Very New At This

[Sue F]

Help. I was just diagnosed last week and felt that I could handle this until I read so much on the internet. Is milk really off limits? vanilla? ice cream? I'm trying to take steps. I have been sick for about 5 years, so this diagnosis comes as a mixed bag - relief and schock all at once.

[celiacgirls]

If you just need to avoid gluten, milk and most ice cream is ok. Some of us here are casein intolerant as well and that is why we avoid those. Some people, when they are first diagnosed, have problems with lactose so avoid milk products for a while to feel better more quickly. Most vanilla is ok.

Welcome. You will find lots of good information here.

[Lisa]

Sue:

Welcome!

There is soooo much information here to read. Try to read through these posts and you will find just about everything you need to know.

Nini, a board member has a "Newbi Survival Kit". I bet that she will post soon with that invaluable information.

Many people here, when they have begun their gluten-free diet, have difficulty with dairy. I would recommend that you back off that a bit untill you begin healing and then gradually begin an intoduction.

I considered my dx's with celiac as a new healthy beginning, sure a heck beats cancer (which I though).

Good luck and always feel free to ask away.

[mamaw]

Welcome Sue F.

Just wanted to say welcome & give it some time to sink in. It is a shock to try to change a lifetime of wheat & gluten. It will work itself into your lifestyle , just don't get overwehlmed. Take it slow & start out with veggies, meats, & fruits you know are safe. Add new things as you find they are gluten free. Clan Thompson has a great website as well as this one.

good luck

mamaw

[happygirl]

Welcome to the board! We are happy you have found us. This board is such a great resource. Read, read, read!

And make sure you check out www.celiac.com, the parent site to this forum. There is a ton of information, as well as lists of ingredients.

Many ice creams/milks are safe. The main problem would be, say, cookie dough ice cream, bc of the cookie dough!

Most vanilla extracts are safe...the alcohol in them is safe.

Let us know what else we can do to help. Feel free to PM me or ask any questions! We all started off by not knowing ANYTHING, so we have been in your shoes!!!!!

[Ursa Major]

Hi Sue, and welcome to this board. The reason why it would be better if you wouldn't have any dairy products for at least six months is, that the tips of the villi produce the enzyme lactase, which allows you to digest dairy. Of course, if your villi are blunted by celiac disease, lactase is not produced, and you can't digest dairy, resulting in an intolerance.

Many (not all by far) people with celiac disease can tolerate dairy again after six months to a year. But initially, they'd do well to eliminate dairy as well as gluten for faster healing and to feel better faster.

Plus, for people with casein intolerance, that intolerance can result in blunting of villi as well (the same goes for soy). So, if by any chance you are casein intolerant, you won't heal if you keep eating dairy. You can test dairy in six months to see if you get symptoms from it.

[Sue F]

Thank you all so much for your words of wisdom. I'll keep visiting and I'm sure learning! I teach cooking and so I'm always willing to try new things!