Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Hello All - New To The Forum & To Celiac

Marianne G

By Marianne G
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Marianne G Newbie
Marianne G
Posted

Hello all! I am new to the forum and new to celiac disease. Just diagnosed this past Thursday. My symptoms have been chronic "D" and just an uneasy feeling of nausea. I am feeling a little alone right now because I know absolutely no one that has celiac disease except me. I am trying to go gluten-free -reading, reading, reading...and feeling a bit overwhelmed. Hubby and I made our first visit to Whole Foods yesterday and it was an overwhelming experience for Kroger/Walmart shoppers! Bought a few things to try (so I wouldn't starve) with his encouragment. Have purchased and am reading The Gluten-Free Bible. Overwhelmed at the thought of how to do this and still keep on with real life too! Any help and encouragement would be appreciated.

Thanks!

:)

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

Welcome to the board. :)

The gluten-free lifestyle does seem overwhelming at first. The learning process takes time, but this is something almost all of us here have been through either for ourselves, or as part of a journey with a family member.

You will find that there are many mainstream products that you can buy and use safely. Replacements for baked goods and pasta are specialty items, but most are good.

There is a wealth of information here on this discussion board, and our sister site, celiac.com.

If you have a question, somebody here will likely know the answer.

Your life is not over, it is just beginning.

SurreyGirl Rookie
SurreyGirl
Posted

Hi from the UK!!

When I put my son (age 15) on gluten free 2.5 years ago I knew no one in person either, we did it solely to see if his neuro symptom would respond (they did) and with no celiac disease diagnosis.

Still the same now, but we know that he is is DQ1 (gluten sensitive) and I am now also gluten free to make it easier. The more I read, the more glad I am that we have gone on the diet.

One thing I realised quite quickly is that you can't replace one type of stodge with another to the same extent without potentially causing more problems (some people are rice or corn sensitive too), so we are carb- and dairy-lite too. I cried when I found gluten-free sausages in the supermarket!

Now, I mostly cook from scratch to avoid MSG and other chemicals.

This forum is truly awesome, also "The Gluten File" has loads to read.

SG

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

Welcome Marianne,

Welcome and wer're glad that you have found us. This is a great place to get your feet wet! :)

missy'smom Collaborator
missy'smom
Posted

Welcome! :)

imsohungry Collaborator
imsohungry
Posted

Hi and Welcome! :)

I know exactly what you are talking about when you first experience Whole Foods or a large farmers market. I had never seen anything like it, but I had a blast sorting through all of their products. (I'm usually a Kroger girl too). ;)

I ate Amy's enchiladas for the first month I was gluten free; they are very good, but around the third week, I thought I would hurl. Hence my name: Imsohungry. I found this site and it helped SOOO much.

My hubby is making hamburgers now (bunless of course) and we'll have french fries and baked beans.

I don't really like meat, but it is a good example of a gluten free dinner!

Again, welcome...ask any questions you need too and vent when necessary. It does get easier! B)

-Julie

happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted

Hi Marianne,

Welcome to the board! Ask questions-I guarantee you'll get an answer for a recipe, ingredient, etc.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


dksart Apprentice
dksart
Posted

Hi,

I am just learning, too that we are not alone. I have been gluten-free for two years and still don't know anyone else w/Celiac.

This is my favorite blogspot for encouraging stories and awesome recipes Open Original Shared Link the author, Shauna James Ahern has a great go-to book as well. Use the internet. Ask manufacturers if their products contain gluten. Look up ingredients of your favorite foods and find local restaurants with Gluten-free menus. P.F. Chang's is one of my fave's.

I learned today that if you are having a bad day...... and you will ........ the lovely people here can help with great tips and suggestions. If you need answers to questions, you may find them here.

Oh, just to save you a bunch of headaches, Tinkyada is the best Gluten-free pasta. You will HATE Gluten-free bread at first, try to make your own (good recipe on that blog site I listed) Fresh fruits and veggies are your friend. Try to stay away from processed foods, there's more chances it came into contact with some form of gluten. And, if you must have fast food, we can eat McDonald's french fries, Wendy's baked potato and chili, and Chick fil A's grilled chicken and waffle fries.

Be Strong,

Debbie

blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted

Hi and Welcome to the board! I am a neighbor from PA! We don't have Kroger or a Whole Foods, so a trip to Whole Foods (Baltimore) is a treat. I am not sure if you bought them but the Biscuits by Whole Foods gluten free bakehouse are to die for!

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted
My hubby is making hamburgers now (bunless of course).
Try the Glutino hamburger buns. They are awesome. Toast them for best enjoyment. We love them.
blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted
Try the Glutino hamburger buns. They are awesome. Toast them for best enjoyment. We love them.

