Just Diagnosed Yesterday

[LReynolds]

Hi everyone! My name is Lindsay and I am 25. I was officially diagnosed with celiac yesterday after blood testing. For the past several months I have been sick - flu like symptoms, headaches, and most recently, itchy skin and hives. My doctor referred me to an allergist at a local university hospital, who immediately suspected celiac.

I have been immersingove learning about food myself in celiac and gluten free research since then. Thankfully as a culinary arts major, I have somewhat of a leg up on food knowledge. My husband has been great at helping me decipher labels, and we had an adventure making gluten free hamburger buns today. Not so great!

I just wanted to introduce myself and am already learning some great tips from all of you! See you around!

[catsmeow]

Welcome to the board. You sure are taking your diagnoses well. I can't believe you attempted hamburger bun making on day 2, I guess that's because you are in Culinary Arts. On my 2nd day, I tried some gluten-free bread that tasted like a dry sponge. I was totally lost and bewildered. You are really taking this well. However, if you start not taking it well, we are here for you. Most of us went from diagnoses elation to the several steps of mourning (the loss of gluten) then finally acceptance. We all still have bad days even after acceptance though. Welcome to the board, and congrats for jumping in with both feet and trying!

Some of my favorite gluten-free foods

1. Udi's bread

2. Tinkyada pastas

3. gluten-free bisquick

4. Udi's frozen bluebery muffins

5. Van's frozen gluten-free waffles

6. Lara bars

[luvs2eat]

Welcome Lindsay! This is an awesome place to ask any question and find any answer. Many of the peeps here have been dealing w/ celiac for many years and seem to have seen and done it all!

If it's any consolation, my daughter's doctor told her she was actually lucky to be diagnosed at 25... I said, isn't that like saying it's good luck if it rains on your wedding day? What are you gonna say? Sucks to be you?? Anyhow, when she said that to him he told her that being diagnosed at a younger age will help her avoid lots of health problems later in life, like osteoporosis and stuff like that.

Anyhow... welcome! Maybe your culinary arts training will benefit US when you post awesome recipes!

[Bubba's Mom]

Hello..and welcome! Many of us have made a doorstop or two in our efforts at making good bread. Don't get discouraged by your HB buns. Keep notes about your baking results. It helps to fine tune things.

[mamaw]

Hello & welcome

Down the road we all may someday be enjoying an artistic gluten-free dessert made by you....The gluten-free bakery business is thriving....

[Debbie48]

Hi everyone! My name is Lindsay and I am 25. I was officially diagnosed with celiac yesterday after blood testing. For the past several months I have been sick - flu like symptoms, headaches, and most recently, itchy skin and hives. My doctor referred me to an allergist at a local university hospital, who immediately suspected celiac.

I have been immersingove learning about food myself in celiac and gluten free research since then. Thankfully as a culinary arts major, I have somewhat of a leg up on food knowledge. My husband has been great at helping me decipher labels, and we had an adventure making gluten free hamburger buns today. Not so great!

I just wanted to introduce myself and am already learning some great tips from all of you! See you around!

If you don't mind my asking, which part of your blood tests came back positive for celiac? Do you happen to know?

Both my son and I had the celiac blood panel done last week and we both showed abnormally high in only Gliadin Antibody, IGA. Normal range was given 0-15 and I had 24 while my son's was 36.

Anyone happen to know if it makes a difference how high the number is?

I actually had the endo 3 months ago before the possibility of celiac disease was discussed. Biopsy didn't show any abormality in the small intestine, but stomach showed inflammation.

Have you had an endo with biopsy yet?

Your positive attitude is very refreshing! And how wonderful that you can cook!

[CreativeKat]

Hi Lindsay!

That's SO wonderful that you're already making Gluten free food and welcome to the forum!

~Cheers

[ChristineWas]

Welcome to the board. You sure are taking your diagnoses well. I can't believe you attempted hamburger bun making on day 2, I guess that's because you are in Culinary Arts. On my 2nd day, I tried some gluten-free bread that tasted like a dry sponge. I was totally lost and bewildered. You are really taking this well. However, if you start not taking it well, we are here for you. Most of us went from diagnoses elation to the several steps of mourning (the loss of gluten) then finally acceptance. We all still have bad days even after acceptance though. Welcome to the board, and congrats for jumping in with both feet and trying!

Some of my favorite gluten-free foods

1. Udi's bread

2. Tinkyada pastas

3. gluten-free bisquick

4. Udi's frozen bluebery muffins

5. Van's frozen gluten-free waffles

6. Lara bars

Thanks for your comments and for sharing your favorites! It was really encouraging to me. I am expecting my official diagnosis on Wednesday. After the blood tests (and with my dad's recent diagnosis), we will be VERY shocked if the EGD does not confirm. However, I am already beginning to move from elation (and mine was pretty extreme... after more than a year of suffering with many tests and no answers) to mourning. Going gluten free right in the middle of the holiday season (and pot-luck parties) is rough!

[sa1937]

Thanks for your comments and for sharing your favorites! It was really encouraging to me. I am expecting my official diagnosis on Wednesday. After the blood tests (and with my dad's recent diagnosis), we will be VERY shocked if the EGD does not confirm. However, I am already beginning to move from elation (and mine was pretty extreme... after more than a year of suffering with many tests and no answers) to mourning. Going gluten free right in the middle of the holiday season (and pot-luck parties) is rough!

Welcome, Christine! Unless you're really ill, I think I might be tempted to wait until after the holidays to go gluten-free. But that's just me. Personally I went gluten-free the day of my endoscopy and couldn't wait to feel better. You could then take this opportunity to get familiar with the diet...it's not that difficult if you stick to whole foods and skip a lot of the processed stuff, some of which isn't all that good.

If your blood tests were positive, you should go gluten-free even if the biopsies are negative as damage can be patchy.

[LReynolds]

First, thank all of you for your warm welcome and helpful tips! They are much appreciated!

My positive attitude is sort of so-so at the moment. Today was a long day, coupled with trying to safely navigate around a Mexican restaurant with my in-laws, and servers that didn't speak English. Hopefully I will have no reactions later.

My "hamburger buns" turned out kind of tasty, but the texture was way, way off. My husband thought they were cookies :-) Oh well, hopefully with time I will learn.

I am so overwhelmed with all of the information out there, mostly regarding restaurant practices and cross contamination. Like most of you, so far I feel safest in my home, but am nervously reading the backs of all our products, hoping not to make a mistake.

[catsmeow]

Udi's hamburger buns are really good, so is their hotdog buns. They might work for you for now, until you get baking your own down good.