Introductions And Information Frustration

[RedShark92]

Hi all,

I guess I

[Rucko]

Good luck with your kitchen clean out. I found I had way more cupboard space when I got rid of all the stuff with gluten!!! I was appalled at the mountain of 'convenience foods' I had crammed in there, not to mention the big sacks of flour. There are more small packages for the different types of non-gluten grains and flours that you need for baking, but they still don't seem to take up as much room. And you'll need to get yourself a couple of gluten-free cookbooks, especially if you want to do any baking.

[mushroom]

The most important clean-out is the pantry. Find a good charity to donate things to, and then read the label on every single package in your pantry. Ditch everything with even a hint of gluten. Take everything out, scrub down the shelves and only put back in those things you know are safe. If there are to be gluten items in the house, put them on bottom shelves in the pantry and fridge so that they do not contaminate the rest of the food. Have a separate counter or cutting board for the making of gluten sandwiches and such.

When it comes to decision-making, err on the side of caution. You can still use cast iron pans, but only if you run them through the self-clean cycle of the oven and then reseason. Buy a toaster for gluten free only.. Replace wooden utensils and cutting boards, and any scratched plastic ware. I do think that personal care products should be gluten free - you can't guarantee these things are not going to find their way to your lips, eyes, whatever. Be super careful of gluteny kisses - toothbrushing is in order Also clean all your door knobs and handles and make the gluten eaters wash their hands after eating.

[SGWhiskers]

Welcome to the board! Keep posting and asking questions. Everyone is really helpful. I'll address two of your concerns.

Hygine products including makeup, soaps, shampoos, etc.: In theory, the only time these items will cause a reaction is if you ingest them. The reality is that we get a little hair in our mouth on a windy day, shampoo trickles down our faces when we rinse, blush travels through the day off our cheeks onto our hands and into our mouths, hand lotion is transferred to the food we eat, and lipstick is just plain licked and swallowed. There are a few of us who still use gluten containing hygine items, but the majority of us have found we feel better or safer by switching to gluten free options. If you ask, people will give recommendations of brands from drugstore to department store.

Conflicting information: Yup, we've got it. Some is from old information, some is from lack of research, and some is from varied personal experiences. My advice is always to start out stricter than you think you need to be. It will help you heal and you can always add back questionable items after 3+ months of learning your new body. I wish I had taken my own advice in the beginning. I just had to do it the hard way and my recovery continued to suffer until I got super strict.

May I also compliment you and your family for listening to each other when the possibility of Celiac was introduced. So many families are stubborn about testing and it is refreshing to see you guys supporting each other.