Newly Wheat Free

[aprilh]

Hello. I am a new member and new to this wheat free thing. I have had undiagnosed hypoglycemia all of my life. When I was a teenager, I had lots of stomach problems that the dr. said was due to stress. I even thought I had an ulcer. After the birth of my second child in July 2004, I sought the help of a Natureopathic Dr. I had really low energy, re-occuring yeast infections, trouble losing weight and the hypoglycemia had gotten worse. I also had anxiety that I wanted to deal with naturally because I did not do well on zoloft or paxil.

Last summer I was talking to my ND and she asked me if I noticed the hypoglycemia after consuming bread products or all starchy foods. It was after that that I noticed it was only bread products that I would have the blood sugar crash. I eliminated bread and didn't have blood sugar issues. I even started losing weight. I still would have bread products occaisionally and seemed to be fine. She also mentioned that anxiety can sometimes be food allergy related.

In June we went to the beach with my family. I was out of my "norm" so I consumed bread daily. When I got home my husband cooked spaghetti and I ate that twice. I can't argue with him on dinner because he never cooks!!! Anyway, it was after that my blood sugars went absolutely crazy! Like nothing I have ever experienced. So, I went wheat free to recuperate. The next weekend we went to the mountains with friends and I was still on my wheat free mission. My friend made hamburgers with egg and bread crumbs. I ate it without a bun, and immediately had a reaction. I got weak, could not breathe, dizzy, very strange symptoms.

I have been wheat free since or trying to be. I am still recovering from that!!!! The symptoms I have were so out of the "norm" that I had no idea i could be allergic.

My aunt has celiac. I don't have any diarreah, more constipation. But it overloads my adrenals glands and sends my body into a wierd state! Does anyone else have this type of reaction. I know everyone is different. I get dizzy, kidneys hurt, poor adrenal function, my thyroid has been a little low, low blood sugar, constipation, mineral deficiencies. (I have an eye twitch that just won't stop from mineral def.)

Also, does anyone think I may have the intestinal damage since I don't get the diarreah?

Thanks, this is a great forum.

[queenofhearts]

Welcome to the board! It's the best place on earth for folks like us.

I'm not a doctor, but given the symptoms you describe, it seems clear you should stay away from the stuff! Celiac manifests in so many different ways. It's not terribly uncommon to have no GI symptoms at all. That doesn't necessarily mean there is no damage. With some folks it shows up as nutrient deficiency. There are neurological symptoms too. If you feel so much better without gluten, that seems a pretty clear indicator that you should avoid it, damage or no!

Leah

[aprilh]

Welcome to the board! It's the best place on earth for folks like us.

I'm not a doctor, but given the symptoms you describe, it seems clear you should stay away from the stuff! Celiac manifests in so many different ways. It's not terribly uncommon to have no GI symptoms at all. That doesn't necessarily mean there is no damage. With some folks it shows up as nutrient deficiency. There are neurological symptoms too. If you feel so much better without gluten, that seems a pretty clear indicator that you should avoid it, damage or no!

Leah

You are definately right! I wish Dr.'s were more versed on this type of allergy seeing how common it is and how far it goes before poeple are actually diagnosed with it.

I am ordering Dangerous Grains from Amazon. Does anyone have any other books that they would recommend?

[queenofhearts]

You are definately right! I wish Dr.'s were more versed on this type of allergy seeing how common it is and how far it goes before poeple are actually diagnosed with it.

I am ordering Dangerous Grains from Amazon. Does anyone have any other books that they would recommend?

Oh boy do I wish doctors knew more! I suffered for years before my diagnosis. Hate to be cynical, but could it be because there are no meds to prescribe? They threw a pharmacopeia at me before Celiac was mentioned.

Are you interested in cookbooks? I'm big on those!

Leah

[jerseyangel]

Another good book for someone new to the gluten-free diet is "Wheat Free Worry Free" by Dana Korn. That and "Dangerous Grains" are must reads--IMO

[aprilh]

Oh boy do I wish doctors knew more! I suffered for years before my diagnosis. Hate to be cynical, but could it be because there are no meds to prescribe? They threw a pharmacopeia at me before Celiac was mentioned.

Are you interested in cookbooks? I'm big on those!

Leah

Yes, most definately interested in those. I will be eating at home much more! I don't think your being cynical, just realistic. I do think dr's get something for prescribing those meds. Kickback maybe.

Makes me mad! That is why I seek the help of a naturepathic dr. If she had not made the suggestion, it may have been years down the road that I would have suffered!!!

[queenofhearts]

Yes, most definately interested in those. I will be eating at home much more! I don't think your being cynical, just realistic. I do think dr's get something for prescribing those meds. Kickback maybe.

Makes me mad! That is why I seek the help of a naturepathic dr. If she had not made the suggestion, it may have been years down the road that I would have suffered!!!

Bette Hagman has a slew of cookbooks in her Gluten Free Gourmet line. TGFG Bakes Bread & TGFG Makes Dessert are the two I decided to buy, but the whole series is useful. Annalise Roberts Gluten-Free Baking Classics is great for sweets. Carol Fenster's Cooking Free is my latest acquisition. Her "cracked wheat" bread is yummy! (Made with brown rice chopped up in the blender.)

What I did was to check out every gluten-free cookbook in the library & then buy the ones I liked best. I find it's quite easy to adapt my old recipes except for baking, so I've concentrated on that for gluten-free cookbooks.

When I think that I've really had a whole list of Celiac symptoms since childhood, & was only diagnosed the week before my 50th birthday, I do occasionally feel resentful! But on the other hand, now I feel so grateful that all these problems have such a fundamentally simple solution... not that the diet is easy, but it beats surgery, or loads of drugs with side effects... I'm just so glad I finally understand what was wrong with me.

Leah

[aprilh]

Bette Hagman has a slew of cookbooks in her Gluten Free Gourmet line. TGFG Bakes Bread & TGFG Makes Dessert are the two I decided to buy, but the whole series is useful. Annalise Roberts Gluten-Free Baking Classics is great for sweets. Carol Fenster's Cooking Free is my latest acquisition. Her "cracked wheat" bread is yummy! (Made with brown rice chopped up in the blender.)

What I did was to check out every gluten-free cookbook in the library & then buy the ones I liked best. I find it's quite easy to adapt my old recipes except for baking, so I've concentrated on that for gluten-free cookbooks.

When I think that I've really had a whole list of Celiac symptoms since childhood, & was only diagnosed the week before my 50th birthday, I do occasionally feel resentful! But on the other hand, now I feel so grateful that all these problems have such a fundamentally simple solution... not that the diet is easy, but it beats surgery, or loads of drugs with side effects... I'm just so glad I finally understand what was wrong with me.

Leah

Thanks for all the recommendations. I will check it out. I ordered Dangerous Grains yesterday from Amazon. I need to now get a cookbook.

It seems like an easy solution when your going through so much! Some poeple think its hard, but I would rather be well without gluten than sick with it!