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I’m Done and Feel Like Giving up


Ginger38

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Ginger38 Rising Star

I just don't know how much longer I can do this. I am really really struggling with foods. I’ve been really trying to stick to the gluten free diet all the time… I’ve only messed up a couple times, which is a huge improvement for me. I have insulin resistance and have issues with my blood sugar bouncing around. Since going gluten free my A1C jumped up just over the diabetic level. So I’m trying to make changes to bring that back down but the struggle is real!!!! I don’t know what to eat, how to eat and there is like nothing that is quick and easy. I’m a single parent and have a very demanding job so I don’t have a ton of time to do cooking at every meal. I need some easy meals and quick fixes that meet a a lot of dietary needs needs… I need a lot of protein due to my sugar issues but I also need carbs. I have found that the gluten free breads and things are not filling and are just empty carbs basically and a lot of times they make my sugar go high and then bottom. If it’s good for me sugar wise I can’t have it bc of gluten.. if it’s gluten free I can’t have it bc of sugar issues. I’m so tired of fighting this battle and to be honest I feel like giving up!!!! I’ve gotten so annoyed and depressed over my foods  lately I went several days and just didn’t eat much of anything … this is way harder than I’d thought it be… especially breakfast and lunch 


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AlwaysLearning Collaborator

Soup. I make big batches of it and freeze most of it. Two big pots nets me about 20 servings.

Yes, you do have to take a couple hours to make them in the first place, but if you can get the kids to help out on the prep, you may be able to reduce that. And it can be super healthy, so worth the effort.

The ones I make most often are kind of similar. Vegetable soups but heading in two different directions.

Soup 1: Black beans and rice based:
• Beef stock
• One onion and fresh garlic sauteed before adding to the pot.
• Black beans, soaked the night before (or cooked a little longer, starting them earlier by themselves)
• Celery, red pepper, carrots, lots of corn (I use frozen). You can vary the veggies to include ones you like
• Mushrooms
I normally start the cooking while I'm still cutting things up, starting with the ingredients that will take the longest to cook, like the carrots.
If you want to add some umami flavor, I recommend using just a little bit of dried, sun roasted tomatoes, cut up tiny.
Use spices to your taste. Salt, definitely. I've tried using the shawarma mix they use to flavor gyro lamb. Very tasty. I've also gone a little spicier with white pepper or cayenne pepper. Start with less, you can always add more.

Soup 2: Vegetables, chicken, and egg noodles - or just vegetables
• Chicken stock
• One onion and fresh garlic sauteed before adding to the pot.
• Split peas, soaked the night before (or cooked a little longer, starting them earlier by themselves)
• Celery, red pepper, carrots, cauliflower (not too much) or green beans, potatoes if you don't use noodles. You can vary the veggies to include ones you like
I normally start the cooking while I'm still cutting things up, starting with the ingredients that will take the longest to cook, like the carrots.
You can do just the veggies, or add chicken, or add chicken and noodles. I make my own egg noodles. If your kids are old enough, they might have fun helping to make them, setting aside little mountains of dough to dry a bit before dropping them in the pot. 
Use spices to your taste. Salt, definitely. I normally use the green spices, like herbs de provence. Very tasty. 

But the best things about these soups is that you can make them from ingredients that store well. Carrots and celery last a long time in the fridge, potatoes a long time in the cupboard. I'll cut up and freeze red or green pepper, cauliflower and mushrooms soon after I buy them. Split peas or black beans are dry goods that last for ages, just like the rice. The beef and chicken stocks are canned and will last for ages as long as they aren't opened. Canned chicken, other canned or frozen veggies. And onions and garlic can last for months on your counter.

But I mention this because having an option that you can make after you've run out of all of the other groceries in your fridge is incredibly helpful. You can go from having a fridge and freezer that feel practically empty to feeling full. Also, if you make your soups rather thick, it can be like condensed soup. They take up less space in your freezer and require fewer containers. Then you add more water when you heat them up.

DontEatFrenchFries Apprentice

Current grad student here with no time to cook and limited kitchen. Right now, my life is all about frozen food. I fill my fridge with frozen gluten-free meals and it’s not the healthiest but it’s a meal that I didn’t have to cook. 
 

As far as filling grains that taste good, I try to stick to naturally gluten free grains, mostly potatoes because you can boil a bunch on Sunday and easily add them to meals throughout the week. Also rice, quinoa, beans. When there is time to bake, gluten free corn bread recipes are actually really good.

I also make sure every meal also has some sort of fat/protein like meat and cheese. I’m a believer that celiacs deserve extra meat and cheese so I shamelessly buy delicious fancy cheese that I can throw on anything and instantly make it filling. 

Forget gluten free diet, think paleo diet with less restrictions :) It is hard at first but it gets easier over time. 

Edit: Also you can boil a bunch of eggs on Sunday and add those to snacks/meals and they’re surprisingly filling!

Ginger38 Rising Star
18 hours ago, AlwaysLearning said:

Soup. I make big batches of it and freeze most of it. Two big pots nets me about 20 servings.

Yes, you do have to take a couple hours to make them in the first place, but if you can get the kids to help out on the prep, you may be able to reduce that. And it can be super healthy, so worth the effort.

The ones I make most often are kind of similar. Vegetable soups but heading in two different directions.

Soup 1: Black beans and rice based:
• Beef stock
• One onion and fresh garlic sauteed before adding to the pot.
• Black beans, soaked the night before (or cooked a little longer, starting them earlier by themselves)
• Celery, red pepper, carrots, lots of corn (I use frozen). You can vary the veggies to include ones you like
• Mushrooms
I normally start the cooking while I'm still cutting things up, starting with the ingredients that will take the longest to cook, like the carrots.
If you want to add some umami flavor, I recommend using just a little bit of dried, sun roasted tomatoes, cut up tiny.
Use spices to your taste. Salt, definitely. I've tried using the shawarma mix they use to flavor gyro lamb. Very tasty. I've also gone a little spicier with white pepper or cayenne pepper. Start with less, you can always add more.

Soup 2: Vegetables, chicken, and egg noodles - or just vegetables
• Chicken stock
• One onion and fresh garlic sauteed before adding to the pot.
• Split peas, soaked the night before (or cooked a little longer, starting them earlier by themselves)
• Celery, red pepper, carrots, cauliflower (not too much) or green beans, potatoes if you don't use noodles. You can vary the veggies to include ones you like
I normally start the cooking while I'm still cutting things up, starting with the ingredients that will take the longest to cook, like the carrots.
You can do just the veggies, or add chicken, or add chicken and noodles. I make my own egg noodles. If your kids are old enough, they might have fun helping to make them, setting aside little mountains of dough to dry a bit before dropping them in the pot. 
Use spices to your taste. Salt, definitely. I normally use the green spices, like herbs de provence. Very tasty. 

But the best things about these soups is that you can make them from ingredients that store well. Carrots and celery last a long time in the fridge, potatoes a long time in the cupboard. I'll cut up and freeze red or green pepper, cauliflower and mushrooms soon after I buy them. Split peas or black beans are dry goods that last for ages, just like the rice. The beef and chicken stocks are canned and will last for ages as long as they aren't opened. Canned chicken, other canned or frozen veggies. And onions and garlic can last for months on your counter.

But I mention this because having an option that you can make after you've run out of all of the other groceries in your fridge is incredibly helpful. You can go from having a fridge and freezer that feel practically empty to feeling full. Also, if you make your soups rather thick, it can be like condensed soup. They take up less space in your freezer and require fewer containers. Then you add more water when you heat them up.

Thank you 

Ginger38 Rising Star
13 hours ago, DontEatFrenchFries said:

Current grad student here with no time to cook and limited kitchen. Right now, my life is all about frozen food. I fill my fridge with frozen gluten-free meals and it’s not the healthiest but it’s a meal that I didn’t have to cook. 
 

As far as filling grains that taste good, I try to stick to naturally gluten free grains, mostly potatoes because you can boil a bunch on Sunday and easily add them to meals throughout the week. Also rice, quinoa, beans. When there is time to bake, gluten free corn bread recipes are actually really good.

I also make sure every meal also has some sort of fat/protein like meat and cheese. I’m a believer that celiacs deserve extra meat and cheese so I shamelessly buy delicious fancy cheese that I can throw on anything and instantly make it filling. 

Forget gluten free diet, think paleo diet with less restrictions :) It is hard at first but it gets easier over time. 

Edit: Also you can boil a bunch of eggs on Sunday and add those to snacks/meals and they’re surprisingly filling!

Thanks! What kind of frozen meals do you buy? We don’t have a huge selection of gluten free where I live. 
I love meats and cheese, will have to look into the paleo diet. I’m not familiar. That’s where I get stuck with meat bc I have to cook it somehow. 
yes I used to have eggs on hand but I get burnt out and sometimes my belly doesn’t like eggs 🤷🏼‍♀️But prob need to start back eating them more often 

TrishaRabbit Newbie

I found that having 1 tbls Apple Cidar Vinegar in water in the morning helps keep my blood sugar more balanced ...if you hate the taste ACV comes in capsules and gummies.

MADMOM Community Regular
On 3/11/2022 at 12:09 PM, Ginger38 said:

I just don't know how much longer I can do this. I am really really struggling with foods. I’ve been really trying to stick to the gluten free diet all the time… I’ve only messed up a couple times, which is a huge improvement for me. I have insulin resistance and have issues with my blood sugar bouncing around. Since going gluten free my A1C jumped up just over the diabetic level. So I’m trying to make changes to bring that back down but the struggle is real!!!! I don’t know what to eat, how to eat and there is like nothing that is quick and easy. I’m a single parent and have a very demanding job so I don’t have a ton of time to do cooking at every meal. I need some easy meals and quick fixes that meet a a lot of dietary needs needs… I need a lot of protein due to my sugar issues but I also need carbs. I have found that the gluten free breads and things are not filling and are just empty carbs basically and a lot of times they make my sugar go high and then bottom. If it’s good for me sugar wise I can’t have it bc of gluten.. if it’s gluten free I can’t have it bc of sugar issues. I’m so tired of fighting this battle and to be honest I feel like giving up!!!! I’ve gotten so annoyed and depressed over my foods  lately I went several days and just didn’t eat much of anything … this is way harder than I’d thought it be… especially breakfast and lunch 

mission makes delicious gluten free wraps i use them in place of bread for tuna wraps turkey wraps and egg wraps - there are many gluten free products out there - don’t give up - it can be frustrating at first but i’ve even got my kids eating alot of gluten free things and they really can taste the difference and enjoy it -


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LindaLee68 Rookie
On 3/11/2022 at 12:09 PM, Ginger38 said:

I just don't know how much longer I can do this. I am really really struggling with foods. I’ve been really trying to stick to the gluten free diet all the time… I’ve only messed up a couple times, which is a huge improvement for me. I have insulin resistance and have issues with my blood sugar bouncing around. Since going gluten free my A1C jumped up just over the diabetic level. So I’m trying to make changes to bring that back down but the struggle is real!!!! I don’t know what to eat, how to eat and there is like nothing that is quick and easy. I’m a single parent and have a very demanding job so I don’t have a ton of time to do cooking at every meal. I need some easy meals and quick fixes that meet a a lot of dietary needs needs… I need a lot of protein due to my sugar issues but I also need carbs. I have found that the gluten free breads and things are not filling and are just empty carbs basically and a lot of times they make my sugar go high and then bottom. If it’s good for me sugar wise I can’t have it bc of gluten.. if it’s gluten free I can’t have it bc of sugar issues. I’m so tired of fighting this battle and to be honest I feel like giving up!!!! I’ve gotten so annoyed and depressed over my foods  lately I went several days and just didn’t eat much of anything … this is way harder than I’d thought it be… especially breakfast and lunch 

 

LindaLee68 Rookie

Thank you for sharing this.  I’m at my wits end too!  I suffer from gluten sensitivity but also chronic idiopathic constipation.  Everything that’s gluten free as far as bread, pasta, etc. goes is made with constipating foods like rice, tapioca, millet, which would have me so constipated I would be in agony.  Please, anyone who would good naturedly offer constipation advice, this is WAY BEYOND flax, fiber, Mirilax and others like it.  
I really need help and no doctors or anyone else has been able to help me!

