To All The "lurkers" Out There...

[Lisa]

Every day is see 100-150ish people log on to this site as guests. I would like to welcome them to be a part of this wonderful site.

Please feel that you can come into a site and get the answers that you need. Your voice is important and your questions will be answered. It is also a safe place to fall, when the world doesn't understand.

Join us.

[blueeyedmanda]

It is a great place to feel welcome when you think no one else understands. I am thankful for this board and the great people I have met here. Some are almost in my backyard and some are across the US and some are even in Europe and other distant countries.

[CarlaB]

Yes, please join in! We'd love to hear from you.

[GeoffCJ]

  Momma Goose said:

Every day is see 100-150ish people log on to this site as guests. I would like to welcome them to be a part of this wonderful site.

Please feel that you can come into a site and get the answers that you need. Your voice is important and your questions will be answered. It is also a safe place to fall, when the world doesn't understand.

Join us.

They are probably mostly relatives and friends of JerryK, the gluten-free recruiter.

[CarlaB]

  GeoffCJ said:

They are probably mostly relatives and friends of JerryK, the gluten-free recruiter.

If that's true, they'll be in denial for at least six months before they go gluten-free!

[UR Groovy]

  GeoffCJ said:

They are probably mostly relatives and friends of JerryK, the gluten-free recruiter.

Too funny !

A lot of times, I don't sign in - I don't know if that's a problem or anything. I guess that would make me a lurker. I like lurking. It makes me feel safe.

[NoGluGirl]

  CarlaB said:

If that's true, they'll be in denial for at least six months before they go gluten-free!

Dear Carla and Geoff,

I bet you are right! Jerry's relatives are probably all out there! They are in denial. Maybe one day they will get on here and say hello! If they can stay off of the crapper long enough from eating gluten!

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl

[elye]

Oh, I can tell I've missed something great... Who is JerryK?

[JNBunnie1]

I have also not logged in and just been a lurker when I'm just reading, and a lot of times people come looking for info and they get it without having to log in.

[aquamarine-queen]

Guilty as charged!

I am a brand-newbie who, for a couple of weeks, has only "lurked", mostly because I've been so busy reading through all the boards (and gathering a LOT of information in the process) that I simply haven't had time to post anything myself. And, I almost don't know where to start!

These boards are a wonderful resource for a newly-diagnosed celiac (and those who care for and/or about them) and I certainly appreciate all of the thoughtful responses I've read as I've perused the various topics. No "cheap" answers here! Which makes me feel entirely comfortable about posing a question or joining a discussion in the future.

Thank you for the warm welcome and I'm sure I will become more active on these boards in the days and weeks to come.

-- AquaQ

[Lisa]

Welcome!

There are alot of great people here and a little nutty as well, I might add.

[zakismom]

I mostly lurk In my defense, I can usually find someone else here with the same issues I'm dealing with and I just tag along.

[dlp252]

Just want to add my welcome to the delurkers.

[blueeyedmanda]

Welcome to our new friends!!!!!

[2ofus2kids2dogs]

Hi everyone. Thanks for the invitation to post - some of us need a little nudging to get out of the shadows! I visit and read on a regular basis - mostly this forum and the baking and recipes forum. I've even posted a few times!! The information here has been so helpful to me.

I've been gluten free a little over 6 months. I've had trouble for almost 10 years. Last summer I got really, really sick - no energy, lost down to 99 lb (I'm 5'5"), was barely eating at all. I felt fine - as long as I didn't eat! Anway - saw a GI doctor, had some tests, had an upper endoscopy - the lab lost the biopsies - lots of problems with the doctor. Finally, I went back in September and the nurse practitioner - a wonderful lady - said she thought I either had celiac or gastroparesis and wanted to re-do the upper endoscopy and do a stomach emptying study. I asked her about going gluten free instead as a trial = she agreed - and here I am today - 6 months later, feeling GREAT - gaining weight - no more stmptoms!!!!

It took about 4 months to heal and really start feeling good - then the weight started to come back. I got glutened by accident several times the first few months - but that hasn't happned in a long time.

Thanks everyone for all the help - even if you didn't know you were giving it. I'm going to make an effort to post more often. I'm starting to feel confident enough to offer someone else advice!

Thanks again,

Melissa

[NoGluGirl]

Dear AquaQ, Melissa, and all Other Lurkers,

Welcome to the gluten free forum! We are so happy you joined! The more the merrier is the vibe here! It is always great to meet new people. Feel free to ask for a beginner's list! I have been gluten free since August of 2006. I just now had to go completely dairy free.

Dear Elye,

JerryK is hilarious! You will love him! He was in denial for a long time of his gluten intolerance. However, he kept getting sick. We kept telling him he had to lose the gluten to feel better.

Finally, he listened, and now he is doing better! His comments are hilarious. One thread he started was "OMG! No One Actually Eats This Stuff, Right?" It is about the horrors of gluten free breads. Another thread is "The Bro." He is talking about his twin being in denial like he was.

