Australians And New Zealanders Hellooooooo :)

[mushroom]

Hello Jules, down there in Tazzy. There are not a lot of us on here and those that are tend to visit infrequently , barely enough to start a social club. The Aussies are probably too busy living their outdoor lifestyle, while the Kiwis are their usual somewhat reserved selves.

Isn't getting diagnosed a bummer??? Well, I didn't wait for them and just quit the gluten, and then found out how many other things I was intolerant of But hey, donuts are not THAT big a deal, surely? In Oz???

I finally convinced my PCP to prescribe me some Synthroid because that's the only low dose brand here and they couldn't say whether or not it has gluten. Well of course it does, one dose told me that, but that's my only option at the moment "because we're such a small country"!!! I swear to G*d, if I hear that phrase one more time I'm agonna scream. Maybe you can tell I am a returned ex-pat?? So no thyroid supplementation for me. Will have to wait till I go back stateside next year. I am subclinical hypothyroid so it takes some convincing to get a prescription.

Have you been sending all that nasty cold white stuff our way? There was still some on the hilltops (low) here yesterday but hope it's gone today and it is finally spring. All the weather maps I see show all those low systems coming up from Tasmania Well, maybe one or two of them come straight off the ice

Welcome to the thread, and pop in any time.

[Mysh]

Hi Jules, so good to see another Aussie on here. I love Tassie.

Mushroom - I'd love this thread to be a lot more active! The problem will be shutting me up.

[mushroom]

No one here is holding you back--go for it :lol:

I just went on a shopping expedition to Bin Inn on Monday; they carry all the flours, even sorghum now, except for Teff. They have a whole chain of stores each independently franchised, I believe, and you have to find one that is well run. The nearest one to me is a little bit sloppy and I don't trust them for cc, but the one in New Brighton is great and they hold gluten free evenings after regular store hours for exchange of ideas and recipes. I can't go tonight, unfortunately, but Nicky is going to network for me and call me back on suggested recipe substitutions for potato starch in recipes that contain both tapioca and rice flour already, as so many seem to do. I'm not sure enough about gluten free baking and some of my attempted subs have been disastrous, like the pancackes I made on Sunday I have the most trouble with pie and pizza crust-type recipes, but also, obviously, pancakes, although if you load the pancakes up with the fruit compote and greek yogurt that went with them, you can get them down okay

I find the shopping here much easier than in the U.S., though without the variety of products like hemp milk and goat and hemp milk ice creams, gluten and soy free choc. chips, stuff like that. (Although in the U.S., except for one great little health food store, you generally have to go to more places to get all you want, and I could find only one spread that didn't contain soy .)Not having the specialty products here probably boils down to that "small country" stuff again, though we seem to have a higher percentage of gluten intolerants here. Just most of them don't have all the additional intolerances I do Still, mustn't complain, no pity parties, at least not today

[Mysh]

Mushroom,

Can you share how you found out about your additional allergies/intolerances?

I am contemplating giving up dairy (so far have stopped adding milk to coffee etc, but still eat it within certain food stuffs).

I also have no idea about going about getting tested for additional allergies. One of the blood tests I did see was $950 which I thought was a tiny bit overinflated. There has to be an easier way yes?

Would you mind sharing a typical days diet for you?

[mushroom]

Mushroom,

Can you share how you found out about your additional allergies/intolerances?

Would you mind sharing a typical days diet for you?

Well, I'm not going to lie to you and tell you it was a snap!! I didn't go the medical route because I have become increasingly discouraged with that way of doing things. No, I had to do it the hard way...Hang in there, it's a loooong story.

Let me digress a bit; I did find out back in the 90's via a skin test that I had problems with soy and corn, but they always seemed controllable; don't eat a tub of popcorn (at first I thought it was only U.S. popcorn, but now I find out I really shouldn't do corn at all), and don't obviously go out and eat tofu or blatant soy products, but I didn't religiously check labels for trace soy or corn Always had problems with Mexican restaurants so usually ordered the seafood...

