Newly Diagnosed-- Head Still Spinning!

[queenofhearts]

Hello folks,

I'm very glad to have found this forum! I was diagnosed this week with Celiac. I'll be fifty years old next week & have had nagging symptoms for many years-- diarrhea, anemia, fatigue, migraines, heavy periods, joint pain-- but never connected the dots until this winter I had a check-up that showed elevated liver enzymes. After a retest that showed no improvement, my doctor ordered a cat scan & when nothing explanatory showed up on that referred me to a specialist. The specialist took one look at my list of symptoms & suspected Celiac immediately. Biopsy confirmed it, so here I go into Gluten-Free World! At first I was horrified at the thought of no wheat because I absolutely love to bake, but after checking out 8 gluten-free cookbooks & trying a dozen recipes or so, I think I'll survive after all! The prospect of actually feeling well again is almost hard to believe, but I'll be very happy if it works!

My most immediate issue is eating out-- next week I'll be celebrating both birthday & wedding anniversary, & frankly I'd rather have someone else do the cooking! Any tips on how to stay safe at a restaurant?

Many thanks for being here!

Leah

[mouse]

Welcome to the forum, but sorry that you have been diagnosed with Celiac. This is all doable. I eat out about 3 times a month and I have multiple food allergies to boot. There are several National chains with gluten-free menu's, but if you want something special, then pick your restarurant and call a few days before and talk to the manager. If he sounds like DUH, then pick another and call them. I have even eaten at Famous Sam's locally for lunch and the manager there knew all about Celiac and gluten. He was not going to be in the day we came and he left a detailed list with the mgr. that was going to be on. They cleaned a section of grill for me and even used a clean spatula. I never got sick. You have to stress the cross contamination issue. Enjoy your birthday and Anniversary.

[Smunkeemom]

If you have a restruant in mind, go a few days before hand and just look at the menu, think about what you might be able to eat there, then talk to the manager. I like to go right after lunch rush (about 2-3p) when they are slow, and sit down and talk to the manager. I tell them when I will be coming, and what I would like to eat, it gives them time to find out if they can make it gluten free for me. It's important to stress to them that even a crumb can make you sick. Usually they will go out of their way to accomodate you, there is one local restruant that even has special pans and utensils that are only for their celiac customers. I wouldn't expect that everywhere, but they will most places clean off a section of the grill and stuff like that, but only if you ask, and it's more likely to happen if you ask well in advance (a day or two) so they can brief the chef on duty.

[Lisa]

Leah:

Hello and Welcome here. I ha ve been doing this since last August. I can assure you this this is the best place to come with all your questions. I totally, would have been at a loss here without this site.

I am one year older than you, so we have similar issues in common, although, I am way passed the lady issues.

It truely is overwhelming in the beginning, but this too will pass. I would suggest that you read here on the posts as much as you can and keep a notebook by your computer. Write down products that you see are safe and questions that you may need to ask.

"Nini" , her post name, has a beginner list that would be wonderful for you to start with. She is one of our champions for the "newbees".

It truely does get better, and you will feel better as long as you stay gluten free. Please remember to check your shampoo, bath soap, toothpaste. lipstick....anything that can get into your mouth.

This is a very soft space to come. And, always, there are no stupid questions here, so ask away.

If you need beginner products, just list them, and we will name them as safe of not.

It will settle down, but the learning process begins now...Ask and we'll help. Lisa

[queenofhearts]

Thank you all so much for great suggestions & moral support! I feel less lost already. What a wonderful group!

I never would have thought to go into the restaurant a day or two ahead of time, but that is a great idea-- that way when it comes to the actual meal I won't be so stressed out, nor will the chef, I hope.

Lipstick & toothpaste & soap, oh my! So much to keep track of! Does anyone happen to know if CoverGirl Outlast lipstick is safe? Colgate toothpaste? Neutrogena shampoo? Dove soap?

I'm so grateful that you all are here-- it's all so new & strange, but with such wise & generous guides I feel much less anxious & confused.

Many thanks,

Leah

[Lisa]

Leah:

You're on a good start already. I didn't mean to get you freaked out.

Here's a start: Gluten Free

Dove Shampoo, Pantene, Vidal Sassoon and others Neutrog. Shampoo.

Dove Soap, Ivory, Carress, Dial

All Crest toothpaste, Arm & Hammer, Colgate (Ithingk)

Neutrog. most make-up and lip sticks and glosses, soaps

If you have a product of Neutrog. check the website on the package and write them, and they will send the the long list of their gluten free products.

Cover Girl lipstick are very tricky, as for me....some yes, some not. That's a pain. Alot of people use Basic Essentials, that are not available for me here.

Search here for Cosmetics, you will find more than I can give you now.

It will alll work out, and in a months time, you'll be an expert.

Hang in there, Lisa

[queenofhearts]

Oh, Lisa, don't worry about freaking me out! It's just that there's so much new information to absorb. This is very helpful; ignorance in this case is definitely NOT bliss. I want to know ALL the sneaky stuff from the get-go! I'd be much more freaked out if after months of living without real sourdough bread & all the other baddie-goodies, I found out I was still getting sick from my %#@ing lipstick!

Thanks so much,

Leah

Leah:

You're on a good start already. I didn't mean to get you freaked out.

Here's a start: Gluten Free

Dove Shampoo, Pantene, Vidal Sassoon and others Neutrog. Shampoo.

Dove Soap, Ivory, Carress, Dial

All Crest toothpaste, Arm & Hammer, Colgate (Ithingk)

Neutrog. most make-up and lip sticks and glosses, soaps

If you have a product of Neutrog. check the website on the package and write them, and they will send the the long list of their gluten free products.

Cover Girl lipstick are very tricky, as for me....some yes, some not. That's a pain. Alot of people use Basic Essentials, that are not available for me here.

Search here for Cosmetics, you will find more than I can give you now.

It will alll work out, and in a months time, you'll be an expert.

Hang in there, Lisa

[Smunkeemom]

Thank you all so much for great suggestions & moral support! I feel less lost already. What a wonderful group!

I never would have thought to go into the restaurant a day or two ahead of time, but that is a great idea-- that way when it comes to the actual meal I won't be so stressed out, nor will the chef, I hope.

Lipstick & toothpaste & soap, oh my! So much to keep track of! Does anyone happen to know if CoverGirl Outlast lipstick is safe? Colgate toothpaste? Neutrogena shampoo? Dove soap?

I'm so grateful that you all are here-- it's all so new & strange, but with such wise & generous guides I feel much less anxious & confused.

Many thanks,

Leah

Open Original Shared Linkis a list of ingredients to look for in your shampoo, ect. You can print it out and look at everything you have. I threw out all my lipstick and started over, thinking it was probably cross contaminated (put it on after eating cereal in the morning) and also because I lost the packaging with the ingredients on it.