trents Grand Master
4 minutes ago, LindaLee68 said:

Thank you for sharing this.  I’m at my wits end too!  I suffer from gluten sensitivity but also chronic idiopathic constipation.  Everything that’s gluten free as far as bread, pasta, etc. goes is made with constipating foods like rice, tapioca, millet, which would have me so constipated I would be in agony.  Please, anyone who would good naturedly offer constipation advice, this is WAY BEYOND flax, fiber, Mirilax and others like it.  
I really need help and no doctors or anyone else has been able to help me!

Start taking a magnesium supplement and experiment with the dosage until you reach the point where you're having too many BM's and then back off a bit.

plumbago Experienced

In general, I follow the plate method which is, for every meal (including breakfast), half of my plate is vegetables, one quarter is a protein and the remaining quarter is a carb or starchy carb like potato or rice, etc. Vegetables are a carb, it's true, but for the most part, those carbs are "free." And I don't mean to leave out the good fats, which are often incorporated for me in the protein portion. Personally, I find that this way of eating keeps me fairly regular (sorry if TMI), and I also don't bring more than a day's worth of dessert into the house, in order to limit sugar consumption. For a weird heart thing, I also take a mag supplement, and if the above-mentioned diet didn't do it (keep me regular), the addition of the mag certainly does. But do not listen to us randos on the 'net and rush out and add things like vitamins and minerals without first consulting with a trusted medical provider. Good luck!

Wheatwacked Veteran
On 3/13/2022 at 5:15 PM, trents said:

Please, anyone who would good naturedly offer constipation advice, this is WAY BEYOND flax, fiber, Mirilax and others like it.  

BECOMING NUTRITARIAN: THE “EAT TO LIVE” 6 WEEK PLAN   https://hellonutritarian.com/nutritarian-eat-to-live-plan/

Donna-1 Rookie

Ginger, maybe it would be helpful to consult with a nutritional counselor who can help you come up with meals and snacks that will satisfy your palate as well as your celiac and diabetic requirements.  It shouldn't take more than one or two consultations.  And I do think they can help you with options that do not require much effort.  I don't bake anything and rarely even use my stovetop yet I manage my dietary requirements and restrictions and keep my A1C and celiac under control.  I admit it was not easy at first.  I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2013 and it took a couple of years to figure out what I could eat and make all the necessary adjustments.  Now, I don't even think about it anymore.  I have not knowingly eaten gluten in at least 5 years and no longer experience the daily diarrhea and stomach pain I endured for decades.  I don't eat fast food, I don't go to restaurants, and I rarely eat at friends' houses.  But freedom from pain is well worth it.

MADMOM Community Regular

i agree - i’ve been on this journey for 13 months now and at first felt frustrated having to read labels and felt limited to what i could enjoy but after several months i found so many great options and i have gotten so much healthier and gotten my levels almost under the normal range after only 8 months of eating gluten-free ( i will be checking my levels again soon).  my blood work was perfect - iron level in normal after 48 years of being anemic - vitamin b and d levels all normal as well - you will find that there are so many gluten-free options out there - even frozen pizza and pretzels - don’t give up!  your health is most important 

Celiawithceliac1 Newbie
On 3/11/2022 at 12:09 PM, Ginger38 said:

I just don't know how much longer I can do this. I am really really struggling with foods. I’ve been really trying to stick to the gluten free diet all the time… I’ve only messed up a couple times, which is a huge improvement for me. I have insulin resistance and have issues with my blood sugar bouncing around. Since going gluten free my A1C jumped up just over the diabetic level. So I’m trying to make changes to bring that back down but the struggle is real!!!! I don’t know what to eat, how to eat and there is like nothing that is quick and easy. I’m a single parent and have a very demanding job so I don’t have a ton of time to do cooking at every meal. I need some easy meals and quick fixes that meet a a lot of dietary needs needs… I need a lot of protein due to my sugar issues but I also need carbs. I have found that the gluten free breads and things are not filling and are just empty carbs basically and a lot of times they make my sugar go high and then bottom. If it’s good for me sugar wise I can’t have it bc of gluten.. if it’s gluten free I can’t have it bc of sugar issues. I’m so tired of fighting this battle and to be honest I feel like giving up!!!! I’ve gotten so annoyed and depressed over my foods  lately I went several days and just didn’t eat much of anything … this is way harder than I’d thought it be… especially breakfast and lunch 

