Gluten-free Diet, New And Feeling Hopeless

[livelifelarge24]

I have recently been put on the gluten free diet [as well as dairy free] and I'm still trying to get the hang of it. I'm not eating perfectly but I've had a miserable time so far - lots of stomach cramping and even some diarrhea the last few days. I'm feeling so discouraged because these are they symptoms I was trying to get rid of in the first place!

What I'm wondering are if some of the ingredients in the gluten-free foods that I'm eating are going to cause some of this stomach discomfort? I've eaten a lot of the gluten free crackers, cookies, and breads to replace their counterparts that I love so much and probably haven't focused enough on actual meals. Has anyone had a similar experience when changing their diet over or am I alone here????

[mushroom]

What I'm wondering are if some of the ingredients in the gluten-free foods that I'm eating are going to cause some of this stomach discomfort? I've eaten a lot of the gluten free crackers, cookies, and breads to replace their counterparts that I love so much and probably haven't focused enough on actual meals. Has anyone had a similar experience when changing their diet over or am I alone here????

Many of us discover other sensitivities after we discontinue gluten. For me it was the soy that so many processed foods seem to contain to make up for the lack of gluten--cookies, crackers, breads. It is best at first to avoid these products, I found out, and eat very simply with plain unprocessed foods to give yourself a chance to heal. Then you can add back in some substitute grains, but slowly, so that you know what you are reacting to, if you are. But initially there is no need to substitute for gluten--just concentrate on a pure diet of chicken, fish, veggies, fruits, meat, rice, nuts and seeds. If that doesn't help, cut out the nuts and seeds. It is all a process of seeing what works for you. Add things back in one at a time so you can follow your reactions. Keep a food diary so you can track what is happening. If something seems to affect you, cut it out.

Good luck and I hope you are feeling better soon. Let us know how you are doing.

[cat3883]

Mushroom said it perfectly.

[dilettantesteph]

I felt the same way. In the beginning you get more sensitive to gluten too, so when you mess up, you really pay. Sometimes it seems like it would be better to go back to a gluten containing diet. The hopelessness also comes from the effects of gluten. Stick it out and once you figure it all out, and you heal, things are so much better.