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

How Do You Start gluten-free

Gutbomb

Recommended Posts

Gutbomb Rookie
Gutbomb
Posted

You just stop eating gluten right...I know. But then you have your cross contamination, people talking about make up and shampoo. It is so daunting. How did you start?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Katsby Apprentice
Katsby
Posted

I replaced my toothbrush and made sure my toothpaste was safe, checked my lotions, etc. I made sure I had at least 1 saucepan and 1 skillet to start with that were purely for gluten free. I have my own plastic spoons and my own bread/baking pans and cutting board. I never owned a toaster so I didn't have to replace that, but you may have to. Just don't let it overwhelm you.

Gutbomb Rookie
Gutbomb
Posted
  • Author

WHy do make up and lotions matterif you don't digest them?

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

Keep everything simple. Meat, seafood, potatoes, rice, fresh veggies and fruit. Stay away from processed food for a while and limit your seasonings to salt and pepper. Later, you will be able to add addition things when you learn more about what to look for in ingredients.

Scratched pots and pans should be replaced and a shared toaster won't work (gluten crumbs and such). The reason behind this is that gluten can hide everywhere and it would not be wise to risk cross contamination with your cookware. Other cookware can be cleaned well. New wooded spoons and cutting board would be a wise choice.

Some shampoos, lipsticks and lotions can contain gluten. Gluten needs to be ingested to cause a reaction, but so can lotions on your hands or face and lipstick. Some people with DH can react to topical gluten.

There is a lot to learn, but it does get easier.

purple Community Regular
purple
Posted

Don't eat out until you learn all the safe places and items you can eat, pack food/snacks, make a trip to the dollar store, wash your hands before eating every time, study...study...study, make notes, take notes to the store, look for labeled gluten-free items until you learn what the labels actually say, when in doubt-don't eat it, look at the foods you can eat rather than the foods you can't eat, freeze mini meals and entrees for emergencies, don't go for junk food b/c there is no nutrition, think of it has a healthy way to eat b/c before, you were getting sick and who knows where that road was taking your body???

Gutbomb Rookie
Gutbomb
Posted
  • Author

How soon before I know that it is working? How soon before anxiety lessens or is gone?

Beth in NC Contributor
Beth in NC
Posted

Amanda, I'm not quite two weeks into my new diet and I can already tell a difference in how I feel. I will say that the first few days after diagnosis I was a panic attack waiting to happen! My anxiety level was sky high and it wasn't because my meds weren't working. I was grieving the loss of how I loved to eat, of the easy lifestyle that was soon to get much more difficult. If you are diligent, you may see results pretty quickly. I could feel my energy level rising after only a few days, my chronic constipation no longer required massive amounts of supplements to "get going" and my pain lessened. It didn't go away, but it lessened. Some things I wasn't even aware had improved until I got glutened a week later. Areas were hurting that I didn't realize had stopped!

It's all worth it. Really, it is.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Gutbomb Rookie
Gutbomb
Posted
  • Author

So I think I am totally gluten free today. I am sure I am not but hey. Almost had a freak out on the coffee stand girl when she used a spatula to scoop the splenda foam off my Kona. Thought I couldn't go wrong with a cup of kona with 4 splenda.

Anyhoo...LOL

Beth in NC Contributor
Beth in NC
Posted

I can't remember if this was suggested or not, but keep a food diary, right down to the brand name. I'm also keeping a journal that briefly states my symptoms, or lack of them, each day as well. It will help you pinpoint problem areas.

Gutbomb Rookie
Gutbomb
Posted
  • Author
I can't remember if this was suggested or not, but keep a food diary, right down to the brand name. I'm also keeping a journal that briefly states my symptoms, or lack of them, each day as well. It will help you pinpoint problem areas.

I keep track of everything on a diet website called sparkpeople.com. It is meant to keep track of calories, fat and carbs but it works for this as well. They also have a few gluten free groups there to talk with. I can also print out my journals if I need to take them with me anywhere.

Called my doctor and I won't have the test results for like a week so I probably won't know until Monday or so. I don't know why the tech told me the next day.

frec Contributor
frec
Posted

I noticed you are from Oregon? You probably have access to Whole Foods, New Seasons, or Trader Joe's. Trader Joe's has my favorite rice bread, especially good for toast. If you are also off dairy they have the best non-dairy prices and lots of choices. They have gluten free frozen waffles and pancakes too. Whole Foods and New Seasons are wonderful but pricier.

If you are in the Portland area, Corbett's Fish House is gluten free.

Definitely carry snacks with you. I think the hardest part of being gluten free is getting hungry away from home. Finding a quick something can be difficult and fast food is pretty much impossible.

Once things settle down as far as shopping and digestion, consider taking some sort of calcium/magnesium supplement, preferably with vitamin D3. Celiacs are at high risk for osteoporosis.

I was really surprised how many things improved when I went on this diet. Some of them were problems I had no idea had been caused by gluten.

Gutbomb Rookie
Gutbomb
Posted
  • Author

I already take a buttload of vitamins. Luckily they are all gluten free. I take a good multi, vitamin d with calcium, and omega 3.

I am in Southern Oregon and have no whole foods or trader joes. We have a local place called Food 4 less and they have a huge health foods section. We also have a Fred Myers, Safeway, Albertson, Super Walmart and Winco.

Nothing new today. I am still really tired. Doctor refilled my hycosamine so I have that for emergencies. I hate taking it because it really dries me out, literally.

gfpaperdoll Rookie
gfpaperdoll
Posted

unless you have diabetes - I would ditch the splenda & use honey instead.

spenda is totally not good for anyone. When you get your diet adjusted & do not eat the things that you are intolerant to - you will lose weight. Please do not be using the artificial sweetners - I do not care what any company says etc. so, if someone wants to say that it is proven safe, go ahead. it is MY opnion that it is not.

lindajeaninsc Newbie
lindajeaninsc
Posted

Nothing new today. I am still really tired. Doctor refilled my hycosamine so I have that for emergencies. I hate taking it because it really dries me out, literally.

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,547
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    gizmo1jazz2
    Newest Member
    gizmo1jazz2
    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

    • Scott Adams
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • 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.