All fast food has Pattie’s you can buy (no bun) with cheese or plain. 
If you’re diabetic carbs are probably the worst thing for you except fruit (fruit is also fast and easy) 

look into dr Ken Berry he’s on YouTube.

 

hope you feel better soon!

trents Grand Master
11 minutes ago, Celiawithceliac1 said:

All fast food has Pattie’s you can buy (no bun) with cheese or plain. 
If you’re diabetic carbs are probably the worst thing for you except fruit (fruit is also fast and easy) 

look into dr Ken Berry he’s on YouTube.

 

hope you feel better soon!

You are ignoring the likelihood of cross contamination. If those burger patties are cooked on the same grill as pancakes, breaded fish or chicken patties, etc. and handled with the same spatulas and utensils then they will pickup some gluten. It might not be enough to cause you a celiac reaction (a noticeable one, anyway) but for more sensitive celiacs it will truly make them ill.

Celiawithceliac1 Newbie
4 minutes ago, trents said:

You are ignoring the likelihood of cross contamination. If those burger patties are cooked on the same grill as pancakes, breaded fish or chicken patties, etc. and handled with the same spatulas and utensils then they will pickup some gluten. It might not be enough to cause you a celiac reaction (a noticeable one, anyway) but for more sensitive celiacs it will truly make them ill.

I am a sensitive celiac. I ask how they cook the meat.

five guys cooks meat on its own grill same with McDonald’s (ask always since many are different) In and Out and Wendy’s. 
 

Wendy’s has been amazing for me personally they cook in front of you if you go to the counter. 
Aside from that quick foods (hard boiled eggs, fruit, dehydrated meat, veggies like baby carrots) 

6 minutes ago, trents said:

You are ignoring the likelihood of cross contamination. If those burger patties are cooked on the same grill as pancakes, breaded fish or chicken patties, etc. and handled with the same spatulas and utensils then they will pickup some gluten. It might not be enough to cause you a celiac reaction (a noticeable one, anyway) but for more sensitive celiacs it will truly make them ill.

I’m a celiac who can’t even eat any processed certified gluten-free foods as many contain some level of gluten below 20ppb and many are made with grains that effect people who are gluten sensitive. 

MADMOM Community Regular
3 minutes ago, Celiawithceliac1 said:

I am a sensitive celiac. I ask how they cook the meat.

five guys cooks meat on its own grill same with McDonald’s (ask always since many are different) In and Out and Wendy’s. 
 

Wendy’s has been amazing for me personally they cook in front of you if you go to the counter. 
Aside from that quick foods (hard boiled eggs, fruit, dehydrated meat, veggies like baby carrots) 

I’m a celiac who can’t even eat any processed certified gluten-free foods as many contain some level of gluten below 20ppb and many are made with grains that effect people who are gluten sensitive. 

there are tons of clean food you can eat - i’ve got my kids eating some gluten free foods and they love it - it’s really not that bad 

Ari70 Newbie
On 3/13/2022 at 4:09 PM, LindaLee68 said:

Thank you for sharing this.  I’m at my wits end too!  I suffer from gluten sensitivity but also chronic idiopathic constipation.  Everything that’s gluten free as far as bread, pasta, etc. goes is made with constipating foods like rice, tapioca, millet, which would have me so constipated I would be in agony.  Please, anyone who would good naturedly offer constipation advice, this is WAY BEYOND flax, fiber, Mirilax and others like it.  
I really need help and no doctors or anyone else has been able to help me!

