Concerned

[concernedfriend]

A friend of mine just found out she has celiac disease, and she isnt coping with it, well at all. First she wasnt aloud to eat her favorite foods, or spices cause they all have gluton (so she stuck with nasty rice cakes that she hates...) and now they are telling her that her make up has to be cheaked to. She is completely down and I dont know how to help her. Iv tried looking up stuff that wont have it but i get a bunch of other stuff and it really isnt that helpfull. And I am trying to be sympathetic (I cant eat sugar irritated bawl syndrome) so i know what it feels like to have something taken away that you love to eat, but hers is so much worse, gluten is EVERYWHERE, and I know she hates cheaking lables, but she has to do it and I can tell she is taking it hard. Right when she was getting ready to cope with out her food, they took away her make up and yea. So if anyone has any thoughts i would love to hear em!

[Marlene]

First I just want to say that you must be one of the nicest friends anyone could have!! That is so sweet that you are trying to help your friend.

I know how devastated I felt when I found out I could no longer have gluten and totally understand what your friend is going through. And then about a month later, I found out I can't have dairy either. I used to love food so much. I really had to grieve over all the things I can't have anymore. I have been gluten free since last July 1. Please tell you friend that what she is feeling is normal. She should just let herself be upset and grieve over this. Please also tell her that things will get better. She will find good food that she enjoys, either naturally gluten free or made especially that way. The first time I tried gluten free bread, I started to cry. But now, I have found a few that I really like and even found a mix that I make myself. It will get easier, honest. Also there is someone on this forum who has a newbie kit. I am sure someone else will be able to tell you how to get to her through this forum -- I can't think of her name right now. Once your friend gets over the shock, she will probably find that there are a lot of things that she can still eat.

One more thing, you mention that you have irritable bowel syndrome. I don't mean to scare you but tons of people who have gluten intolerance/celiac were first diagnosed with IBS. Personally, I think IBS means that you have an intolerance of some kind. You might want to get that checked out.

Marlene

[ravenwoodglass]

A friend of mine just found out she has celiac disease, and she isnt coping with it, well at all. First she wasnt aloud to eat her favorite foods, or spices cause they all have gluton (so she stuck with nasty rice cakes that she hates...) and now they are telling her that her make up has to be cheaked to. She is completely down and I dont know how to help her. Iv tried looking up stuff that wont have it but i get a bunch of other stuff and it really isnt that helpfull. And I am trying to be sympathetic (I cant eat sugar irritated bawl syndrome) so i know what it feels like to have something taken away that you love to eat, but hers is so much worse, gluten is EVERYWHERE, and I know she hates cheaking lables, but she has to do it and I can tell she is taking it hard. Right when she was getting ready to cope with out her food, they took away her make up and yea. So if anyone has any thoughts i would love to hear em!

Welcome You are a good friend and she is lucky to have you. First and formost introduce her to this web site. That alone can be one of the best things she can do to deal with this. There is a lot of information and support available here. It can be a big adjustment and can be accompanied by depression at first. This is normal and for some it is a withdrawl symptom. Also with your having IBS you seriously should look into the possiblity that you also are gluten intolerant. IBS does not just happen and it is not usually associated with consuming sugar unless that sugar is in stuff like cake. Perhaps your best way to support her would be to become gluten free yourself for a month or two and then add it back in to see if you react.

[Generic]

I believe it is nini who has the newbie kit. I don't have time to look now, I am litteraly getting ready to leave for out of town. You are a wonderful friend, I wish I had a friend like you.

As for the sugar, and IBS. IBS is kinda of term for we really don't know what is wrong with you so....we call it IBS. Back in the day, they thought celiac was caused from an intolerance to sugar.

-Laurie

[amybeth]

Hi!

What a nice friend you are!

If it's any help to your friend - McCormick spices are (all or mostly gluten free)

Also some companies like Kraft will mark any/all gluten containing ingredients clearly on the label which is a time saver -- you don't have to call them and double check for "hidden" glutens.

Also for the start - plainer foods are better......meats, potatos, veggies can be filling square meals that you don't have to check labels for.

Good luck to your friend!