Newbie

[eli220]

Okay, so here is my deal. I am 31 years old and have been to numerous doctors, had a millions tests done (anemia, diabetes, thyroid, etc etc) with every doctor telling me I am okay. Here is what I know. I am not okay. I even went on anti-depressants once because a doctor convinced me I was depressed (I'm not). I am exhausted. 24 hours a day/7 days a week. I am 5'7" and weigh 115 pounds. I am active (forced) to the gym 3-4 times a week. I eat pretty healthy. The other problem I have is constant constipation. Regular for me is about once every 7-10 days. I have spoke to doctors about his issue and they say add more water. I drink tons of water. So, I read Elizabeth Hasselbeck's book the G-diet and I am hoping this is the answer. The tiredness, literally unable to get out of bed after sleeping for 10-12 hours and only wanting to go to bed an hour later has pushed me to the edge. In addition to all this, when I eat... whether its a apple or a meal, I feel SO full, bloated, sick. I have been reading a lot about diarrhea (pardon my bluntness here) but not a lot about constipation? Should I be looking elsewhere? So, I went to Whole Foods and bought 2 wks worth of fruit, veggies, meat and gluten free meals, sauces, bars, etc. and am going to give this diet a try and pray it is the answer. I am on day 3, but I am reading about all the other things other than food. I have cleared my vitamins shampoo conditioner lotion hairspray makeup. What I am wondering about is my wrinkle cream, I use Clarins which is not gluten free I have read so I am wondering what I should replace it with. I have read about the coconut oil but wonder does that really work? I don't have wrinkles intensely yet but I would like to prevent them...lol. Also, I wonder about KY jelly? I know that may seem silly but I am looking at everything I put in my or on my body. Also, what about OPI nail polish that I use when I get a manicure or my hair color from my salon? Tanning lotion? I am also wondering about Matrix Biolage shampoo/conditioner, but I did email the manufacturer earlier to find out about this because the decision seemed to be split online. I am just learning, I did realize how expensive this diet is while at Whole Foods so any help on this would also be appreciated. Is it cheaper to order online? is there a cheaper store? coupons? etc? I was also wondering about support groups, like somewhere you can go to get the basics? I read the book and found it very helpful but I still feel like I am reading another language when looking at the label ingredients. What about wine? When I order house wine..do I have to ask? I have read all wine is gluten free and also read that it is not? I really just want to feel better. I did go dairy free for 6 months thinking it may be intolerance to dairy. Nope. Thank you for reading and I look forward to your responses.

[MySuicidalTurtle]

Not every Celiac has the same symptoms. I used to have diarrhea all the time but my Mom was ALWAYS constipated. Some people do fine with gluten in their shampoo and what not. I'd go gluten-free with your nail polish and make up, though, since you are new and those could go in your mouth. I personally do it all gluten-free. The best way to find out if something is safe, is to contact the company. You may need more than 2 weeks to see improvements. As you realize, this diet takes some getting used to and you will slip up on accident. Good luck and feel free to ask more questions!

[hannahp57]

i think you are off to a good start. it will take some time to see results. i recommend talking to your doctor about getting diagnosed. my doctor never gave me a test and now i wish i had. further, some people experience improvement within days. it took a bit longer for me. i was so sick i was down close to 100 lbs and i am 5'8"...i had some of the same problems, extreme fatigue and the constipation but it alternated with the big D. some days were way worse than others. until the last few months before diagnosis. by then i had completely stopped eating.

i think what you have done so far is a good place to start. unless you have any dh you probably dont have to worry quite as much about the topical things (i could be wrong on this though so if someone wiser than me says otherwise listen to them!) but i have never changed the shampoos and things i use and i haven't ever seen a need to.

[eli220]

Thank you for your responses. I am wondering what is "dh"? Sorry I am very new to this and don't understand yet.

[MySuicidalTurtle]

DH is Dermatitis Herpetiformis and it is a skin condition associated with Celiac Disease.