I have had chronic constipation since 2 invasive operations on my intestines in 1984.  Appendicitis and Paratoniticis (probably misspelled that)  I have to go through the lax list depending on what I had used until it stopped working.  Uts cringe worthy I admit.. castor oil became my go to.  I went 28 days a couple of years ago. Hospitalized 2 times and even they couldnt make me go.  We did colon prep twice and it stubbornly went right around my poo.  Dr diagnoised me "full of $h!t."  Was horrible! (In 2019 they had to do scar tissue removal and my intestines were adhered to my abdominal wall.)

My next step if Im beyond Castor oil is Linzess.  When it starts, stay near the bathroom.  That med is like, "hey lady, you had to poop 30 seconds ago."

I have NOT checked these with Celiacs since Im new to this club.

Ari70 Newbie
On 3/13/2022 at 4:09 PM, LindaLee68 said:

Thank you for sharing this.  I’m at my wits end too!  I suffer from gluten sensitivity but also chronic idiopathic constipation.  Everything that’s gluten free as far as bread, pasta, etc. goes is made with constipating foods like rice, tapioca, millet, which would have me so constipated I would be in agony.  Please, anyone who would good naturedly offer constipation advice, this is WAY BEYOND flax, fiber, Mirilax and others like it.  
I really need help and no doctors or anyone else has been able to help me!

My reply said 28 days.  Thats a typo. It was 18 days.  Sorry

LindaLee68 Rookie
On 3/13/2022 at 5:15 PM, trents said:

Start taking a magnesium supplement and experiment with the dosage until you reach the point where you're having too many BM's and then back off a bit.

Thanks Tessa!  Just recently I began using Calm which was suggested by a friend.   It definitely helps, but sometimes I find that nothing works for a number of days.  That's when I have to take a prescription laxative called Linzess.   Let me tell you, this med is only effective on occasional use, as my GI doc warned me.  So it's for the times when I feel as if I'm in labor, it gets that bad!

When it does work, I'd better be home and 😕 near a toilet, or wearing Depends,  because itcausess one to poop without any control.   I actually got a UTI from wearing a diaper and having an accident.  The bacteria that caused the UTI was E-coli!  

This has altered my life beyond description, and although I'm 68, I'm still full of enthusiasm for life, for my Buddhist spiritual practice, and for continued learning until the end!

 

LindaLee68 Rookie
On 3/23/2022 at 7:37 PM, Ari70 said:

My reply said 28 days.  Thats a typo. It was 18 days.  Sorry

I have to deeply thank you from the bottom of my heart!  I'm new to sharing about such things and your response to my cry for help lifted my spirits enormously!  I kinda wondered about the 28 days, so thanks for clarifying that for me too.

What I loved about your response was your humor, because my method of coping is utilizing my sense of humor.  The part that mostly cracked me up was about the Linzess!  I've learned that it needs to be fresh or it doesn't work, that if used daily it will simply cease working, and what you mentioned.  When it works I feel no sense of urgency, (which I feel to a painful point most of the time), it just sort of happens without my even knowing.  I have thrown away many sheet sets and tons of underwear as well.  I even ended up with a UTI, and the bacteria was E-coli!  Not COOL!

My final thought, for now, is that doctors have a tendency to treat women my age complaining of anything that sounds like IBS like hysterical, and we aren't taken seriously enough!  Any thoughts?

MADMOM Community Regular
11 minutes ago, LindaLee68 said:

 

take magnesium glycinate 100 mg a day it does not cause stomach issues - i bought a bottle on amazon for 16 dollars gluten free 

Wheatwacked Veteran

A ten-ounce bottle of liquid magnesium citrate costs <$2.00. One ounce has about 100 mg of magnesium (11% of 1.75) grams. Added to a glass of water it tastes like lemonade (I especially like the cherry flavor). The RDA is 420 mg magnesium with no upper limit from food sources.  Web MD:   magnesium citrate oral

 

  • 2 weeks later...
LindaLee68 Rookie

I’m ridiculously grateful for the help I am getting from this format.  
The last couple days have been more painful than ever.  I have a GI  and a GYN appointment coming next week but I believe I’ll be at the ER before the appointments. I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, but it’s become an 8 on the 1-10 pain scale!   It sure feels good having people who understand!  

