Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Scared To Eat!

rachbomb

By rachbomb
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

rachbomb Rookie
rachbomb
Posted

I am new to all of this (dx Celiac, gluten-free for about 2 months) and it seems like I only get a few good days before I make a mistake and feel sick for a week. I recently discovered I can't have dairy either, which complicates it all. Overall I am much better but the bad days outnumber the good days still and I just want to cry. I feel like I am so diligent and my doctor is concerned that I am continuing to lose weight but I am so scared to eat because I am clearly getting glutened somewhere and I can only figure it out about half the time. Any advice for getting through these first months?

~Rachel

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Fire Fairy Enthusiast
Fire Fairy
Posted

I am new to all of this (dx Celiac, gluten-free for about 2 months) and it seems like I only get a few good days before I make a mistake and feel sick for a week. I recently discovered I can't have dairy either, which complicates it all. Overall I am much better but the bad days outnumber the good days still and I just want to cry. I feel like I am so diligent and my doctor is concerned that I am continuing to lose weight but I am so scared to eat because I am clearly getting glutened somewhere and I can only figure it out about half the time. Any advice for getting through these first months?

~Rachel

I'm fairly new so I'll just give you a little advice. I'm sure some of the folks who have been here longer can be of more help. If you haven't already, get rid of wooden spoons and old plastic ware in your kitchen, also any scratched no-stick pans. Most folks on here recommend shopping the perimeter at the grocery store. You want to eat a lot of fresh fruit and veggies. Quinoa is a good source of protein and easy to prepare.

kwylee Apprentice
kwylee
Posted

I had that scared to eat feeling when this all started too. Don't intend to do it over again, but if I had to, I'd:

1. Choose ONE food at a time to eat, then I added one additional food at regular intervals, e.g., every other day. (Yes, sounds extreme and very boring at first, but I wasn't very hungry in the first few weeks. The food choices grow exponentially and it was the only way I could gauge what was really happening from what I ingested)

2. At first, choose from only unprocessed foods, fresh meat and produce, olive oil, etc., no gluten-free goodies until you are feeling much better, and then add those sparingly.

3. Consider that soy is a culprit for me and many

4. Keep in mind that something you've ingested or done all your life may now give you problems. Every food, every lotion, every vitamin is now suspect.

5. Drink a lot of fresh water

6. Write down everything you eat and the time, write down symptoms and the time, include when you feel good and the time

This got me through the first weeks. I made a few mistakes but had I followed what is above from the start, it would have been easier for me. Hope it helps in all or part.

Kimbalou Enthusiast
Kimbalou
Posted

It's hard in the beginning, but you will find out what foods work for your stomach and which ones don't. As for milk, try Almond Milk! I had a very easy time switching over to it...it's healthier for you too. It's in the section with all the other regular milk. They have different flavors too. Blue diamond or Silk...either one is good. Also try Muscle Milk, it's dairy free and gluten free. Tastes pretty good. There are many alternatives out there.

Another thing I do: make sandwiches out of corn tortillas. Gluten free bread is very expensive. Corn tortillas are cheap! I put ham and cheese on them, melt in microwave...add a little mayo, etc. Or tuna works too. You just have to look at eating in a different way...you will be fine...trust me!

rachbomb Rookie
rachbomb
Posted
  • Author

Thank you - this forum has been a lifesaver for me and I really appreciate your responses! While I slowly added food for the first month or so, I started adding things much more quickly lately (because I was getting bored) but I'm sure that is the problem. I have also been basically living on Glutino gluten-free crackers but now realize those might be adding to the problem as well. I guess I will have to go back to my "safe" diet (rice, beans, chicken, beef, veggies, olive oil). Should I avoid corn up front as well (I'm a big fan of corn tortilla chips)? While boring eating is no fun, it has to be better than getting glutened all the time!

Kimbalou Enthusiast
Kimbalou
Posted

Thank you - this forum has been a lifesaver for me and I really appreciate your responses! While I slowly added food for the first month or so, I started adding things much more quickly lately (because I was getting bored) but I'm sure that is the problem. I have also been basically living on Glutino gluten-free crackers but now realize those might be adding to the problem as well. I guess I will have to go back to my "safe" diet (rice, beans, chicken, beef, veggies, olive oil). Should I avoid corn up front as well (I'm a big fan of corn tortilla chips)? While boring eating is no fun, it has to be better than getting glutened all the time!

