Today Was Wierddd

[leevis96]

Today i learned theres a pretty good chance of me having celiac disease. It was sort of comforting knowing why i cant gain wait and grow even though my growth hormone is fine. But the down side of course is the new diet of which i still dont understand. Im suppose to start my gluten free diet on monday and it will be a big change seeing that im use to eating anything and everything. If you any suggestions or comments i would really appericate it. Also is there a difference with Sprues disease and celiac.

[darlindeb25]

I probably am not a good person to ask how to get started, because I feel I probably did it wrong. I was used to not eating 3 meals daily, so I just continued that. I had always had toast and peanut butter for breakfast, so I just changed that to ricecakes and peanut butter, I only use Skippy Naturals now. Fo my lunch/supper, I usually had cottage cheese and a fruit or veggie. I was very satisified and felt so much better. I had been so sick, for so long and had had diarrhea nearly every day for so long, that just this change made my life so much better, I was thrilled. Eventually, I added chciken breast, burgers, pork chops, tinkiyada noodles, potatoes, rice--all these things back into my diet--but I started simple, letting my tummy get used to the change.

I do believe you should start simple. Starting out with processes gluten free foods seems harsh to me. Some of them are so heavy and they took my tummy time to get used too. So try to stay simple--potatoes and meat, rice and meat, etc. ALWAYS read labels.

I also recommend you go to your local library and try to find the book, "Gluten Free for Dummies." It is an excellent read for celiacs and has great guidelines to follow. The "Gluten Free Bible" is another good book.

Good luck!

[Lisa]

Sprue and Celiac Disease are one in the same.

[ravenwoodglass]

Hello and welcome, you have come to a great place for info and also for support. I am so glad that this was found early in you. My family wasn't so lucky as you can tell by my signature.

The best way to start and heal the quickest on the gluten free diet is to try and eat as much whole unprocessed food as you can. Go with fresh meats, fish and chicken, veggies fresh or single ingredient frozen (meaning no sauces etc.), fruits, nuts, berries, rice and to get the reaction cleared from your system the fastest if you can drink lots of water and forgo sodas, coffee and teas it would be for the best.

Gluten can hide in a surprising number of foods that you would not suspect. There are a couple of ways to tell if a processed food is safe, the best way is to contact the company, many times if you put the product name and the word gluten in a search engine you will get a hit on the companies relevant page. Many products have a phone number on the package that can be helpful and also there may be others here you have had experience with the product.

Gluten can also be found in things like clays, paints, drywall compounds, glues, wall paper paste etc. When using stuff like that make sure you have gloves and for stuff like drywall a good mask.

You will want to make sure all your shampoos, toiletries and cosmetics are gluten free, this is very important if you have skin conditions and also to avoid accidentally glutening yourself with lotions or stuff that gets on your hands or is being rinsed out of your hair.

Also watch for CC in your kitchen and you even need to be cautious about kissing someone who has just had a gluten food or beverage. The reason you should be so careful especially at first is that celiac causes an autoimmune response when gluten is taken into the system. For some of us the amount that is needed to cause a reaction is very small, microscopic even. You won't know how sensitive you are until you have been gluten free for a bit. With your growth being an issue you do not want 3 weeks of autoimmune response to slow down any progress you may make. If you can don't take chances for a while.

Oh one final note, many think that after diagnosis the world of pizza and burgers is over. That is so not true. Many companies make very good gluten free subs for reugular baked goods. Kinnikinnick is one, Ener-G is another, Bakery on Main makes great granolas, and if you live in an area with a Wegmans they label all our safe food with a circle G.

The diagnosis can be daunting at first, it does mean some changes but they are changes that you can do. In the end it will be so worth it. Also make sure your family members at least get tested, or perhaps they could help you by making the home gluten-free. Celiac is strongly genetic and many of us are misdiagnosed, especially those who are older.

[Janeti]

Dear Ravenwoodglass,

Hello and welcome, you have come to a great place for info and also for support. I am so glad that this was found early in you. My family wasn't so lucky as you can tell by my signature.

You remind me, of me....I am just a few years younger than you, but I have been sick since I was little. Constant fevers, migraines, hashimotos, constant dental work, bleeding gums, muscle aches, ataxia etc...In April of 06, I became so sick, I thought it was the end.

My son, who is now 22, stopped breathing when he was 5 days old, from the formula. It's a long story, but he has hardly had a healthy day in his life. This past July when he developed DH, I went on the internet to show him that I truly believe he has it also. We are waiting results from enterolab.....BUT I know. He has since gone gluten free, and I don't recognize him. He is happy, and healthy for the first time. He is away at collage now, and when I talk to him I get so emotional. I just think my poor baby, I wish I knew 22 years ago, it just breaks my heart....It could have saved him so much sickness. So I know exactly how you feel, I just pray that all Drs become more aware, or even make it part of a check-up, routine blood work, something....Janet

[ravenwoodglass]

Dear Ravenwoodglass,

Hello and welcome, you have come to a great place for info and also for support. I am so glad that this was found early in you. My family wasn't so lucky as you can tell by my signature.

You remind me, of me....I am just a few years younger than you, but I have been sick since I was little. Constant fevers, migraines, hashimotos, constant dental work, bleeding gums, muscle aches, ataxia etc...In April of 06, I became so sick, I thought it was the end.

My son, who is now 22, stopped breathing when he was 5 days old, from the formula. It's a long story, but he has hardly had a healthy day in his life. This past July when he developed DH, I went on the internet to show him that I truly believe he has it also. We are waiting results from enterolab.....BUT I know. He has since gone gluten free, and I don't recognize him. He is happy, and healthy for the first time. He is away at collage now, and when I talk to him I get so emotional. I just think my poor baby, I wish I knew 22 years ago, it just breaks my heart....It could have saved him so much sickness. So I know exactly how you feel, I just pray that all Drs become more aware, or even make it part of a check-up, routine blood work, something....Janet

Hi Janet,

The not having known and having doctors not even think to test for celiac even when my DS and I both were classic cases still makes me so angry. I know what you mean about your son, I could not believe the difference in mine. A few months after he went gluten-free he came to me and said he felt happy, he had never felt that way before. I just wish doctors had listened when he and my DD were smaller. I always knew something was wrong but they thought I was depressed and and attributed their symptoms to them having inherited my depression and my sensitive stomach and my bad skin and my joint and muscle problems and so on and so on. We have so far to go in this country. At least now we know and life can begin from here.