I worked second jobs in espresso bars for several years in my younger days and consumed a great deal of the proprietors' products; found out in the 70's that I could no longer handle caffeine--bye-bye!! Decaf only for me.

In another job there was a frozen yogurt shop right across the street and someone would often go out mid-afternoon for treats. I would find myself in the loo half an hour later. Someone in the office was lactose intolerant and suggested that was my problem. I quit the lactose and that problem went away.

Fast forward to my ultimate diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis after several miscues. Previously our housebuilder had ankylosing spondylitis, a form of autoimmune arthritis, and he shunned gluten in any form. I began researching autoimmune arthritis, came to celiac disease and realized that I had so many of the symptoms, plus a sister who is recognized gluten intolerant with a celiac daughter, so it was an easy decision to eliminate gluten

Once I did that the bloating and gas and diarrhea pretty much went away, but the rashes and hives and itching I developed drove me crazy. The good folks here suggested soy... I checked the gluten-free substitutes I had rushed out and bought so I could continue my normal lifestyle, and whenever they took out gluten, it seemed they had substituted soy. I had been so busy looking for gluten I had overlooked this. So I cut out soy (and boy, that can hide in more places than gluten--I am still finding it popping up unexpectedly) and this horrible inflamed itchiness mostly went away. But I still had itches and occasional hives. But of course, I have psoriasis so I'm pretty used to itching, and I figured I would take care of it later.

Jump forward to May of this year; I suddenly developed extreme itchies again and wondered what it could be. What was I eating differently? Realized I had been eating lots of citrus and drinking juices, using lemon and lime juice for flavouring. Cut that out, was feeling better and then had a frozen margarita after the looong flight from Auckland to SFO. Ouch!!! diagnosis confirmed. (I wasn't thinking ).

Lots of reading here and elsewhere confirmed that the nightshade family was not good for arthritis. Had had some concerns about capsicums before that--hubby liked to make fajitas and I always declined because they did not agree with me. So I decided to avoid nightshades pretty much (my favourite dish to make used to be ratatouille, believe it or not) but still had some occasional potato. Eventually switched to sweet potato until this July when a couple of times I had half my husband's baked potato. Pow!!! 4 a.m. instant gross itchies!!! So that one was confirmed too. But I still itched. And then I realised that most of the gluten free flour mixes contained potato starch--duh!! That has been the hard one to cut out because it means all my baking has to be from scratch. But once I did that, and now that the arthritis is under control with Humira, I have finally (mostly) stopped itching. Now I am trying hard not to consume too much of any one thing to avoid developing any other intolerances.

Typical day's diet? Yogurt with flaxseed oil stirred in, sliced almonds, and kiwifruit (of course) or berries or some stewed fruit for breakfast. Lunch is often sardines on toast, or tuna salad made with mashed boiled egg and mayo and green onions (sometimes a little pickle relish) and I always add a splash of white wine vinegar. Sometimes I do a little cheat with a BLT with a couple of slices of fresh tomato, but only once in a while. Never do tomato sauce. Dinner is usually grilled meat or fish, rice or sweet potato, and vegetables from the garden or store. I snack on cashews and almonds, Sakata rice crackers and hummus (Lisa's garlic) and Havarti cheese or Tasty. Lots of grapes and fresh fruit (other than citrus) in season, crunchy carrots and celery, Braeburn apples... My local gluten free bakery which used to be my second home uses potato starch in their flour mix, but they are baking special batches of their buckwheat bread for me without the potato, and keep it in their freezer (12 loaves at a time) and I just go in and get a couple of loaves whenever I want--aren't I lucky???

So that's my long journey. Hope it has come to an end, after almost two years (next month). Hope yours does not take as long

[Mysh]

Mushroom - Thanks for sharing that! You're in good company - Ratatouille is one of my most favourite dishes!

Wow what a journey you've had. I'm ashamed to say I've never really paid much attention to what has been going in my mouth, I simply ate what I liked. I did know that I had an issue with "carbs" but put that down to all carbs, which may or may not have been a correct assumption. I think I could benefit from keeping a food journal to see if something is setting me off. I've been eating mostly DF this past week or so and have noticed only a slight difference.

