New To Gluten Free

[amanda2610]

Hello to everyone here. I have been going through some of the posts and feel like I may have a mild version of Celiac Disease. I have had digestion problems for a long time and had poor health in general for most of my life. I have outdoor allergies and a dairy allergy that used to only bother me once in a while but now has gotten pretty bad. I tried lactose free milk and soy milk and both of those were better but didn't completely take care of those symptoms. I recently met a couple who both had a gluten free diet, they didn't say they had celiac disease but they were telling me a lot of things that everyone on this site is saying. So I'm wondering how do I get started on a gluten free diet with out buring out and quitting. I have had weight problems, intense fatigue, I think my moods are pretty even but I don't really pay that much attention to that. When I'm having some kind of health issue it of course is up setting so I dunno, I have a lot of stress and worry but I don't think I have like depression, more like the blahs. Um what else...I have pain that comes one more like an attack, the pains are high up in the abdominal area and are the worst pain I've ever had. I had a bunch of tests a while back but nothing ever came of it the doctors told me it was my galbladder but the tests said it wasn't. I'm out of work right now and don't have any insurence so I need to go somewhere that the doctors aren't going to give me the run around. If anyone has any advice for me I just don't even know where to begin so anything you could tell me would be helpful! Thank you

[starrytrekchic]

You have a few options. You could just go ahead and try the diet to see if it works. That means no wheat, rye, or barley, and probably no oats. You'd need to check all of your spices, condiments, anything pre-made, your supplements and medications, your pet food, and your personal products, as well as thoroughly cleaning out your kitchen (and not using a few things that may be contaminated beyond cleaning ability, like toasters.) It's pretty involved, but if you stick to fresh fruits, veggies, meats, and dairy or dairy-like things you can tolerate, you should be okay. It also makes it easier to go in stages, first eliminating all the major stuff, then reading up on hidden ingredients, then reading up on cross contamination (factory and home), then reading up on the surprising things that have gluten, then other places you can get contaminated (personal stuff.)

It's pretty involved, but it wouldn't cost you any money.

You could order a genetic testing kit. That would cost money and wouldn't be a definite, but it could help steer you in the right way.

Probably the best thing, if you can afford it, is to go to your doctor and have a full celiac panel run (bloodwork.) Alternately, if you have any relatives who have similar problems and do have money/insurance, try and convince them to get tested.

You could also try and elimination diet. Take your diet down to the basics, then slowly add stuff back in, and see if you get a reaction from any of them.

[chere1020]

I agree with the other poster. Try going all fresh foods and seeing if that helps. I have lost 73lbs since going gluten free and watching what I eat. Your symptoms sound a lot like mine. You have nothing to lose if you stop eating gluten and if your stomach clears up, great! As for the pain, I had the exact same thing, they thought it was my gall bladder and thou the tests showed nothing, a surgeon removed it, came in the next day and said "I just removed the most perfect and healthy gall bladder I have ever seen, there was nothing wrong with it". And since going gluten free I have NO pain in that area at all. Gluten free is not that hard to do and if it makes you feel better, it is a wonderful thing!

[amanda2610]

Thank you both for your input. I have been hearing alot lately do not do not get your galbladder removed so I'm trying not to go that route. I think that taking out the major things is the best way to start, I'm finding a lot of information and its a little over whelming so I'm just going to start out slow