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl

[zkat]

I tend to lurk because no matter what question I seem to have, it has been answered on this forum. It is so wonderful to have all this knowledge right at my finger tips!

My story is sadly like a lot of people here. I was diagnosed with non-idopathic epilepsy at 19. At 22 I was diagnosed with IBS and Fibromyalgia at 25. Chronic sinusitus, ear infections, acne, enamel problem, digestive issues, hives, tingling in my hands, B and Folic acid deficiency and I completed an upper GI in 20 min. (even the radioligist was impressed), yet no one could figure it out.

I found the best Nurse Practioner in 2004 and in Nov. 2006 (age 31) said "You know, I think you have a form of wheat allergy, but the testing for it is so brutal. Take gluten out of your diet, if you feel better and then add it back and get sick again-there is your answer" I said OK and went on a 2 week business trip, where I ate terrible and was sooooooo sick. So, I went hmmm and went gluten light-not knowing any better. Christmas came and gluten lite went to gluten gorge fest and I nearly ended up in the ER, so my wonderful husband said enough is enough. I started doing my homework and went gluten free in January. The difference has been amazing. Even the cysts that I have had on my wrists since I was a teenager have gone away. I also am off anti-seizure meds.

I have since learned I do not tolerate soy at all, the effects are worse than gluten, without the mental fuzziness. My husband also does not tolerate soy and does gluten-free the majority of time, so I am very lucky in that regard. Now, if I can just get my mom to understand "It's only on the edges" is not OK.

So, it is nice to meet everyone! All of your information has stopped me from making quite a few mistakes over the past few months, so Thank you!

[Lisa]

Wow, it's great to hear another success story.

This Site has been a life-line for me for so long and every day I learn a little bit more. I stumbled here almost two years ago trying to google this strange thing that I was diognosed with.

I have learned so much from those that came before me as well as after me. The vast knowledge of so many, whether they know it or not, has helped so many people.

And another side line benefit is that I have made so many friends here and other than a few, I have never met.

It's always been a safe place to fall - someone will always pick you up.

[elye]

I think I probably lurked for a while when I first found you amazing people, but once I posted a few times, I just haven't been able to stop. Laughter is the most important thing in my life (right alongside love!), and I get so much of it here. For the newbie lurkers, just hold your breath and leap in...you'll be exhilerated and rewarded a million fold...

[NoGluGirl]

Dear zkat,

Yes, we all have had our crosses to bear! Doctors have nearly killed most of us. If it had not been for switching to a holistic physician last year, I still would be eating gluten! I was doped on every drug known to man. They just tell you it is anxiety or depression. Eventually, you come out of the medicated fog and realize that you are not crazy, you are sick! Welcome to our community!

Dear Debbie65,

I bet you were sorry you shunned this diet for so long! You probably had no idea what you were doing to your body! The good thing is, you know now! That is what is important! We are so happy you have joined us!

Dear Elye,

Laughter is terrific medicine! You know in studies, they realized that watching a comedy can boost immunity? That is not surprising, is it? A good joke can really make a bad day disappear! Thank goodness for laughter!

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl

[azul]

! I'm starting my first post with a giant grin like the one on my face when I saw the title of this thread. Thanks so much to everyone for the welcome. I've lurked a few times since being officially diagnosed as celiac a few weeks ago. I've been gluten-free for two and a half days now, since Thursday morning, and was feeling alone and a bit nervous till a few minutes ago.

So, here I go--Hi everyone!

[JNBunnie1]

  azul said:

! I'm starting my first post with a giant grin like the one on my face when I saw the title of this thread. Thanks so much to everyone for the welcome. I've lurked a few times since being officially diagnosed as celiac a few weeks ago. I've been gluten-free for two and a half days now, since Thursday morning, and was feeling alone and a bit nervous till a few minutes ago.

So, here I go--Hi everyone!

Hi Azul!

[Canadian Karen]

I would like to chime in and welcome all the new posters here! Join our family! The more the merrier!

Disclaimer: We get kinda crazy sometimes, particularly around full moons......

[jerseyangel]

Welcome to all of the new posters! I'm so glad you decided to join in

If there's anything we can do at all to help, don't hesitate to ask

[HannahHannah]

Hi everyone - I've been posting properly for a couple of days but must confess to being a bit of a former-lurker!

My main reason for joining in on the discussions was because I had a bad day, a very bad day. I'd been to a tapas restaurant, tried to discreetly ask about the menu away from my friends, and the waitresses treated me like I was on some silly fad diet. Basically felt really small and just like a big inconvenience.

I then read the '10 things I hate about Coeliac' post, and laughed and laughed! I was so happy that there are other people out there who feel the same and have the same problems

...I even confess to getting a little emotional today when I went into my local Sainsbury's (who had just had a refit), and came across an entire aisle dedicated to 'free from' foods!

Anyway, hi, I'm Hannah, 26, from London . Nice to meet you all.