Need Some Motivation And Inspiration!

[consciousmother]

Hi, I'm new here. I haven't had the tests yet, they are scheduled for next week, but all of my symptoms point to gluten intolerance, and possibly a wheat allergy, too. I have known for years that I was lactose intolerant and allergic to dairy.

Giving up dairy was very difficult and I admit I don't avoid it 100% (I will eat a piece of cake or something with butter on it when dining out or when at a party for example). As long as I don't go overboard and indulge in a bowl of ice cream, my symptoms (migraines, hives, stomach upset) are manageable temporarily with meds. At home, I am 100% dairy-free.

Unfortunately, my symptoms started to flare a few years ago. At first, I thought it was just that I needed to be more careful with dairy. I experimented with cutting back on soy. It wasn't until this past spring when my tummy issues started to become unmanageable that I realized something else had to be going on. We were researching celiac on my husband's behalf, but *I* was the one that had all of the symptoms!

Anyway, I have been advised to go on an elimination diet and only slowly add things back in. I know this is best for me, but it sounds like TORTURE. I have four kids, two dogs and a cat that all have special dietary needs and/or food preferences (two of my kids are vegetarian, for example). My head is splitting trying to figure out how to try to keep everyone happy and healthy given this additional restriction. And I am NOT a person with much self-control, so the idea of having food around the house that I can't eat sounds like more torture!!

I really need some kind words to help motivate me right now, and super-simple meal ideas would be pretty great too. Thanks for listening!

[pricklypear1971]

Well, it's easier than you think. It's harder than you think.

If you're the main cook, it's easier. If they are picky, well, pick your battles.

I keep a few gluten things around like a loaf of bread, tortillas, and some instant soups and pastas. I get heevy-jeevy when they come out. Like now, my son is home sick (turned out to be allergies so he's really not) and has cooked two pots of ramen. He's 9. You can imagine the mess in my kitchen. Wheat by-products everywhere.

I'll be looking for a gluten-free version, goes without saying.

So far my guys are ok eating gluten-free pasta, and my son isn't big on bread. DH gets his fix at business lunches, dinners.

At first my son rolled his eyes at the gluten thing, but after eating gluten-free cake, ice cream, etc. hes fine at home. I let him have his fixes at school, when were out...

I tried my son on almond milk (he had dairy issues as a baby) and that was a flop. It'll be bad if he's gluten intolerant and dairy intolerant.

I just cook with whole foods. It's easy to find condiment replacements, pasta replacements. Desserts are easy - use mixes don't try baking on your own in the beginning (and I was a scratch baker). Breads are available, but taste like crap - stick with crackers. I made a loaf of bread - king arthur mix - and it was decent.

Eating out is tough. Carry gluten-free energy bars with you for emergencies. I haven't mastered eating out so I don't have a lot of advice there.

All you can do is try, if you haven't been tested get the testing done before you go gluten-free (if you can stand staying on the gluten) since going gluten-free interferes with antibody bloodwork and biopsies. Won't matter for genetic testing or stool samples.

Good luck!

[pricklypear1971]

Oh yeah, find a crutch and lean on it. Mine was Hershey's kisses - they are gluten-free. Now it's Talenti gelato and I'm winding down off that. Slowly not feeling so abused by what I can't have.

[consciousmother]

Thanks for your kind words. I love the idea of having a "crutch!" In fact, a list of crutches would help. Going through this has really made me have to re-think what is "healthy" and what is "not healthy."

For example, I am accustomed to thinking of desert foods like brownies as being "unhealthy" because of the sugar and fat content. But I found a recipe on a gluten-free site for black bean brownies that have a higher nutritional content than the pb&j sandwiches on store-bought wheat bread that I made daily for my kids' lunches!

My brain feels kind of broken right now, and it is nice to know that there are others who are living with these kinds of dietary restrictions and aren't going mad because of it. In fact, all of the positive stories here about people who feel *better* is really inspirational.

[Sarah Alli]

My brain feels kind of broken right now, and it is nice to know that there are others who are living with these kinds of dietary restrictions and aren't going mad because of it.

Oh, I've gone mad all right. Not because of being gluten free though.