Wednesday Is The Day.. How To Start

[lob6796]

Wednesday is the biopsy. I plan to begin my gluten free diet right away, but my doctor told me to pace myself or I would get really overwhelmed. I also know I react to dairy and soy, and would like to eliminate them as well, but I am thinking "one thing at a time". Gluten is priority to me. So for all those that have BTDT, how did you go about being gluten free - and what would you do different if you had the chance? Thanks so much!! You guys have the best advice!

[sparkles]

I think that your doctor has never been on a really strict diet. For me, it was easier to just give up everything that was gluten. That way I didn't have an excuse for just "one more time". I started out eating just meat.... hamburger.... a baked potato with all the butter I wanted, and lettuce with lemon juice. I know that it sounds pretty rigid now but I started feeling better within a week... no more migraines were the really big difference right away. I had suffered since I was a teenager and I went gluten-free when I was 55. So you can imagine my pleasure when I discovered that I didn't have migraines anymore. Little by little other symptoms disappeared. I realized I could go to a public place and not have to scope out the bathroom first thing...... etc, etc! After about 6 months, I started reintroducing things as I became more confident that I could find gluten free foods. For me it was just easier to go "cold turkey" and never look back. Whatever you decide, please know that you will find support here for those times when it would just be easier to say the heck with the diet. Good luck!

[Guest j_mommy]

BEfore my biopsy I went throught EVERYTHING in my kitchen and put everything containing gluten on my table. I ate what I could in the days prior to teh biopsy and everything left was given to friends and family.

I also stocked up on some things prior to the biopsy:

Rice pasta...the spegetti kind

Flours: White and brown rice,soy,tapioca,flax meal, potato starch,almond(I cook and bake from scratch)

Chebe mixes

gluten-free all purpose flour mix

gluten-free pancake mix

Fruits

veggies

Chicken

lettuce

I would definetly atleas go dairy light if you think you're reacting to dairy. I can handle a glass of milk a day and be ok.

New toaster and get rid of any wooden spoons you have.

I use the same non-stick pans that i had prior to going gluten-free...just wash them really good. Mine did not have any scratches ect in them! New colander if the one you were using is plastic.

Good luck on Wed and I hope this helps.

[Guest j_mommy]

Also xanthan gum or guar gum. I use xanthan right now but have used both. Guar gum is alot cheaper.

if you are a cereal eater...Trix is gluten-free right now. Be sure to check the box though!

Also I like to snack on chips...I get tostitos bite size....make sure they are teh corn ones!!!!!

[Karwei5]

I think it would be best just to go completely gluten-free all at once.

We started with chicken rice, mixed veggies. We made a stir fries a lot. I just added more water to make more juices instead of using a soy sauce.

Egg salad w/ gluten free crackers and lettuce cheese meat roll ups are a staple too.

He didn't like corn tortillas very much.

good Luck.

I hope you are feeling better soon.

Karol

[blueeyedmanda]

I would just start out completely gluten free as well, it will be easier in the long run this way. I tried to do it gradually and I found myself cheating a lot in the beginning. The 2nd time I tried the diet, I did it all at once and I have not looked back since. One day I planned to do it. I had planned out meals for a few days and so when I woke up that morning I was ready to go.

[mn farm gal]

I feel cold turkey is the way to go. I went cold turkey and didn't eat anything unless I knew it was gluten free. It took a while to get the hang of things but I noticed small changes within a couple of days and things are still getting better 11 months later. Otherwise I can see where you say I will have just a bit of this today and then get on track and then the next day you can't find something to eat that is quick and you cheat again and you never start feeling better. Plus if you start cold turkey with the mindset of I will not eat it unless I know it is gluten free you live by that. Good luck.

[par18]

I think that your doctor has never been on a really strict diet. For me, it was easier to just give up everything that was gluten. That way I didn't have an excuse for just "one more time". I started out eating just meat.... hamburger.... a baked potato with all the butter I wanted, and lettuce with lemon juice. I know that it sounds pretty rigid now but I started feeling better within a week... no more migraines were the really big difference right away. I had suffered since I was a teenager and I went gluten-free when I was 55. So you can imagine my pleasure when I discovered that I didn't have migraines anymore. Little by little other symptoms disappeared. I realized I could go to a public place and not have to scope out the bathroom first thing...... etc, etc! After about 6 months, I started reintroducing things as I became more confident that I could find gluten free foods. For me it was just easier to go "cold turkey" and never look back. Whatever you decide, please know that you will find support here for those times when it would just be easier to say the heck with the diet. Good luck!

Cold turkey is exactly the method I took. I had a ham and swiss on a kiaser roll for lunch and as soon as I finished the GI called and gave me the news. That was over 2 years ago and to my knowledge I have not had any gluten since. I say that because I have had none of my previous symptoms and would like to keep it that way. I have never been tempted to see what would happen if I ate just a little bit. After I recovered (about 3 months) I never looked back and really don't miss much of anything I used to eat. I try to concentrate on other aspects of my life and enjoy the fact that I feel fine. Hope this helps.

Tom