.