How All This Works...

[snowbunnyok15]

Well, my doctor wants to send me for the blood test. The biopsy of my small intestine showed that I have a gluten intolerance. I've read that when you go gluten-free the tests will be negative. Also, a friend of my mom's said the biopsy is pretty much dead on, that there shouldn't have to be any other testing. Is this right?

Also, I was wondering what people could tell me if whey is included in all of this. I've had mixed answers from people I've talked to and read things. I think my brain is just on overload and can't process all of this information. I'm having a very very hard time with this. I'd just hired a personal trainer and seriously been losing the rest of my weight from over the years. I've lost 92 pounds mostly from the GASTLY "D" word I'm assuming. Now, they say don't eat oatmeal for a while because it could be CC, no dairy products for 3 months as it could also bother my stomach. So, yogurt is out? Is yogurt a no no as well? I've been told yes and no. As yogurt plays a part in my diet. I was eating 5-6 times a day for my workout plan. Now I find it very hard to figure out what to eat for snacks and for breakfast. Egg whites...but who can eat egg whites everyday.

I really need some suggestions, I feel so overwhelmed and I don't know the hidden gluten, etc etc. It's very frustrating.

I can say that the last couple days I haven't gone to the bathroom 9 or 10 times. My stomach isn't hurting after I eat every meal. Where as before it hurt everytime I ate and I have diarrhea all the time. So, I can tell a difference in only a couple days where that is concerned.

[happygirl]

Hi snowbunny,

Sorry that no one responded earlier.

If your biopsy showed damage consistent with Celiac, then yes, you have Celiac. The biopsy can "miss" the damage in people with Celiac...but if you "find" it, then yes, it is pretty accurate. Open Original Shared Link

Oatmeal is not safe for Celiacs, because it is often (Quaker, all the regular oatmeal) grown and processed with wheat. There are some safe brands of oats, that are grown and processed in non-contaminated fields. However, a small percentage of Celiacs still cross react to oats. You may want to wait a little while before you introduce oats. When you do, only use SAFE oats!

Dairy bothers some Celiacs until they are healed, and in other people it doesn't. The Celiac damage, until healed, can create a temporary lactose intolerance. Its a personal choice and depends on how you feel with it. If you feel fine, then enjoy

This list of food companies will help you with reading labels. They are companies that will clearly disclose any gluten ingredients and won't have any "hidden" sources. If you don't see wheat, rye, barley, barley malt, or oats, then its not in there. Open Original Shared Link

Hope this helps make life a little easier.

[Lisa16]

Whey is a dairy product and it is okay if you find you can have dairy. 50% oof celiacs cannot.

There are some brands of yogurt that are okay and some that are not. Yoplait containers say right on them "gluten free" if they are. It is in black print near the top. The last time I looked some types of Dannon had gluten. Of course, you cannot do the kind that has granola. Read the containers with care.

Basically for proteins, if you can tolerate them, you can have:

fresh meats (but no breading-- and scrutinize any condiments/ spices or anything that meats is prepared with)

seafood (ditto for breading, etc.)

tofu (but scrutinize meat substitutes) and soy products (that do not have malt flavoring)

nuts (not dry roasted, scrutinize falvored ones)

eggs

milk and most real cheese (assuming you can eat dairy.) Watch out for processed cheeses and read the blue cheese threads here (blues may not be okay). Ricotta, cottage, cream cheese and sour cream (read label)

yogurt (read label)

lentils and beans

peanut butter

lunch meats/ sausages and bacon-- but READ the label. Wheat sneaks into a surprsing number of these as "natural flavors". Stick with brands that list all gluten (like Kraft or ConAgra.)

That is really a decent list, when you think about it. Not so different that before diagnosis, really.

And of course and fruits and veggies are okay, assuming they are prepared or processed without gluten.

For the rest-- breads, pasta, crackers, cookies, waffles.... start trying the gluten-free substitutes.

Good luck! You will find a ton of info here.

[Jestgar]

The whole thing is overwhelming to start, but it does get better. I found it easier to find a few things I liked that were gluten free, then start adding on. Reading labels is frustrating to start with (_{why do they have to make the print sssssooooo small?}) and for a while you suspect everything. Hang in there.

[donnal]

Well, my doctor wants to send me for the blood test. The biopsy of my small intestine showed that I have a gluten intolerance. I've read that when you go gluten-free the tests will be negative. Also, a friend of my mom's said the biopsy is pretty much dead on, that there shouldn't have to be any other testing. Is this right?

Also, I was wondering what people could tell me if whey is included in all of this. I've had mixed answers from people I've talked to and read things. I think my brain is just on overload and can't process all of this information. I'm having a very very hard time with this. I'd just hired a personal trainer and seriously been losing the rest of my weight from over the years. I've lost 92 pounds mostly from the GASTLY "D" word I'm assuming. Now, they say don't eat oatmeal for a while because it could be CC, no dairy products for 3 months as it could also bother my stomach. So, yogurt is out? Is yogurt a no no as well? I've been told yes and no. As yogurt plays a part in my diet. I was eating 5-6 times a day for my workout plan. Now I find it very hard to figure out what to eat for snacks and for breakfast. Egg whites...but who can eat egg whites everyday.

I really need some suggestions, I feel so overwhelmed and I don't know the hidden gluten, etc etc. It's very frustrating.

I can say that the last couple days I haven't gone to the bathroom 9 or 10 times. My stomach isn't hurting after I eat every meal. Where as before it hurt everytime I ate and I have diarrhea all the time. So, I can tell a difference in only a couple days where that is concerned.

I am pretty new to this lifestyle also but found out, the "wrong way" (stomach pain, intense fatigue) that light sour cream, in order for it to have the "normal" consistency has added products, one of which is dextrin! ARGH!! Be sure to print out this list https://www.celiac.com/articles/182/1/Unsaf...ents/Page1.html as it will help you avoid thise miserable mishaps! I'm thinking it's safest to skip "healthy" (low-fat, low-sodium) stuff in favor of the "real" thing as the added ingredients increase the risk factor for us. However, along those lines, I am interested how this lifestyle affects one's cholesterol levels as most of the baked mixes require a number of eggs (avoid egg-beater type stuff as it has added ingredients!) and shortening. Anyway have a report on that aspect?