Anemia Improving But The Diet Sucks

[anemic]

Thanks for all the feedback I got last time I posted. After 2 years (this Easter) of regular blood transfusions for chronic and severe anemia- I think I'm finally on the mend. I am seeing a great hemotologist who recognized the Celiac right away and proved it within 6 weeks. I'm having iron infusions every week for 10 weeks (pain to take a full day off work every week) and by the beginning of May I should be feeling much better. The gluten-free diet is the pits, most of the time its fine but it is time-consuming and sometimes you just don't feel like it. Tonight I yelled at my husband in frustration and was grouchy with my kids. All I wanted was to order a pizza or get hamburgers. All in all, I am eating a healthier diet than I have in a long-time and my kids and husband are getting tested next week (my father-in-law has Celiac) This forum is very helpful and supportive!

[JNBunnie1]

Good for you! As for the food thing, all I can say is eggs, eggs, eggs! If you can tolerate them, they're easy, to cook and clean up, and they translate into dinner very well with some avocado and salsa or onions and cheese. I've eaten eggs almost every day for one meal or another and I have literally never felt this good.

[NoGluGirl]

Thanks for all the feedback I got last time I posted. After 2 years (this Easter) of regular blood transfusions for chronic and severe anemia- I think I'm finally on the mend. I am seeing a great hemotologist who recognized the Celiac right away and proved it within 6 weeks. I'm having iron infusions every week for 10 weeks (pain to take a full day off work every week) and by the beginning of May I should be feeling much better. The gluten-free diet is the pits, most of the time its fine but it is time-consuming and sometimes you just don't feel like it. Tonight I yelled at my husband in frustration and was grouchy with my kids. All I wanted was to order a pizza or get hamburgers. All in all, I am eating a healthier diet than I have in a long-time and my kids and husband are getting tested next week (my father-in-law has Celiac) This forum is very helpful and supportive!

Dear anemic,

I know the misery of tastebud boredom. Don't worry, I have something that will fix that! I have a list that should really help. This is overwhelming. I went through this with myself six months ago. You spend most of your day cooking and cleaning obsessively. The rest you are on the phone with reps from companies trying to find out what is safe. I decided to save you the trouble!

1. There are a number of things in the regular grocery that are safe. Some things are labeled already. Wal-Mart's Great Value brand has numerous things you can eat.

2. For the love of God use Coupons on items you are allowed to eat. People can get them and print them out online even. Call some of the local stores and ask if they accept online coupons.

3. Check the ads online and in the newspaper. You would be surprised how many people do not do this.

4. Some items like rice flour and rice noodles are safe to buy at the Chinese or oriental market. The merchants are more than happy to help you if you cannot read the label.

Now, here is my list of great things to get you started:

Condiments:

Smart Balance Margerine

Crisco Shortening

Crisco Oil

Pompeiian Olive Oil

Great Value soy sauce

Heinz Ketchup

Lea & Perrins Worchestershire Sauce

Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce

Kraft French Fat-Free Salad Dressing

Kraft Thousand Island Fat-Free Salad Dressing

Pace Picante Sauce

Ortega Salsa

All Classico Red and White sauces

All Jif Peanut Butters including Smooth Sensations

Welch's Grape Jelly

Cool Whip

Philadelphia Cream Cheese

Miracle Whip

Daisy Sour Cream (fat-free, low-fat, regular)

Snack Foods:

Fritos

Tostitos

Lay's Original Potato Chips

Cool Ranch Doritos (Nacho cheese has gluten)

Act II Microwave Popcorn

Cheetos

3 Musketeers candy bars

Butterfinger candy bars

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Meat and Protein :

Eggs

Great Value Frozen Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts

Extra Lean ground beef

Carl Buddig lunchmeats all are safe

Johnsonville Original Bratwursts

Kraft Cheese Shredded or sliced (Kraft is a great company, they never hide gluten in their labels. If it does not say wheat, barley, oats or rye, then it is not in there!)