Good to know, I will have to look into those :)

silk Contributor
silk
Posted

Welcome. You are definitely not alone. And I had actually never ever heard of celiac before my doctor started to put 2 and 2 together in November and mentioned that this might be a cause of the GI issues I was having. However, since that time I or my husband have discovered many 'closet celiacs'. I guess we just don't talk much about it to the general public because people look at you like you're an alien or that you at least ingested one!

It is hard to wrap your brain around this stuff and realize that this is forever...not just until you feel better. But I honestly have to say that I feel healthier right now (aside from the stomach issues that ocassionally persist) than I have in my whole life.

Psawyer is right. The Glutino buns are good. And the bread is definitely better toasted. I did that for the first time in my oven this weekend because I didn't have a dedicated toaster. It was so good, that I went out and bought a personal toaster.

You will get a lot of good information from this board. But the best thing you will get, in my personal opinion, is support and understanding. Hang in there. It's a challenge but it's worth it.

Worriedwife Apprentice
Worriedwife
Posted

If you're a Walmart shopper, then you should be okay. Their Great Value line of products has an enormous amount if items that are gluten free. They print it clearly on the back label, if it's gluten free.

Also, most unprocessed foods are naturally gluten free. Rice and potatoes are safe to have (unless you can't handle nightshades), and fresh fruits and veggies are safe as well.

Best of luck in your shopping trips and welcome to the board!

imsohungry Collaborator
imsohungry
Posted
Try the Glutino hamburger buns. They are awesome. Toast them for best enjoyment. We love them.

Thanks for the tip! I tried another company's hamburger bun...it's been awhile so I have no idea which brand...but it was horrible and I decided if I was going to eat meat, I'd just eat it bunless.

I've never ordered Glutino products; this will be a whole new line of food to try! :)

Thanks for the suggestion. B) -Julie

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,680
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    ashley94261
    Newest Member
    ashley94261
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Rejoicephd
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Rejoicephd · Posted

      That and my nutritionist also said that drinking cider is one of the worst drink choices for me, given that I have candida overgrowth.  She said the combination of the alcohol and sugar would be very likely to worsen my candida problem.  She suggested that if I drink, I go for clear vodka, either neat or with a splash of cranberry.   So in summary, I am giving ciders a rest.  Whether it's a gluten risk or sugars and yeast overgrowth, its just not worth it.
    • Inkie
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Inkie · Posted

      Thank you for the information ill will definitely bring it into practice .
    • Scott Adams
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      While plain, pure tea leaves (black, green, or white) are naturally gluten-free, the issue often lies not with the tea itself but with other ingredients or processing. Many flavored teas use barley malt or other gluten-containing grains as a flavoring agent, which would be clearly listed on the ingredient label. Cross-contamination is another possibility, either in the facility where the tea is processed or, surprisingly, from the tea bag material itself—some tea bags are sealed with a wheat-based glue. Furthermore, it's important to consider that your reaction could be to other substances in tea, such as high levels of tannins, which can be hard on the stomach, or to natural histamines or other compounds that can cause a non-celiac immune response. The best way to investigate is to carefully read labels for hidden ingredients, try switching to a certified gluten-free tea brand that uses whole leaf or pyramid-style bags, and see if the reaction persists.
    • Scott Adams
      Inconclusive results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is a challenging and confusing situation. The combination of a positive EMA—which is a highly specific marker rarely yielding false positives—alongside strongly elevated TTG on two separate occasions, years apart, is profoundly suggestive of celiac disease, even in the absence of biopsy damage. This pattern strongly aligns with what is known as "potential celiac disease," where the immune system is clearly activated, but intestinal damage has not yet become visible under the microscope. Your concern about the long-term risk of continued gluten consumption is valid, especially given your family's experience with the consequences of delayed diagnosis. Since your daughter is now at an age where her buy-in is essential for a gluten-free lifestyle, obtaining a definitive answer is crucial for her long-term adherence and health. Given that she is asymptomatic yet serologically positive, a third biopsy now, after a proper 12-week challenge, offers the best chance to capture any microscopic damage that may have developed, providing the concrete evidence needed to justify the dietary change. This isn't about wanting her to have celiac; it's about wanting to prevent the insidious damage that can occur while waiting for symptoms to appear, and ultimately giving her the unambiguous "why" she needs to accept and commit to the necessary treatment. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
    • Scott Adams
      Medication

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Welcome to the community! Generally, for a gluten challenge before celiac disease blood tests, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is considered safe and should not interfere with your antibody results. The medications you typically need to avoid are those like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) that can cause intestinal irritation, which could potentially complicate the interpretation of an endoscopy if you were to have one. However, it is absolutely crucial that you confirm this with either your gastroenterologist or your surgeon before your procedure. They know the specifics of your case and can give you the definitive green light, ensuring your surgery is comfortable and your celiac testing remains accurate. Best of luck with your surgery tomorrow
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.