I can tolerate corn tortillas and chips just fine. Regular, whole kernel corn is sometimes an issue. Generally, corn should be ok. You can get pretty creative with corn tortillas! They are quick and easy to deal with too.

Kimbalou Enthusiast
Kimbalou
Posted

just make sure you read the label on the tortillas...some corn tortillas actually contain flour...weird huh?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


rachbomb Rookie
rachbomb
Posted
  • Author

Weird - thanks for the info on corn tortillas.

As for cleaning out my kitchen, I've been wondering how far to take it. My husband is being supportive but isn't going to go 100% gluten-free (he isn't a big fan of gluten-free chips and he loves his protein shakes). I cleaned out the pantry and gave him one shelf. We replaced the pans we use most often but I know there is more we can and maybe should do.

kwylee Apprentice
kwylee
Posted

Also on those tortilla chips, I can't eat most of them because of the demon soy!!! But FRONTERA makes tortilla chips without soybean oil and I tolerate them just fine. But keep in mind, may be the corn for you; corn gives many people problems.

rachbomb Rookie
rachbomb
Posted
  • Author

Also on those tortilla chips, I can't eat most of them because of the demon soy!!! But FRONTERA makes tortilla chips without soybean oil and I tolerate them just fine. But keep in mind, may be the corn for you; corn gives many people problems.

I didn't even think about soy being in chips - ARG, so much to learn! Maybe I will stick to no processed food until I feel good for a week and then I will try to add corn as my first new food so I get tortilla chips back - BUT only ones without soy.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,171
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    kyle68j
    Newest Member
    kyle68j
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • DAR girl
      Celiac and allergic to common subs and adds in prepared foods

      By DAR girl · Posted

      Looking for help sourcing gluten-free products that do not contain potato or corn derived ingredients. I have other autoimmune conditions (Psoriatic Arthritis and Sjogrens) so I’m looking for prepared foods as I have fatigue and cannot devote a lot of time to baking my own treats. 
    • Scott Adams
      Disregarded

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I am so sorry you're going through this. It's completely understandable to feel frustrated, stressed, and disregarded after such a long and difficult health journey. It's exhausting to constantly advocate for yourself, especially when you're dealing with so many symptoms and positive diagnoses like SIBO, while still feeling unwell. The fact that you have been diligently following the diet without relief is a clear sign that something else is going on, and your doctors should be investigating other causes or complications, not dismissing your very real suffering. 
    • Oldturdle
      Paying for my own Celiac screening at WalkInLab so a positive result doesn’t become part of my medical history

      By Oldturdle · Posted

      It is just so sad that health care in the United States has come to this.  Health insurance should be available to everyone, not just the healthy or the rich.  My heart goes out to you.  I would not hesitate to have the test and pay for it myself.  My big concern would be how you could keep the results truly private.  I am sure that ultimately, you could not.  A.I. is getting more and more pervasive, and all data is available somewhere.  I don't know if you could give a fake name, or pay for your test with cash.  I certainly would not disclose any positive results on a private insurance application.  As I understand it, for an official diagnosis, an MD needs to review your labs and make the call.  If you end up in the ER, or some other situation, just request a gluten free diet, and say it is because you feel better when you don't eat gluten.      Hang in there, though.  Medicare is not that far away for you, and it will remove a lot of stress from your health care concerns.  You will even be able to "come out of the closet" about being Celiac!
    • plumbago
      Paying for my own Celiac screening at WalkInLab so a positive result doesn’t become part of my medical history

      By plumbago · Posted

      Yes, I've posted a few times about two companies: Request a Test and Ulta Labs. Also, pretty much we can all request any test we want (with the possible exception of the N protein Covid test and I'm sure a couple of others) with Lab Corp (or Pixel by Lab Corp) and Quest. I much prefer Lab Corp for their professionalism, ease of service and having it together administratively, at least in DC. And just so you know, Request a Test uses Lab Corp and Quest anyway, while Ulta Labs uses only Quest. Ulta Labs is cheaper than Request a Test, but I am tired of dealing with Quest, so I don't use them so much.
    • Scott Adams
      Does Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov site have filters for gluten?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      PS - I think you meant this site, but I don't believe it has been updated in years: http://glutenfreedrugs.com/ so it is best to use: You can search this site for prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
×
×
  • Create New...