Sensitive Stomach Starting Out...

[frostine]

Hi everyone, I've recently gone gluten-free and though it's been a challenge I already feel better!

For years I've thought something was up with my thyroid, had problems with fluctuating weight and migraines, and more recently my stomach has gone CRAZY: exploding to 3 times it normal size, weird hiccups every time I eat, feeling hungry and unsatisfied after eating. I had tried the diet once before, but neglected to cut out my favorite Wasabi soy-sauce almonds, which surprise! had wheat dusted all over them. Once I found there was a link between Hashimoto's and gluten problems I knew I had to try again, and I've been much more successful this time! (No thanks to my doctors ;p)

So my main question is, what foods should I avoid while my stomach is healing?

I've only been gluten-free for a couple weeks and I've had small reactions to seemingly random foods (though for some it could've been cross-contamination) -- sushi, apple juice, ice cream. Tonight I had a bun-less hamburger with sweet corn and got a bit bloated and hiccup-y. I know certain foods are worse than others, so what should I avoid specifically?

Also, can you become more sensitive to gluten the less you eat it? I've only recently started to experience stomach pain.

I'm just happy that something is finally working for me health-wise! All the pieces are starting to come together -- like why Starbucks Frappicuinos only made me sick sometimes, why the Naked Juice "Green Machine" was so inherently unappetizing, why my stomach was so much bigger and I felt so different after returning from Korea...

Anyways, thanks in advance for any advice you guys!

[ravenwoodglass]

One of the best ways to speed healing is to try to eat as many 'pure' unprocessed foods as you can when you first start out. Shop the outside aisles of your store in the fresh meats and produce sections and look for frozen one ingredient veggies in the frozen food aisle. It is also a good idea to avoid dairy at first, the same villi that produce the enzyme you need to digest it are the ones effected by celiac so it speeds healing and you will feel better if you eliminate that also at least for the first couple of months. You can add it back in later when you are feeling better.

You may be thinking that you are now going to be spending all your time in the kitchen. That doesn't have to be so. There are a lot of things that are quick and simple and that you can make in bulk for another meal. A rice cooker helps a great deal. Mine has a steamer basket that I can toss veggies and some fish or meat into and it cooks all by itself. A crockpot can also be helpful, especially if you work. You can get it ready to go the night before and then pull it out of the fridge and cook while you are gone. You can also cook a lot of stuff just wrapped in tinfoil and tossed in the oven while you read the paper or relax.

By eating more unprocessed foods you can avoid the CC issue and then when you are feeling better you will have had time to research which companies you can trust with CC and which you can't.

Some of us use digestive enzymes, (I take Now Super Enzymes) to help us with the digestive process. When our intestines are damaged they can fail to produce enough enzymes to digest anything properly until we heal. I started using them when I had pancreatitis last year and they helped me a great deal. I still take them with fatty foods or when I eat red meat and they do seem to help.

It does take some time to heal, until then I would simply avoid things that have seemed to bother you. A food diary can help with this. You can always add something back in at a later date and see if the problems reoccur.

[frostine]

I've been trying to avoid processed foods but it's been a bit tricky I've been too busy with work to cook much... I had a two hour commute and never any time in the morning or evening to really prepare anything for myself. Luckily though I do have an awesome rice cooker so I've been eating lots of brown rice with those "Tasty Bites" instant packaged Indian meals with lots of lentils and chickpeas YUM!

Now I'm done working for the summer though, woo! I'm moving to Cali soon but I have a couple weeks to relax and get things in order.

I hope I can find a good roommate in Cali, I've read plenty of horror stories on the forum already o_o;;

[sickchick]

You have NO idea how many chickpeas I eat since going gluten free LOL they are so yummy with brown rice crackers (the combo makes a whole protein)

I LOVE them... Lentils too. I eat lots of black beans and pintos too just to be plain CRAZY... LOL

Maybe try to eat milder foods for a few weeks...drink lots of water.

You may have other intolerances as well that you don't know about yet...

Be patient with yourself. And stay positive.

lovelove

[raen]

sushi is a huge No-no.

if it doesnt have wasabi directly if not touching it, chances are, the guy making it touched that or one of teh other MANY wheat products involved in japanese cooking. you will have to ask teh chef to take special measures before having that.

unless the beef patty was 100% pure beef, kosher organic and all that jazz, dont eat it. wheat gluten is used as a binding agent in many meats and fake meats alike. sausage and "soy patties" are the worst about that.

juicey juice is the safest bet for apple juice in a regular grocery store.

alot of celiacs cant have dairy.