Newbie Anger

[CeliacMom2008]

And if you really want that Oreo, get a K-Too chocolate sandwich cookie. I couldn't taste the difference. You said you don't want to settle for second best. By not trying some of the many, many products out there you're missing out! Lots of the gluten-free foods are (in the opinion of myself, my son, my husband and many posters) better than gluten foods. I don't have Celiac disease (my son does), but I'll never eat one of those nasty blueberry muffins we used to think were so good. The gluten-free recipe we have is way better. No comparison. There are so, so many terrific foods. Don't be afraid to try them. We keep a pack of labels in the drawer. After we try something new we write on the label if we liked it or not, if we would try it a little differently next time, whatever. It helps to remember what we've tried. And if it's not to our liking, we pitch it and move on. You are really limiting yourself. Celiac has opened a whole new world for us. We used to eat out at the same few restaurants and order the same boring food week after week. Now my mom or I cook every night and we try new things and...well...food is exciting!! We just had Mexican lasagna last weekend. No way would I have ever tried something like that pre-Celiac. I'd have passed right over that one in the recipe book. It is GREAT! One of my favorite meals now. And Pamela's pancakes are fantastic! And we LOVE Quinoa pasta! I could go on and on. I can't wait for my lunch today - left over grilled veggie mix with that was marinated in Italian dressing. Yep, something new and something I CRAVE!! Cherry Pie Lara Bars - I'm addicted to them and I'd never even heard of them before Celiac. Did I mention I don't have Celiac and I choose to eat this way?!?!? I know it's not the same. I CAN have pizza if I want it. And I know that it is a huge thing. But I'm just pointing out that you need to try some of the great foods that are just waiting for you out there! You won't be disappointed!!

[home-based-mom]

Yep, something new and something I CRAVE!! Cherry Pie Lara Bars - I'm addicted to them and I'd never even heard of them before Celiac.

I had seen Lara Bars but always passed them by figuring they were "some weird health food thing" until my daughter bought a Lemon one, didn't care for it and gave it to me. (Never mind that it had a bite taken out of it - once a mom, always a mom! ) Anyway, it was wonderful! So I went to Trader Joe's and bought one of every flavor they had just to try them and they were all great! So I bought the big box at Costco! If it were not for this gluten intolerance thing, I never would have known how good they are!

[larry mac]

I had seen Lara Bars ... If it were not for this gluten intolerance thing, I never would have known how good they are!

I just aquired my first one, a pecan pie variety. It was very good. Took me three tries to finish it though. They're pretty heavy duty. Concentrated goodness. I will definately get more.

best regards, lm

[CeliacMom2008]

Larrymac,

You have to try other flavors! A chocoholic myself, I didn't care for the chocolate ones. Lemon is high on my list. Apple are pretty good. Key lime are very good. Cashew I didn't like at all. But cherry...oh the cherry!! They are fantastic! I actually have been limiting myself to 2 a day! In fact, I just came into the office to order more from Amazon. I'm so mad at myself that I didn't order them yesterday. I'm going to run out over the weekend! I might actually have to go pay full price at Kroger!! And my son (the one who actually has to eat gluten-free) loves the lemon.

Happy eating!

[VioletBlue]

I don't use the F word anymore. I simply don't. I take it all one day at a time.

In many ways it is an addiction I'm dealing with. I don't crave gluten products, but eating gluten is easier in American society than not eating it. It's in every convenient food choice from delivery pizza to take out burgers and tacos. We are literally bombarded daily if not hourly by temptation in billboards, commercials, radio ads, magazines and newspapers. We are constantly surrounded by ads created by people who are VERY GOOD at selling things to people. Is it any wonder we have a hard time?

So I think about this meal or the next meal or the next grocery shopping trip, but I do not think about forever. It may sound odd, but a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders when I stopped using the F word.

