Am I Celiac Or Gluten Intolerant ?

[ectobia]

Ive always had a bunc of zit stuff on my back and chest even when i shower twice a day, my butt itchs like crazy sometimes, I quit cereal for two weeks and started again a few days ago, and i feel a lot worse, bloated, incontinence, sore spot on right side of my pelvis, sometimes i have rash on one or borth right on my elbows, my incomptenent doctor said that i had an "abnormal" white blood cell... but that they know everything and that it was nothing, and i'd just have to live with it, my stool is usually loose, even tho i feel painfully constipated.

[jerseyangel]

Hi Ectobia--Welcome! Looks to me like you have some symptoms that could point to a gluten intolerance. If you feel like you want a diagnosis, I would suggest you make an appt. with a gastroenterologist. One that already treats patients with Celiac would be best, if you can find one. Do not go off gluten if you wish to be tested--it will affect the results. If testing isn't important to you, you could go gluten-free yourself. It has to be 100%--and I would give it at least a month. 100% means all food, beverages, medicines, vitamins, personal care products. You would need to watch out for cross contamination in your kitchen and when eating out (eating out in the beginning is very risky). If you need any help with the diet or how to de-gluten your kitchen, just ask. There are a lot of very nice, knowledgeable people here who would be glad to help. Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing

[VydorScope]

You asked

" Am I Celiac Or Gluten Intolerant ?"

The answer, it realy does not matter. They might as well be synomons. They both cause damage, and the treatment for both is the same. They both require 100% gluten-free for life.

[ectobia]

thanks for replying, I think that if id have to go on gluten again to be tested thats not something i'd ever be willing to do, but i asked cause i read some stuff about celiac causing damage in gi tract and i didn't want to think about it, so i think i'd ready to be commited to being 100% gluten-free now, i just went and bought all gluten free groceries, it was sooo expensive!, anyways

how do I de-gluten my kitchen, so far I've read about not using metal cookware used to cook gluten in.

what else can I do in the kitchen?

[jerseyangel]

Metal/stainless steel cookware is fine--just make sure you scrub it out thoroughly. It's best to replace any non stick pans if they are scratched. Other things to replace--collander, toaster (get one to use for gluten-free breads only), wooden cutting boards and utensils, cast iron pans that have been used to prepare gluten foods. Clean the crumbs out of the silverware drawer. I took the seperators out and ran them through the dishwasher. Plates, glassware and silverware are fine. It's a good idea to dedicate some shelves in a cabnet or pantry for gluten-free foods only. Clean well--refrigerator shelves, cabnet shelves, microwave interior, toaster oven, counter tops.