Some Help Please

[BamBam]

I'm in a rutt right now, I need some help with meals. I am not eating well right now and am having lots of bathroom problems again, I'm either too regular or no movement at all. The fiber supplements are too much for my system. Could you help me out by giving me some basic meal ideas that are not too hard on the system?

BamBam

[higgins]

I would be tempted to disregard the self-diagnosis, and get it done for real. Even the professionals don't get it right half the time. It still took 3 GP's and 1 Specialist roughly 7 years to diagnose my condition correctly. This is too serious a condition to mess with, or to leave in the hands of an amateur - you. There could be associated cancers, and other complications, sensitivities, etc. Don't guess with this stuff; it's too complicated and too risky. Also, the more-progressed the condition at the time of diagnosis, the more serious and prolonged are the effects of gluten on the system. Mine is such that I have to be scoped "up and down" every three months looking for cancers; it aint pretty. Check it out by a pro.

One issue I overlook often is the financial cost to many of you on this forum. Being Canadian, I just walk into the hospital, get it done and walk out...no cost. Unfortunately, folks in the U.S. get stung with a lot of the costs, and I have noticed that the associated expense can deter someone from obtaining a definitive diagnosis. That is really unfortunate, as this condition is so insidious it should never be tolerated any longer than necessary, and it is terrible to consider that the cost of diagnostic procedures may stand in the way of peoples' health.

We eat very simply around here..."meat and potatoes" but NO spices, sauces, preparations, unless carefully checked with the manufacturers (or with others on this forum) Consult the lists and talk with people; it is a monumental task, but we all go through it. That is another reason why I suggest getting a real diagnosis: why make all the necessary sacrifices if you don't have to, and a real examination will resolve the matter. Good luck.

[ianm]

Another thing people in The Great White North don't realize is that in the US a celiac diagnosis means "pre-existing condition." Insurance companies can use your official diagnosis as an excuse to deny you coverage or charge very high premiums. One of the reasons why I won't get an official diagnoses.

Try to keep your meals simple. Fruit, veggies, simply prepared meats. Buckwheat and flaxseed meal is great also. Cheese and yogurt if you can tolerate dairy. Nuts also. That is what I eat and rarely have gut problems.

[BamBam]

Thank you for your response. I've basically been gluten free for the couple of years with a few slip ups here and there. I know when I eat gluten, I feel absolutely horrible. I don't want to eat gluten for 3-6 months in order to get a positive test. There are several of us here that are self diagnosed. Every now and then I get to feeling sorry for myself and this is where I go, to bug you guys, some of you are probably sick of my "whining."

In the past I've had several colonoscopies and other scopes from top to bottom. They have never found anything wrong with me. I took the "gluten challenge" and found that my body does better without gluten.

If I eat gluten I get horrible abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, constipation, my anxieties sky rocket and my depression is worse than usual.

You are lucky to live in Canada and be able to have these tests done as needed.

[nettiebeads]

[if I eat gluten I get horrible abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, constipation, my anxieties sky rocket and my depression is worse than usual.

The emotional reactions you are having makes me suspect Celiac. My depression is horrible when I've accidentally ingested gluten, even though I'm on zoloft for life (disthymia). Have you played with the gluten-free flours? Potato flour is heavy and dry, rice is grainy, soy makes a very light baked item. Last night I got ambitious and made zucchini muffins (tasted great, texture off), oven fried chicken nuggets, and zucchini fritters. All gluten-free! Gorged myself. I make chicken alfredo using store bought cheese sauce (I think Ragu - it's gluten-free) with pre-cooked chicken and serve it over spaghetti squash. I've used the gluten-free pantry pizza mix. Passible, I just load it with everything so you don't notice the crust as much. Lots of veggies -I love potatoes - OreIda makes a steak fry without seasoning. Then my husband seasons them and oven bakes them - just like seasoned steak fries w/o gluten!

Oh, and fruit - canned or fresh helps fight the constipation.

[Jnkmnky]

I don't agree that you NEED an official dx. Of course, the more celiac disease gets into the mainstream, the more people will try to benefit financially from it. Pressuring celiacs into believing they NEED to purchase something they're selling.

Anyway, while this forum is free, so is the advice and you can take it or leave it. Here are some meal ideas since that WAS your question.

Split pea soup. Make with peas, onions, carrots, salt pepper, bacon or ham chopped.

Stews/soups. Get a gluten-free broth or boullion to start it with.

Manwich sloppy joe sauce with chopped beef on a Kinnikinnick Pizza crust *my kids like it like that. Call it sloppy pizzas and make a disaster of the kitchen.

Chebe hot pockets. Fill with any combination of gluten-free ingredients regular hot pockets are filled with.

Spinach salad. Yum We have that every week.

Chicken salad with chopped grapes, apples, walnuts, salt and pepper. On a salad or on a sandwich. My husband eats this till his nearly exploding, it's so good.

Chicken salad sandwich (plain chk salad this time) on Kinnikinnick bread...but sprinkle CURRY into it. YUM. My favorite, and curry is an anti-inflammatory!

Hope these staples in my house offer you some varied taste sensations!

[BamBam]

What happened was I ate several cereal bars that contain soy flour. A member on the boards warned me that soy flour causes her horrible constipation. Well, you know, the not me game. Well, I ate these cereal bars and I was fine most of the time before them. Well, everything came to a complete stand still and I had to talk Milk of Mag last night - two doses to get things moving, and moving they are. So I am basically looking for good food items that will calm my irritated system. I like all of the salad ideas on the previous thread - some of them look yummy. Thanks for all the above ideas, I really do appreciate it.