The best health I've ever been on was when I went on the Cohen's diet. No preservatives, only certain fruits and vegtables and no carbs of any description. No dairy apart from a small tub of yogurt, feta and some mozarella (very limited quantities). Max 1 egg per day. I felt like a million dolllars! Lost weight, increased energy, no restless leg syndrome, clear thinking, good sleep etc. I think i would benefit from mirroring that long term although i would like some additional "goodies". I work in the snackfood industry and i feel like I'm dying!! I'm such a junk food addict.

My gastroenterologist suggested a dietician but I havent gone that route yet.

Currently in the process of trying to get family members to get tested.........but that's a whole other story. It's been difficult because all but one of their doctors have said that the family memeber "didn't look like they have celiac". My mums doctor was the best..."You've been eating wheat for 74 years and it hasn't done you any harm" the fact my mum is severly anaemic, depressed, have low levels of everything, osteoporis, and a thyroid condition seems to be irellevant.

[mushroom]

Just a suggestion with the dairy, Mysh. It would, I think, be a good idea to first try just cutting out the lactose (milk, cream, ice cream, frozen yogurt were the ones I had to chuck) and still eat the cultured products in which the lactose has pretty much all been digested by the cultures. That way you will know if you are casein intolerant or just lactose intolerant. The lactose intolerance is normally temporary until the villi heal, since the villi carry the lactase which digests the lactose. Casein intolerance, unfortunately, most often does not go away I found I could continue with cheese and butter and sour cream without any problems

With continuing problems, a food diary is a good idea. It is also a good idea to eliminate right off the bat anything that you suspect, and then challenge yourself again with it in a couple of weeks (while still keeping your diary of food and symptoms). That way you can eliminate things quite quickly if necessary. I wish I had been this smart when I first went gluten free Too soon old, too late smart.

Your family trip to Disney World sounds like fun; something to look forward to. I had no idea they had so many restaurants there Sounds like our Disney World poster went there for the food

[nutralady2001]

Hi everyone just thought I'd bump this back to the top for 2010, see if there are any newbies.

[Cranberry]

Hi everyone just thought I'd bump this back to the top for 2010, see if there are any newbies.

Hi All! Just found this place and am hoping to keep reading and learn a few more things! A site that I am a few of my friends with allergies use is www.whatcanieat.com.au its excellent for finding allergy friendly products.

My favourite Gluten Free baked goods are from Lifestyle Bakery. www.lifestylebakery.com.au . They are stocked Australia wide and I think their Chia Seed Loaf is the best gluten free bread on the market. Has anyone else tried it? Their Pizza Bases are really convenient and tasty too and I can't wait for their Hot Cross Buns!

What is your favourite snack? I eat a lot of nuts to keep myself going. Peanuts are my faves!

[uma]

Hello All,

I'm 26 living on the Gold Coast, but also spent 14 years living in Christchurch.

I was just diagnosed this week, so my heads still spinning a bit! But I thought I'd drop by and say hi Reading through this forum has already been helpful, super excited that not all cadbury chocolate is off limits!!!

[mushroom]

Hello All,

I'm 26 living on the Gold Coast, but also spent 14 years living in Christchurch.

I was just diagnosed this week, so my heads still spinning a bit! But I thought I'd drop by and say hi Reading through this forum has already been helpful, super excited that not all cadbury chocolate is off limits!!!

Hello, Uma, and welcome to the forum. You will find that although most of the foods discussed here are U.S. foods, the general information is invaluable and we do try to keep abreast of new products a little bit in our little corner of the world!

[Japsnoet]

Uma have you tried Open Original Shared Link gluten free range we tried some of their products when we went to the Emundi market ? They not available in NSW yet but are in Queensland and they Sunshine Coast based. Their products are excellent I wish they would could sell them main stream.

[uma]

Uma have you tried Open Original Shared Link gluten free range we tried some of their products when we went to the Emundi market ? They not available in NSW yet but are in Queensland and they Sunshine Coast based. Their products are excellent I wish they would could sell them main stream.

