I Need Advice

[nadinec]

Hi Guys

I have been gluten-free for 3 weeks and I am still daily having symptons. I no longer have D but have found that certain foods give me a fussy head, sore stomach, bloating and lots of gas.

I am also lactose intolerant and keeping away from sugar and strachy foods to allow my intestine to heal. I am 100% sure that I am gluten-free but why I am still getting what seems to be food reactions???

I am going to get allergy tested next week for other foods, but I am concerned that I am accidently ingesting gluten wihtout knowing. But how am I suppossed to know if i don't know how my body will react if I do have gluten (I have no measuring stick). I jsut don't know what is going on, I feel really out of control and I am really sick of tyring to figure this out.

Doctors don't know, dieticians are clueless - how am I suppossed to know???

I just want it all to go away.

Any thoughts?

[KaitiUSA]

Don't expect your symptoms to go away so soon. It took me 8 months to feel normal again and all that damage doesn't suddenly disappear. Give your body time here. Any improvement that soon should make you feel happy.

[rmmadden]

It's a long, slow process to heal your intestine's. I didn't start to feel better until after 5-months and I still have bad days after being gluten-free for 8-months. I hear that depending upon how much damage one has it could take up to 2-years to heal.

Some theories talk about Gluten withdrawal after going gluten-free. You might have that or other allergies....who knows? Try not to judge too much on the day-to-day prognosis at this point as it's really hard to see much improvement. Look at it from a bigger picture and you will be able to look back and see how you have improved.

Hang In There & Best Of Luck!

Cleveland Bob

[Suezboss]

Is there anyting that can be taken to hlep the sore stomach?

[swittenauer]

What happens if you have some gluten? Do you have to be 100% gluten free for a period of time before you get any better or what happens if you slip up?

[KaitiUSA]

If you have some gluten then it gives your intestines damage and takes longer to heal. When I get the smallest amount of gluten I am sick for 2 weeks. There is not much you can do during a reaction except wait it out. The time frame for feeling better after going gluten free varies. With me it took me 3 months to feel alot better and 8 months to get back to normal.

[Merika]

Sore stomach....peppermint, as in candies and tea. There was a thread here a while back on everyone's favorite form of peppermint Also, ginger tea (cut up about 3 quarter-size (as in coin) pieces and steep in hot/boiling water for 10 minutes, don't cook it).

Hth,

Merika

[perfect010]

When you are first on the diet it is hard to figure it all out. You need to pay attention to what your body is telling you. 3 weeks is not very long but you are on yourway. You are new to the diet and it is very likely that you are eating something you shouldn't be. Read and educate yourself as much as possible. Go to celiac.com for starters, this site will give you ample info. Make sure you drink a LOT of water, this is great for flushing and replenishing your intestines to help them heal. Look for a product called colostrum, this is usually found in health food stores or on line. colostrum is what is found in a mother's breast milk and it is very good for replenishing and helping heal the intestines. It helps the lining be healthy and work properly. Read about colostrum and determine for yourself, but all I can say is it helped my son, and myself both. Even though we have been gluten free for three years we still use this as a supplement to keep our intestines in good shape. I can't stress enough about drinking water, there is a book called "Your bodies many cries for water" it is excellent and so true. Also since you are just starting this diet, make sure you have rid your home of anything with gluten, to prevent contamination, and try eating meat, vegetables, fruit, rice, and potatoes. Nothing pre made get fresh and cook it yourself. Be patient you will start feeling better. It just kind of hits you one day "hey I am feeling ok"! A big thing right now is to stay away from foods that are real fatty and also milk porducts. These can irritate the bowel when it is trying to heal. Having food allergy testing might not actually give you a true picture at this point. your body sure is going through a lot right now. Try process of elimination--Also don't eat the same foods several times in a row. Mix up your menu. Like you may have eggs for breakfast, tuna for lunch and chicken for dinner, then the next day have gluten free toast for breakfast (make sure only gluten-free products have been used in your toaster, your should have bought a new toaster when you were diagnosed) fresh fruit or salad for lunch and pork chops for dinner, ect. You don't want chicken salad for lunch, chicken for dinner and then leftover chicken for lunch the next day. Mix things up and it will make it easier for you to eliminate if something is bothering you and it gives your body a chance to tell you the problem. Don't look for the change to be immediate, your body has to overcome the years of abuse and it has to adjust to the newness of what is good for it. It will be working hard to heal and replenish and that will take a lot out of you at first, but you will become stronger, more alert, with more energy. Vitamins are a great help also, bu make sure they are all natural and not man made, look on the interent if you don't have a health food store. Let us know how you make out or if you have any more questions.

[nadinec]

When you are first on the diet it is hard to figure it all out. You need to pay attention to what your body is telling you. 3 weeks is not very long but you are on yourway. You are new to the diet and it is very likely that you are eating something you shouldn't be. Read and educate yourself as much as possible. Go to celiac.com for starters, this site will give you ample info. Make sure you drink a LOT of water, this is great for flushing and replenishing your intestines to help them heal. Look for a product called colostrum, this is usually found in health food stores or on line. colostrum is what is found in a mother's breast milk and it is very good for replenishing and helping heal the intestines. It helps the lining be healthy and work properly. Read about colostrum and determine for yourself, but all I can say is it helped my son, and myself both. Even though we have been gluten free for three years we still use this as a supplement to keep our intestines in good shape. I can't stress enough about drinking water, there is a book called "Your bodies many cries for water" it is excellent and so true. Also since you are just starting this diet, make sure you have rid your home of anything with gluten, to prevent contamination, and try eating meat, vegetables, fruit, rice, and potatoes. Nothing pre made get fresh and cook it yourself. Be patient you will start feeling better. It just kind of hits you one day "hey I am feeling ok"! A big thing right now is to stay away from foods that are real fatty and also milk porducts. These can irritate the bowel when it is trying to heal. Having food allergy testing might not actually give you a true picture at this point. your body sure is going through a lot right now. Try process of elimination--Also don't eat the same foods several times in a row. Mix up your menu. Like you may have eggs for breakfast, tuna for lunch and chicken for dinner, then the next day have gluten free toast for breakfast (make sure only gluten-free products have been used in your toaster, your should have bought a new toaster when you were diagnosed) fresh fruit or salad for lunch and pork chops for dinner, ect. You don't want chicken salad for lunch, chicken for dinner and then leftover chicken for lunch the next day. Mix things up and it will make it easier for you to eliminate if something is bothering you and it gives your body a chance to tell you the problem. Don't look for the change to be immediate, your body has to overcome the years of abuse and it has to adjust to the newness of what is good for it. It will be working hard to heal and replenish and that will take a lot out of you at first, but you will become stronger, more alert, with more energy. Vitamins are a great help also, bu make sure they are all natural and not man made, look on the interent if you don't have a health food store. Let us know how you make out or if you have any more questions.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[nadinec]

HI Guys

Thanks for all your replies. I know that I need to be more patient - it is just so frustrating (as you all know). I have had D all weekend so now am really thrown, but I guess I just need to strip my foods back and keep to the basics for a while.

It is really hard to beleive that this is now my life...

This site is great and I will keep asking questions along theway.

Thanks

Nadine