Yes, I think it's inevitable that you'll face moments of anger and frustration forever. You're not going to be living the "normal" "typical" American life anymore and that's bound to cause conflict every once in awhile. No matter how good you get at dealing with the challenges, there will be moments. Now days I'm working on finding a way to deal with those moments that causes me the least amount of grief. I'll let you know if I ever figure that one out

[jparsick84]

Seeing a therapist has done wonders for me. I was diagnosed a mere 2 months before I moved 1,000 miles away from the support of my family to attend graduate school - talk about your pizza temptations!!! I remember laying on the couch one day after an accidental glutenation and being unable to stop crying (gluten affects my mind by making me depressed - fun, yes?) and just wanting to die rather than have to do all this work to just feel normal.

I finally went to counseling, and it really helped a lot. Just to have someone listen to you, REALLY listen, and be able to help you is great. And yes, you have to allow yourself to mourn your old lifestyle - you can't do a lot of things you used to be able to do, but that doesn't mean you can't do new things - instead of going out with your friends for pizza on Friday nights, go out for Happy Hour and have a glass of wine.

It get easier, I promise. Take one day at a time, focus on the here and now, and don't focus on the "forever" part. I hope this helped...

[dadoffiveboys]

Myself and all five of my children (and my Mother and Father) all have to be gluten free. I found out I needed to be Casein free as well. I loved bread and pasta and milk and cheese. My favorite meal from before was spagetti with cheese on it. I guess I should have known it's not normal to eat 6 PLATES of it!!! First thing I found out - replace your foods with 'free' versions.

First bread - my wife makes Bread using a stand mixer with Pamela's bread mix. I think it tastes JUST like normal bread and is moist. She uses an extra egg and the stand mixer makes all the difference (adds more air!). If you use egg replacer you can add an 'exta egg' worth of egg replacer.

Pizza- I still have pizza... usually a black bean and veggie pizza with a delicious gluten-free/CF crust. Piled high with veggies and salsa. It's a DIFFERENT kind of pizza - but really the regular pizza piled with cheese is SO BAD for you! There are good recipies for pizza dough that is gluten-free.

Ice Cream - You can use Soy Cream.. but my wife experimented and made a WONDERFUL chocolate sorbet (YUMYUMYUM) and it tastes like a mix of frozen pudding and ice cream. My kids LOVE it too and it's CHEAP to make (even better). Uses only Cocoa and sugar for the main ingredients so there isn't a risk for cross-contamination from dairy. It's all allergen free even.

To get over the 'never going to have these foods again' you must find substitutes to make you happy and replace what you lost (if possible). BTW - I was overweight and overate BIGTIME (probably like 6000-7000 calories a day) and now I eat normally, feel great, and realize it wasn't normal. IRonically BOTH my parents have a gluten intolerance... and my father and grandmother (dead from multiple cancers in a very painful death) had it too. My father was about to have kidney failure and it's now reversed. My grandfather on my mother's side died from diabetes, asthma and a heart attack (probably Gluten btw) and my grandmother on my mother's side from multiple painful cancers. The only one is my father's grandfather who probably doesn't have a gluten problem and.. he's still alive and feels great. Given the medical consequences and pain - I think it's a very good idea to go gluten-free and STAY gluten-free!

Think of it this way - going gluten-free limits your food choices - but it may save you from AGONY and PAIN in the future. I for one believe it is worth the sacrifice NOW to enjoy my life later!

Take Care and don't feel distressed.

[Genie75]

Sounds like you are suffering from depression, which can be a difficult thing to cope with. I too cannot eat any processed foods, even rice flour foods set me off. I am on as natural of a diet as possible. Root veggies like potatoes, yam, etc seem to go well with me, and I follow the paloe diet quite a bit. Lately I have been OK with millet. With gluten free oats it's been touch and go.

The reason I mention depression for the symptoms you have described is because I have suffered from depression and was on meds for quite a while. I am not off of meds, hoping it would improve my digestion problems, but I'm not sure there's much difference. And now that I'm off of meds for depression, I feel emotions more than when I'm on them. And I'm quite sure I re-suffered a bout of depression in the past 2 months. The list of symptoms for depression is very long. Sadness is just one of them. Depression interferes with one's normal daily life activities. I would recommend that you try to get into group therapy or counselling, as it seems that it could be more than just the diet restrictions that is causing this in you.