Cereals:

Cocoa Pebbles

Fruity Pebbles

Dora The Explorer Cinnamon Stars

Seasonings:

Durkee Cinnamon-ground

Durkee Ginger-ground

Durkee Chili powder

Durkee Vanilla Extract (in fact, all of their liquid flavorings, food colorings, and extracts are g.f.)

Emeril's Essence - Asian, Italian

Ortega Taco Seasoning (In fact, since they are under a very strict labeling policy, all of their products are gluten free at this time)

Miscellaneous:

Ortega Taco Shells

Starkist or Great Value Tuna

Butter Buds

Great Value Soy Milk

Lettuce

Tomatoes

Apples

Pears

Carrots

Great Value Canned Fruits and Vegetables

Del Monte Canned Fruits and Vegetables

Ore Ida Tater Tots

Ore Ida French Fries

Hormel Chili

Hormel Spam

Hormel Turkey Spam (Oven Roasted and Smoked)

Hormel Beef Au Jus Entree

Hormel Pork Au Jus Entree

Jimmy Dean Fresh Taste Fast Sausage (links, rolls, and patties)

Plumrose Bacon

PAM Non-Stick Cooking Spray (all except for PAM for baking; it has flour)

Beverages:

Coca-Cola (Diet, Regular, Vanilla, Caffeine Free)

Diet Rite

Folgers Coffees (all including Cappuccinos)

Luzianne Tea (We get decaf)

Arizona Teas

Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice

Some Household Items that are safe include:

Cascade Dishwashing Detergent

All Laundry Detergent

Wisk Laundry Detergent

Dawn Dish Soap (all including the Power Disolver)

SoftSoap Hand Soaps

Murphy's Oil Soap

Hygiene, Cosmetics, and Beauty Items:

Dove Soaps, Shampoos, Conditioners, Lotions, and Styling Aids (Will clearly label gluten if present)

Crest Whitening Expressions Toothpastes

Colgate Toothpastes

Suave Soaps, Shampoos, Conditioners, Lotions, and Styling Aids (Will clearly label gluten if present)

Maybelline (Gluten is clearly labeled when present)

CoverGirl (Gluten is clearly labeled when present)

Wet'n Wild (All except for one of the mascaras)

Olay Quench Body Lotion

Crest WhiteStrips

Colgate Simply White

I hope this helps!

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl

[flowergirl]

Well done on getting your iron up. You can be very proud of your progress.

[ravenwoodglass]

Thanks for all the feedback I got last time I posted. After 2 years (this Easter) of regular blood transfusions for chronic and severe anemia- I think I'm finally on the mend. I am seeing a great hemotologist who recognized the Celiac right away and proved it within 6 weeks. I'm having iron infusions every week for 10 weeks (pain to take a full day off work every week) and by the beginning of May I should be feeling much better. The gluten-free diet is the pits, most of the time its fine but it is time-consuming and sometimes you just don't feel like it. Tonight I yelled at my husband in frustration and was grouchy with my kids. All I wanted was to order a pizza or get hamburgers. All in all, I am eating a healthier diet than I have in a long-time and my kids and husband are getting tested next week (my father-in-law has Celiac) This forum is very helpful and supportive!

I am glad to hear things are improving. The cooking thing can be hard. When my kids were here I would take one day and make a big pot of Chili, or pasta sauce with meat. I would also use the time to make up one or two boxes of the Gluten Free Pantries French Bread mix. I divide the bread mix into two lumps, wrap them smoothly in plastic wrap then place them in a freezer bag. It makes great pizza or calzone dough and if thawed in the fridge but still cold it spreads easily. On a day I knew would be busy I'd take dough out of freezer the night before and with that and my pasta sauce and some cheese a fast food meal was quicker than a trip to the pizza shop.

I have also found that many many things can just be stuck in the oven. When I don't feel like cooking at all I even throw my soy burgers on the same sheet as my fries and wrap Kinnikinnick hamburger bun in foil. There are a lot of little tricks to make things easier, you'll learn them.