A new recipe I found and looks good is to take two or three medium zucchini, pierce them and microwave for 3-5 minutes, when they are cool cut in half and discard the seeds, then scoop most of the pulp out. Then in a pan combine 1/2 pound burger and 1/2 pound ground sausage, onions and peppers if you desire, 1 cup spaghetti sauce and mix together. Scoop this into the empty zucchini cavaties.

Then you take 1 cup milk, 2 T gluten-free flour, 2 T margarine and cook on the stove and add whatever kind of cheese you like - about 1/2 cup to a cup, depending on what you are using. Mix the cheese into the hot mixture and then spoon over the burger mix. Bake in oven at 350 for 30 minutes.

Sounds yummy to me, and shouldn't be too hard on my system.

BAM BAM

[Matilda]

Hi Bam Bam,

I've been eating Think Organic fruit bars, cashew and something or other , which have nothing in them but fruit and nuts, breakfast and lunch if I don't have any other bright ideas. I get them at my local Fred Meyer. Dinner is mostly grilled meat or fish with marinade. Otherwise I've really enjoyed using my Wholefoods shop cook book, which isn't all gluten free, but because I haven't cooked using it before I'm not missing the gluten at all. I hope you manage to get out of your food rut. You've been doing this much longer than me, I'm sorry if this is cheeky advice.

Hi Higgins,

Your advice to everyone to get a proper diagnosis is very sensible advice but difficut to achieve. Some people can't afford all the testing, and maybe the tests are still inadequate. A lot of people here can't afford to wait the 11 years or so it takes on average to get an official diagnosis. I was sorry to read on another thread that you've had to give up your career recently. It's the fear of that kind of outcome that has made me, for one, take matters into my own hands.

Best wishes,

Matilda

[jenvan]

bambam-

stick with it girl!! here are some random ideas below. e-mail me again if you like--i have some good recipes. also--i love www.allrecipes.com you can search by category, ingredient and people write in and rate the recipes. ck them out-i'm sure you can get ideas there too.

Thai Kitchen--lots of gluten-free thai type dishes...really good. You just add the meat you want, noodles, sauce etc are included. Open Original Shared Link

Amy's makes quite a few frozen dinners and a cheese pizza that are gluten-free. Amy's also makes quite a few gluten-free canned soups that are good too. You can see their products and get their gluten-free list here. Open Original Shared Link

If you have a Trader Joe's by you-they have several gluten-free frozen stirfries and dinners. Just ck the gluten-free list on the website--east or west coast. They also have chicken sausage that is awesome!

Gluten free pantry makes some good skillet meals. Just add meat or beans. We really like the stroganoff meal. Open Original Shared Link free.com/glu/showprod.cfm...jectGroup_ID=74

Have you tried Tinkyada's gluten-free pasta yet? It is great and you can make a ton of quick meals with it.

Dinty Moore beef and chicken stew are gluten-free--just throw them in a pot to heat up.

Other quick meal ideas--tacos and taco salads are made gluten-free easy, rice and beans, lasagna, pasta dishes, stirfries, hamburger/fries (love Alexia fries-gluten-free!), rice/quinoa pilafs (there are a lot of quick/precooked rices out now), chips/salsa, we eat "breakfast for dinner" sometimes--gluten-free pancakes (Pamela's mix is our favorite) w/ meat/veggie omelettes, frozen veggies are usually gluten-free and easy to prepare as a side, baked beans--(most of Bush's are gluten-free), sandwiches with gluten-free bread and miracle whip etc, Delmix has some gluten-free taquitos as well as costco beef taquitos, Dinty Moore microwave meals, Hormel Tamales, Lundberg Rice Sensations, Perdue Short Cuts, Sam's Club beef Taquitos...

[skbird]

Cabbage soup is supposed to be really healing to the gut. Chop an onion up, sauté it in some olive oil, then add a chopped head of cabbage (get a big pot! or just use half a cabbage) and then add some salt and pepper, sauté some (just for a minute or two, to kind of mix it all around in the pan) and then add enough water to cover the cabbage, or half water and half chicken broth (I use Open Original Shared Link). Simmer for an hour or so. Also, you can shred or slice up carrots and toss them in for more flavor/nutrients, and celery as well. This makes a pretty tasty soup that can be stored and eaten for days, if needed.

Stephanie

[2old4]

bambam-

A quick and easy recipe I got from a Bette Hagman book:

Meat-stuffed Potatoes

1 lb lean ground beef

Onion salt

4 fist-sized baking potatoes

Salt & Pepper to taste

4 tablespoons marg or sour cream

1/2 to 3/4 cup grated Cheddar cheese

2 to 3 green onions, sliced thin

Brown meat in skillet, add onion salt, turn heat to low.

Wash potatoes & puncture w/knife. Microwave on high 4 to 5 min per potato

Let sit for 4 min to continue cooking.

To serve, cut X on the tops of potatoes & squeeze open. Add salt & pepper & margarine. Spoon in the ho meat sauce & sprinkle on cheese. Microwave for 30 seconds to melt cheese, top with green onions. Yummy, I also try other variations, like salsa with the meat, or Manwich sauce. You can use whatever and get a full meal easily & quickly.