Best wishes

[JNBunnie1]

Seeing a therapist has done wonders for me. I was diagnosed a mere 2 months before I moved 1,000 miles away from the support of my family to attend graduate school - talk about your pizza temptations!!! I remember laying on the couch one day after an accidental glutenation and being unable to stop crying (gluten affects my mind by making me depressed - fun, yes?) and just wanting to die rather than have to do all this work to just feel normal.

I finally went to counseling, and it really helped a lot. Just to have someone listen to you, REALLY listen, and be able to help you is great. And yes, you have to allow yourself to mourn your old lifestyle - you can't do a lot of things you used to be able to do, but that doesn't mean you can't do new things - instead of going out with your friends for pizza on Friday nights, go out for Happy Hour and have a glass of wine.

It get easier, I promise. Take one day at a time, focus on the here and now, and don't focus on the "forever" part. I hope this helped...

Ok, it's official, we have to call it 'glutenation' from now on, no more being 'glutened'. It's sounds so much more impressive to have been 'glutenated'. Like the Glutenator- hopefully he won't be back!

[mandasmom]

One of the things that I have enjoyed since going gluten-free is the joy of food---real cooking of real food. While giving up fast foods and convenince junk..I have actually learned to cook alot of really cool stuff. I have certainly expanded my horizons regarding all kinds of food and Ive become a bit of a wine expert as well. I takes a bit of time to get over the anger but soon enough you will get tierd of complaining and feel empowered to do something. I regularlly entertain and always sesrve gluten-free to all my guests...new friends dont even realize that they are sharing in a restricted diet. People keep coming back---I must be doing something right!!

[Darn210]

Ok, it's official, we have to call it 'glutenation' from now on, no more being 'glutened'. It's sounds so much more impressive to have been 'glutenated'. Like the Glutenator- hopefully he won't be back!

Yes, that caught my eye, too . . . nice job jparsick, 'glutenation' is a keeper!!!

[Welda Johnson]

Hi,

Well, the anger is normal I believe, because you have had a huge loss in your life. In the beginning it hurts to see everyone eating normally, but let me tell you that after years of trying to discover what was causing my health problems, I was so grateful to finally have the answers to some of my health problems (asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, depression, tiredness, mood swings, etc.).

Enterolab.com can provide a home test that tells if other family members have Celiac, and usually some do. You have been chosen to be a pioneer! I am 63 and suffered since age 8, so you can see why I am so happy to be gluten free now. I took tiny steps to discover on my own during the 1970s which foods gave me problems (this was after scratch tests for food allergies and injections to remedy the situation for three straight years--the doctor told me at age 19 that I would most likely be bedridden at age 25 if I didn't do something--no mention of Celiac however).

All grains, all milk & dairy, egg whites & yeast have proved to be the culprits. A tough diet, eh? Well, I was still feeling depressed, so last year I dropped all meats, because grain-fed beef and chickens, along with who knows what is in meat and produce all made me wheeze with asthma.

Today I feel great. I can cry, but sometimes I have to really work to get in touch with my feelings, then the dam bursts and I feel great again. Some people that I know are on medications, but I only take a couple of asthma pills now (compared to 13 daily a couple of years ago) and use a breathing machine. We are all so different! What a journey it is to explore and discover which foods are healthy for your body and your body alone. It is a daily quest. Last week I had a bad reaction from drinking Lemonade, which I prepared myself (I don't indulge in sugar so I used Stevia, a calorie-free sweetener from Paraguay). It is surprising to think that I even know about these things, but you learn to watch and listen like crazy to others who have food intolerances.

I walked over 5 miles this morning, after sleeping 9 hours last night. That is incredible when I think about how little I used to sleep before this wonderful diet. Do I miss all those other foods? I don't, because I realize how bad I would feel if I put them into my body. Within 15 minutes I would feel lousy.