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    • knitty kitty
      Hello, @Dora77, I agree with you that your doctors aren't very knowledgeable about Celiac Disease.  My doctors didn't recognize nutritional deficiencies either.  I became very deficient in vitamins before I was diagnosed, so having experienced similar, I understand what a difficult time you're having.   Poor absorption of essential nutrients is caused by the damage done to the intestines by Celiac Disease.  The gluten free diet can be low in essential nutrients, so supplementing to boost your absorption is beneficial.  New symptoms can develop or worsen as one becomes more and more deficient.   There's eight essential B vitamins that our bodies cannot make, so they must come from our food and supplements.  These eight B vitamins work together, like instruments in an orchestra.  They need to be supplemented together with essential minerals like magnesium.   Deficiencies in the B vitamins can have overlapping symptoms.  Some symptoms can be traced to specific B vitamins.  OCD can be traced to low Pyridoxine Vitamin B 6.  Yes, I had OCD and washed my hands until my skin cracked and bled.  ADHD symptoms can be traced to low Thiamine Vitamin B 1.  ADHD is something one is born with.  People who are born with ADHD have a metabolic problem with getting sufficient thiamine into their brain cells.  People who develop symptoms of ADHD later in life are more likely to be low in Thiamine.  The same symptoms appear if one is not getting sufficient thiamine from the diet.  Yes, I developed symptoms of ADHD.  These symptoms improved and disappeared after supplementing with Thiamine and the other essential nutrients. I was diagnosed with Type Two Diabetes.  99% of diabetics of both types are deficient in Thiamine because our kidneys don't re-absorb thiamine properly.  Thiamine is needed to make insulin and digestive enzymes in the pancreas.  Poor digestion (floating, undigested stools) can result with insufficient pancreatic enzymes.  The gall bladder (upper right quadrant) needs thiamine to make and release bile which also helps with digestion.  Constipation is also a symptom of Thiamine and magnesium deficiencies.  The thyroid is another organ that uses lots of Thiamine, too.  Low thyroid hormones can be due to insufficient thiamine, selenium, iron, and iodine.  Swelling of hands, face and feet are also symptoms of thiamine insufficiency.   Our bodies use thiamine to make energy so organs and tissues can function.  Thiamine cannot be stored longer than three weeks.  If our stores are not replenished every day, we can run out of Thiamine quickly.  If we do get some thiamine from our diet, symptoms can wax and wane mysteriously, because a twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent improvement in brain function and symptoms.  Thiamine interacts with all the other vitamins in some way.  Many other vitamins and their metabolic processes won't work without thiamine.  In Celiac Disease you are apt to be low in all the essential nutrients, not just thiamine, but thiamine deficiency symptoms may appear first. Talk to your dietician about eating a nutritionally dense gluten free diet.  Keep in mind that processed gluten free foods do not contain sufficient vitamins to be useful.  Processed gluten free foods are filled with saturated fats and excess fiber (that could explain your constipation).  Dairy products, milk and cheese can cause problems because Casein, the protein in dairy, causes the same autoimmune reaction that gluten does in some.  Your current restricted diet is dangerous to your health.  I followed the Autoimmune Protocol Diet (Dr. Sarah Ballantyne).  It's a Paleo diet that promotes intestinal healing.   Discuss with your doctors about correcting nutritional deficiencies as soon as possible.   Interesting reading... https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34165060/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21816221/#:~:text=Lipid-soluble thiamin precursors can,and attention deficit%2Fhyperactivity disorder.
    • max it
    • cristiana
      My chest pain has been caused by costochondritis, as well as times when iron supplements has given me such bad bloating it has put pressure on my back and chest, and reflux can do the same. Also, along the lines of Wheatwacked's suggestion above, is it possible you had an injury to your chest/ribs way back that is being set off by either some sort of gastrointestinal bloating/discomfort? I distinctly remember really hurting a rib over forty years ago when I misjudged a wall and thought it was just behind me but in fact it wasn't.  I fell badly against the wall and I think I cracked a rib then.  For some strange reason I didn't tell anyone but I think had I gone to hospital an X-ray would have revealed a fracture. I think that rib has not been right since and I am sure that bloating makes it worse, as well as heavy lifting.
    • 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.
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