Thanks for the link, they look yummy. I think I might have to plan a drive to Eumundi in the very near future!

[fefe76]

Hello everyone

I have just joined so thought would pop in and say G'day .... I live on the Gold Coast and I have just been diagnosed with Hashimoto's which is an Auto Immune Disease so my thyroid antibodies are up and my herbalist/naturopath suggested a Gluten Free diet to help reduce this without having to resort to meds

My husband I have also been trying to have a baby since we married 6 years ago and we have not been successful, though we have managed to get preg 3 times the 1st was an ectopic and we lost the other 2 very early on so we hope that the reason was the AI problem and the gluten free will help

Im still trying to find the best places to get things from and what i can and cant eat etc, finding it hard as hubby has a fly in and fly out job so he isnt around 3 weeks out of the month and when he is here he is on the Atkins diet so will have to find someway to manage my gluten freeness as he does most of the cooking when he is around and when he isnt i am a quick and easy type of cook and dont like having to think or worry too much about my meals, so i am finding it really hard

Good too read about the chocolate lol as i do need a sweet fix once in a while (ok more than once in a while!)

[fefe76]

hello everyone

I live on the Gold Coast

i posted earlier but somehow it didnt get posted, probably cos my net is being stupid! so here i go again

I am 34 and just been diagnosed with Hashimoto's (AI disease of the thyroid) my herbalist recommended that we try a gluten free diet to try and control it as she wasnt keen on getting me on meds since that means a long term commitment

I am still very new to the gluten-free diet and am finding it a tad hard .... my husband is the cook and he works away 3 weeks out of the month so i am left to feed myself and i must say i am a lazy throw something together cook or cook a huge pot of something and eat for a week type!

I do like sweet stuff so nice to know can have some chocolate

We have also been trying to have a baby since we married 6 yrs ago so i am hoping the AI is the reason we have had problems and lost 2 preg i did have last year so hoping the gluten-free diet works for me and that we can have a baby soon

[psawyer]

i posted earlier but somehow it didnt get posted, probably cos my net is being stupid!

Posts by new members need to be approved by a mod. Sometimes we are a bit slow getting to it.

[fefe76]

sorry did realise why my 1st post hadnt appeared when i did it the 2nd time around.... in my defence i was having a particularly dense day yesterday ... most of my brain seemed to be non-functional

anyway long weekend YAY .... husbands not here BOO so i guess i will have a very boring Easter but thats ok ... i can do with a few boring days

Have a good Easter everyone

[nutralady2001]

Welcome ! I also have Hashimoto's Disease as well as Coeliac Disease.

Lots of Hashi's people find going gluten free helps reduce antibodies. Bear in mind though that thyroid hormone is essential for your body your thyroid gland controls everything. A gluten free diet may not be enough and you may need thyroid hormone replacement. Keep testing TSH, Free T3, Free T4 and TgAb and TPO antibodies.Once on thyroid hormone replacement most Hashi's people seem to do best with a TSH close to zero FT3 at the top of the range and FT4 at around the 2/3-3/4 mark.

How long have you been gluten free for? It may be worth running a Coeliac panel and having an endoscopy anyway as Hashi's and Coeliac seem to go hand in hand but you need to still be eating gluten for the tests to be accurate.

[fefe76]

Well i did all my thyroid tests but seems only my thyroid antibodies were raised, not a huge amount (103) ... my herbalist said she has had patients who have been over 10000

I havent been gluten free that long, just a week .... still coming to grips with it !

I am taking some tabs my herbalist gave me for my thyroid.

Was only because my herbalist asked for the thyroid antibody test that found out about the elevated antibodies, none of the docs ive seen about the infertility have ever tested for this so i have no idea how long ive had it for

[cookeez]

We are to have our own coeliac expo in Christchurch with Dr Rodney Ford at the end of September. Could be the same one that was in Australia. I would love to go, but it is in the south island, and so far away. What makes it worse, is that I went down to Christchurch just 5 weeks ago, and I don't think I will be allowed to go again so soon! I wish I had known it was on soooner, and then would've planned the holiday later.

Morning teas I hate. The silly thing is that it is usually up to me to go buy and present it all at the table. One day, not long after being dianosed, I went with good intentions to the supermarket etc, and told myself, I would make it totally gluten free. I bit off a bit more than I could chew. All there was, that was gluten free, was fruit, easter eggs (not really sure how safe they were), rice crackers, corn crackers which are so big and bulky, and cheeses. So I really failed at the test I gave myself. So Ibought a couple of gluten free things I liked, and was very nice to my fellow workers and bought them cake, hot cross buns and savouries. At least they know I wouldn't have licked the knife. But it still makes it tough. Yesterday I was nearly in a lather when somebody mentioned chocolate fish. Thanks to granny, I grew up on them!

Still that is the way it goes, and now I will make sure I always have a stash of frozen muffins in the freezer at school.

Cathy

[nowheatpete]

Hey hey, I come from NZ but live overseas now.

Does anyone know of good online resources for finding gluten free restaurants, products or communities in NZ? I'd be really grateful to know cause I will be heading back there next year and have no idea what the situation is .

By the way, I saw there is a gluten free and food allergy expo going on in NZ soon Open Original Shared Link

[cookeez]

Just google gluten free restaurants Nz and it should take u there.

[Lisa79]

Hi

Thought I would introduce myself, I am from Perth WA. I have been around on the board a little in the last year although I never came across this thread before.

Me and my daughter are both Coeliacs, don't really have much of a problem finding gluten-free foods in WA although I know other states seem to have more variety, we are a little behind EST. I have noticed a huge improvement in products in the last 6 months.

Did anyone know Dominoes now do a gluten-free Pizza, we had it last night for the first time, was a little nervous but it was awesome, they dont do Hawaiian as their ham in not gluten-free but I asked for a chicken and pineapple and it was great, they have quite a few gluten-free toppings. Neither of us felt sick at all

Look forward to getting to know some fellow Aussies

[Mack the Knife]

The most recent edition of the Australian Coeliac society magazine had an article about Dominos.

Apparently the Coeliac Society worked closely with Dominos to develop their gluten free pizza base and advise on staff training and food cc issues. It sounds like they really have their act together.

I wasn't going to risk the Dominos gluten-free pizza but it sounds like they have gone about it the right way and are aware of the complications of providing gluten-free food and have addressed them.

The Australian Coeliac Society didn't actually endorse them but their article was very positive about Dominos gluten free pizza.

[Aussie Peg]

Hello again everyone!

Finally got around to adding a post - I've been hybernating

I'm so excited to hear about Dominos jumping on the gluten free bandwagon! I was just craving a non-gourmet pizza the other night but had no idea Dominos was an option! Pizza night tomorrow for sure! I'll let you know if I have any reactions - had trouble with Hell Pizza but Capers has generally been ok (I'm pretty sensitive).

I've been having some regular mild glutenings lately and have finally tracked down the culprit - Earth Choice multi purpose spray! I've been using it to clean my kitchen benches (without washing the spray off afterwards, naughty!) and I finally read the ingredients and it has alcohol from wheat or sugar cane in it so I must be using a wheaty batch! Again, i'm pretty sensitive so this might not affect others but i'm just so happy to finally figure out what was causing all the problems, YAY! Us Coeliacs would make quite the detectives!

I've been devouring La Zuppa soups this Winter - the chicken and corn chowder, and creamy chicken with vegetables inparticular, soooooo good! I'm still ordering my bread and baking mixes from Choices Gluten Free Bakery in Sydney - I made banana bread 2 days ago using their mix which I have already finished lol.

Although I'm dairy free now, I snuck some Pascall pineapple lumps which are soooo nice - found them at Coles.

Ooooh and I made my own 'fish and chip shop' style crumbed fish fillets (dip fish fillet in gluten-free corn flour/starch, then dip in water, then dip in gluten-free crumbs. Shallow fry in a couple centimetres of hot oil, until slightly browned on both sides). Heavenly!

I hope everyone is happy and healthy and finding all sorts of delicious gluten free foods!