Here is one last thought: Eat fruit in the morning, only one fruit. Wait two hours before eating another fruit or wait three hours before going on to starches; eat proteins last. Don't mix fruit and starches or fruit, starches and protein. Digestion returns! If you're ever glutened, stop eating and start drinking water or herbal tea. The next morning eat pineapple, strawberries, papaya, kiwi or mangoes. I read that this digests what you ate the day before, and it is true. I've tried it (The Beverly Hills Diet by Judith Mazel I think). Best wishes. You can email me at Welda@att.net if you like. Welda

[dally099]

hi sandra, this is normal, i went gluten free last feb, and man ive been bitter, should have eaten more big macs when i had the chance, however, lately i have noticed the bitterness seems to be gone, i think im in the acceptance faze now. i dont love it but i feel better so what do you do? try all the gluten free foods, some are horrible and you will throw them out before you finish them, others are great and you wont notice a difference. if you have favorite resteraunts that you eat at, talk with the manager and cook, educate them, you will be amazed, that by making a couple of changes for you, you can continue to eat there. if they want to keep your buisness they will bend a little for you. talk with a councellor if you need to or just use the website for support, i found the poeple on here really supportive and educated about celiac's and other related conditions. good luck with your journey!

[debmidge]

Ok it's been since november 17th 2007 since my last Gluten and I am angry. I've been eating mostly whole foods, spices etc. Almost nothing processed. When I do do processed it's just not right. Haven't ventured into the flours yet, just too nervous it won't be amazing. I never settled for second best before, not going to now. So mostly whole foods for me.

I'm angery for the first time in my life. I can trace back my symptoms to celiac to 1976, cronic constipation, perferated bowel in 1979, infertility, hypothyroid, migraines, short statcher, depression (that was IVF induced I'm sure), the list goes on...point is I was never angry at any of that. Now I'm angry. And not even at the doctors for not finding it sooner. Just because it is. I'm angry just because it is Celiac.

I have to ask how do we do it forever? I want an oreo sooooo bad. And think I would kill for a meatball sub. It was one of my last meals and I should have had 2.

I can't cry. I used to cry at the drop of a hat, now nothing. Has been so for about a year or more. I have no care for anything, no feeling, no emotion, no love for anything including my husband of 22 years, my best puppy dog, my worst puppy dog, my father, I've no love anymore. I feel mostly overwhelmed, I'm losing everything important...credit cards, checks, receipts, necklaces rings, my mind, stuff. I just can't seem to grasp orgainzation and I was totally anal before, ultra organized, OCD. Now I don't care about anything. I lose keys, not a care. I lose my sense of being, not a care. I can't keep my train of thought. It's aweful. I can't remember poop. I lose time. and still not a care. has anyone else not been able to cry? I think not crying is hurting me somehow.

I digress.... so how do we do this forever?

To Sandra Only:

Feel free to be angry and depressed - every situation is different and cannot be compared with the experience of others. I will not assume to know how wounded your spirit is. Anti-depression meds might help, but they have their own set of side effects. I will not throw out some glib suggestions..... and you are probably still not aware of other foods to which you could be intolerant and might be contributing to your health issues. Other food intolerances will keep you from being able to eat the gluten free versions of food - for instance, the Kay-toos (oreo equivalent) have soy in them....and let's not even go into the area of not having the time or a kitchen set up condusive to making all your foods from scratch.

So permit yourself to be angry, on and off -- only you know when you're done being angry. My husband diagnosed 4 years ago, angry for a while but now only on and off, but it's still under the surface. He does not need therapy as that is a form of deluding people into thinking their reaction to bad stuff in life isn't normal. Bad experiences result in feeling bad. You've been through a string of bad stuff for years, it's not going to take over night to resolve all this and my personal opinion is that professional therapy is pot-shot: could speed up getting over the anger, might not. Your anger will dissipate but at the same rate you achieve acceptance: no sooner. It can't be rushed.