New to gluten-free

[QueenBorg]

Hi. I’m new to the Gluten Free lifestyle. Only 3 weeks in. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in June and a friend suggested I try going gluten free for 2 months to see if it helped with the inflammation and pain. Amazingly it has. I have been trying very hard to figure things out and thought I was doing well until I accidentally forgot on a trip and ordered something that was not gluten free. Lesson learned to be more careful.

My question is, is there a list of common foods/ spices that are safe to start with? Or at least a complete list of what to avoid? TIA

[Scott Adams]

Welcome to the gluten-free lifestyle! It’s great to hear that eliminating gluten has already helped with your fibromyalgia symptoms—that’s a huge win in just three weeks. Mistakes happen (especially when traveling!), so don’t be too hard on yourself. Each slip-up is a learning experience.

The following two lists are very helpful for anyone who is gluten sensitive and needs to avoid gluten when shopping.

It's very important to learn to read labels and understand sources of hidden gluten, and to know some general information about product labelling--for example in the USA if wheat is a possible allergen it must be declared on a product's ingredient label like this: Allergens: Wheat.

 

 

 

[QueenBorg]

Thanks for the information. I will definitely be doing a lot more investigating in the future!

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, @QueenBorg!

Just for the sake of clarification, your desire to avoid gluten is connected only with your dx of fibromyalgia and not celiac disease, correct?

[QueenBorg]

Yes. I have not been tested for celiac. It took forever to get diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. lol. I have an appointment with my regular GP later this month and will convey my findings on improved symptoms and see what his thoughts are. Thank you. 

[trents]

Just so you'll know, once you have been gluten-free for any length of time, it will invalidate testing for celiac disease.

[Scott Adams]

Here is more info about how to do a gluten challenge for a celiac disease blood panel, or for an endoscopy:

Quote

"...in order to properly diagnose celiac disease based on serology and duodenal histology, doctors need patients to be on gluten-containing diets, even if they are causing symptoms, and this is called a "gluten challenge."

• Eat gluten prior to celiac disease blood tests: The amount and length of time can vary, but is somewhere between 2 slices of wheat bread daily for 6-8 weeks and 1/2 slice of wheat bread or 1 wheat cracker for 12 weeks 12 weeks;
• Eat gluten prior to the endoscopic biopsy procedure: 2 slices of wheat bread daily for at least 2 weeks;

and this recent study recommends 4-6 slices of wheat bread per day: