gluten-free? I'm Over It...

[2wheels4eyes]

So... it's been three weeks gluten-free, complete with detailed food diary, etc., etc. I've even cut out diary and soy, which, for this mostly-veg sporty type, is even *more* difficult than giving up the gluten.

Before the biopsy, I followed what I think is a fairly typical arc: I binged on everything I couldn't eat for a couple of weeks, got really sick, got fed up with myself and all that gluten, had the biopsy (unequivocably celiac), got sad, got resolved, broke the news to friends & family in a witty, upbeat way, began my gluten-free "lifestyle" (why do they call it a "lifestyle" anyway? As if this is like taking up sailing or Christianity or something), and now, folks... I'm so over it.

The food's not all that bad, really (the trick, I find, is not to expect it to taste like the thing it calls itself: "French rolls" my a$$) But I'm tired of thinking about everything I put in my mouth. I'm tired of scrounging around for protein sources. I'm tired of still feeling unwell (if anything, I'm *more* aware of my symptoms now than when the doctors and I didn't know what the hell.) I don't want to talk about it with my oh-so-supportive friends who wonder 'how's it going?' Because it's just a diet, right? Not a big deal, right? I was always one of those people who secretly thought people with food intolerances (peanut allergies excepted) were usually attention-seeking whiners.

I'm over the whole having a disease thing. I'm over the diet. Where do I sign up to be normal again?

And does anyone know of a gluten-free non-dairy, non-soy beverage (i.e. rice or almond) with more than 1 or 2 g. of protein per serving? Cause I'm drinking a lot of smoothies while I figure out my way back to normal... or at least out of this latest stage of "coping".

[Green Fingered Gaelic]

Welcome to club coeliac.

Sorry your having such a batism of fire.

Its not a religion, its not a choice, its your immune system, and its trying to kill you.

Its ironic, I know. We can eat gluten and get depressed or we can get gluten-free and get on with it.

French rolls are history. Its a matter of being creative. Try pancakes.

There are hundreds of grains, and we are only allergic to 4.

ps I'm diagnosed for 24 yrs and I'm not over it

[Cia420]

And does anyone know of a gluten-free non-dairy, non-soy beverage (i.e. rice or almond) with more than 1 or 2 g. of protein per serving? Cause I'm drinking a lot of smoothies while I figure out my way back to normal... or at least out of this latest stage of "coping".

Theres a smoothie drink called Amazake I find at Whole Foods and other health food stores. Most of their line is gluten-free and quite tasty and also has at least 8 grams of protein and above.

[Guest nini]

avoid the processed foods at all cost... at least until you get a better handle on the diet. Get over it. You don't have a choice and you can either feel sorry for yourself or you can find all the yummy good things you CAN have. It may require some additional cooking on your part, but it's worth it. Yeah, sometimes it really sucks, but the fact that you'll be so much healthier and feeling so much better will make it all worth while.

[floridanative]

2wheels4eyes - well I've been right where you are and I know how much it sucked at the time. Two weeks into my new "lifestyle" I broke down and cried and told my DH I could not possibly read another freakin' label. When I first shopped for gluten-free foods, I was super proud that I did not cry since everyone (with Celiac) I'd met told me they had cried. When I heard about support groups I thought - what a bunch of whiners.....why does anyone need a support group? Joining such a group helped me maintain my sanity while getting the hang of this thing called gluten free. Without this board, today I would still not be diagnosed but meeting people face to face that go through what I do on a daily basis turned my frown upside down. I've found what products I like (and even love) and which ones the birds in the back yard won't even eat. If you can find a support group in your area, please look into joining it. Others in your area can be very helpful in telling you where to eat out safely, where to shop for the best gluten-free products and so much more. They "get it" which is someone none of your friends will ever do, unless of course they are diagnosed with Celiac too.

I'm 7 months into my new life and I love it! So many issues (that I didn't know were symptoms) went away once I got off gluten. I never cooked or baked and now I love doing both, and I'm pretty good at it too.

the absolute worst thing to me about having Celiac has nothing to do with a diet, or even reading labels until my eyes are crossed. It's the feeling of isolation that comes with knowing you are now different than most everyone you know. I've lost only one friend in the process and that was my choice. The best way to deal with others (sorry I forget who told me this on this very board) is to not expect anyone to ever think about or accomodate your dietary needs. This way, when most don't, you are dissappointed and when some very thoughtful soul does something thoughful with regards to your needs, well you'll thank them profusely for being such an angel. Good luck! You're not over the hump yet but with your sense of humor, you'll do just fine.

[tarnalberry]

I add rice protein powder or hemp protein powder to my gfcfsf smoothies to give them more protein. And coconut milk to give them more fat.

Also, grains like quinoa, amaranth, and teff have much more protein than rice and corn. (Not to mention lentils, which I'm sure you're already eating.)

[2wheels4eyes]

Thanks, all... for the reality checks and the encouragement and the food recommendations. This board, and the gluten-free community in general, have been really great--I've been lurking for weeks reading other posts while I nibble my celery and peanut butter. I'm in St. Paul and tried to hook up with the local groups but the one never returned my messages and the other doesn't seem to meet regularly. (Although they will be at the State Fair. Cool!)

I went for a walk this evening with the puppy and found my sense of humour again.

I think the thing that surprises me most about life post-diagnosis is just how hard I'm taking it. Since my early teens I've been a bit of a food activist and adhered to various diets for health, environmental and political reasons. My father works for a huge, multinational-owned meat company and meat was always available in our house--meat *was* the meal. Going vegetarian at 16 was tantamount to treason. My family was sure I would die of some horrendous, vegetable-caused disease before my thirties. (Oh, the irony!!!)

So this new diet should be a piece of (flourless) cake for me. As my grandmother put it, I'm already "used to eating all those strange foods." And yet some days I just feel blindsided by the whole thing. Maybe it's the not-by-choice thing. Maybe it's the no-cheating thing.

Anyway, glad to hear I'm not the only one who's felt this way. Thanks again for the replies!

[Green Fingered Gaelic]

So 2wheels, all those years you were trying diets, you were instinctively trying to elimate something you knew was wrong.

I would just say that as a Coeliac I don't follow any other diets. One is enough.

Its a head wrecker when your trying to understand why you have this disease.

One thing that makes me smile about it; is that maybe our immune systems already know where the next killer bug is coming from and its not chicken!

Its difficult and all that but it sure is made allot easier by being able to talk to all you people.

Thank you all so much.

Peace

[gfp]

Let's not beat around the bush.... you need an attitude change

The difference is it took me 6 months to realise what you have already realised.... you are way ahread of me.

Anyway, glad to hear I'm not the only one who's felt this way.

Far from it... its pretty normal ... at least I hope so

So this new diet should be a piece of (flourless) cake for me. As my grandmother put it, I'm already "used to eating all those strange foods." And yet some days I just feel blindsided by the whole thing. Maybe it's the not-by-choice thing. Maybe it's the no-cheating thing.

Yep... the no cheating thing is the BIGGY... add to that its for life...

BUT.... and its a huge but.... it effects where you can eat more than what you can eat.

If you look up 100 random recipees then 70 will be easily made gluten free, especially vegetarian ones.

Sure gazpacho is meant to have bread in it but ... you can make it without...

Probably 80% of mexican or Indian food should be gluten-free... (as a random example of something with loads of veggie options) and most of the difference just comes from adding wheat flour to corn flour tortillas or popadoms...

The problem is the 10-20% of stuff for cross contaminating or hidden gluten combined that culturally Americans and Europeans tend top have "with bread"... obviously meatloaf isn't meatloaf without... but most things the gluten stuff is just an afterthought or accident.

When you start to compensate for this naturally you don't even notice it anymore except really where you can eat.

I'm over the whole having a disease thing. I'm over the diet. Where do I sign up to be normal again?

You just did when you made that post!

[ArtGirl]

I add rice protein powder or hemp protein powder to my gfcfsf smoothies to give them more protein.

so, where do you get this gfcfsf protein powder - I'd sure like to have some of this on hand for when my blood sugar is down and I don't have any cooked meats on hand for protein.

[kbtoyssni]

Hey 2wheels4eyes! I live just north of St Paul so if you ever need a real-life celiac buddy, let me know! We can start our own little support group. (Actually, now I'm wondering if you're the person I emailed a few weeks ago about the diet when a friend gave me your name?)

Things do get easier. At first you feel completely different because so many things in your life have to change. And you don't know how to explain it to people and you don't know which brands of food are "safe" and everyday you discover something new that has gluten that you've been eating without realizing. But eventually it become second nature. I'm lucky that I never went through that mourning period for gluten. I was so excited that I could start living my life again. I did figure out that I was intolerant to peanuts a few weeks ago and that was the closest I came to a breakdown. I have to keep reminding myself that I can eat peanuts if I want to, no big deal, but I also have to deal with the consequences and it's not fair to my friends and my job and my life if I can't function just because I wanted a peanut butter cup.

I'd also like to say that there's a lot of really bad gluten-free food out there. But there's also a lot of really good food. It takes time to find it, though. If you want any tips on specific foods, let me know. I shop at the Fresh and Natural Foods, so I know the brands there pretty well.