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And Now I'm Coping...


LabyrinthRunner13

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LabyrinthRunner13 Rookie

I don't know what it was that changed my outlook...maybe its that I have managed to go almost an entire month without a glutening. Or maybe its that my skin has been clear long enough that my fingers almost look normal. Maybe its the worry that the gluten was causing the bleeding kidneys. Or maybe its just that all the gluten is out of my brain. ;-)

I wanted to do a follow up post, just to thank you all for your advice (and for listening to me vent).

I found some foods that are naturally gluten free, (fruit, cottage cheese, eggs, rice, fish) that are delicious, nutricious and leave my bowels alone. After my last post, I started eating crazy simple meals and feeling better and better. I wont go so far as to say that I dont miss a double-double animal style, but, the fact that I cannot have one also doesnt make me feel like jumping off a bridge, so, call it a success.

I dont know if this made any difference or not, but I switched the troops (a trio of furry feline soldiers) over to a gluten free food. Not sure what the rate of contamination from cat food was, but atleast now I am not afraid of their food.

And.... I am learning to cook again! I bought a gluten free loaf pan and made a gluten free meatloaf that tasted just as good as the original! I think the next step is to find some sort of gluten free cookbook and make with the science experiments.

So thanks again, everyone, for listening. Gluten freedom for all!!


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mushroom Proficient

Way to go, LabyrinthRunner!! There is life after gluten :)

dilettantesteph Collaborator

I dont know if this made any difference or not, but I switched the troops (a trio of furry feline soldiers) over to a gluten free food. Not sure what the rate of contamination from cat food was, but atleast now I am not afraid of their food.

That sounds like a great idea to me. The way cats climb and lick all over the place, that will be one less possible source of problems.

Good for you. You sound like you figured this stuff out a lot faster than I did.

Poppi Enthusiast

Hooray! I'm getting close to a year gluten free and while I still have my moments of self-pity I am also coping really well.

We are planning a trip to Vegas and Phoenix this summer (Vegas for fun, Phoenix for business) and I'm not panicking. Last year when I went to San Diego for business I was freaking out ahead of time, mapping out all the possible places to eat and really worrying about food. Now I will do a little recon a week or so before we leave and pack some snacks but I've learned that life doesn't have to just be about the food.

I haven't had a major glutening since early October and I think that helps a lot. I feel clear, in control, focused and healthy. And that feels amazing.

PS. If you want to start baking again my recommendation would be to pick up a well-reviewed AP gluten-free Flour blend and start with some simple cookie and muffin recipes that you already love. My favourite is Namaste Perfect Flour Blend. It makes great muffins, quick breads and cookies. And their Spice Cake mix is to die for if you follow the directions on the back to make it into gingerbread cake.

LabyrinthRunner13 Rookie

Hooray! I'm getting close to a year gluten free and while I still have my moments of self-pity I am also coping really well.

It sounds like we are on similar time frames here. I was diagnosed May 9th, 2011 so I am at the 8 month mark. Congrats on getting this stuff figured out. Its hard, but I keep finding other things to be more careful about.

mbrookes Community Regular

I've been gluten free for 4 years this week. It does get easier and easier. I still occasionally have the blues about something I can't have (most recently, a beer at my favorite bar). I have found substitutes for almost everything and at the risk of sounding too Pollyiannaish (I think Imade that word up) I eat as well as anyone I know. Plus I FEEL GOOD!!!!

sa1937 Community Regular

I've been gluten free for 4 years this week. It does get easier and easier. I still occasionally have the blues about something I can't have (most recently, a beer at my favorite bar). I have found substitutes for almost everything and at the risk of sounding too Pollyiannaish (I think Imade that word up) I eat as well as anyone I know. Plus I FEEL GOOD!!!!

I would venture a guess that we probably eat a whole lot better than most people consuming the average American diet (the sad American diet).


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IrishHeart Veteran

Good for you, Kiddo!!! :)

Life is good when we do not feel like crap every day, yes?

I think having one's brain de-glutened and the vitamin/minerals,

EFAs, amino acids, etc. leveling off does improve one's outlook.

Continued healing to you !! ---and thanks so much for telling us how well you are doing.

It is encouraging to everyone who reads these posts! :)

A gluten free lifestyle is not a "death sentence"--on the contrary, it is a chance for good health. I know---because it saved my life.

Cheers,

IH

Sarah P Rookie

I am a little envious of you. I still am not real happy about this and today I chose to eat how I wanted to, which included a piece of cake, Oi and UGH :blink: Now I feel yuck and will have to live with it for at least a week.

I even like Gluten Free food so don't know what I was thinking. I had made it 2 months gluten free and was feeling pretty good. At least I can see all the posts here and realize that I am only 4 months in, so maybe another 4 months and I will have this figured out.

love2travel Mentor

Just over nine months gluten free and I have not yet cheated and I have been glutened once to my knowledge. It became a part of every-day life for me at about four months so be encouraged - there is hope for everyone!

Sure, I still have moments where I find it difficult (wonderful food festivals in Europe, for example) but my passion about cooking and baking really makes all the difference because at home I never, ever feel deprived. Having such a supportive, helpful husband (and other family members) is crucial. I feel so safe at home that I do not think about celiac much at all because I make everything myself.

It is great that so much delicious baking can easily be made gluten free including brownies, cupcakes, cookies, cakes, pastry because those things do not need gluten as yeast breads do. So, if you ever have a craving for that type of thing it is easily remedied by making your own. Don't forget about two inches of buttercream on top! :P

What others say about it getting easier is certainly the case. Do not be too hard on yourself for those momentary lapses in judgement - just pick up and move on. Take one hour or one meal or one day at a time. Keep in mind that those five minutes of devouring gluten just is not worth it. Having goals and rewards help, too. Focusing on other things takes your mind off celiac. I think of people far worse off than I, those who would do almost anything just for a clean glass of water. That smartens me up in a hurry! When you think about it, we do not NEED gluten to live. We need nourishment but thankfully many incredibly delicious foods are naturally gluten free anyway.

Thankfully we are able to CHOOSE what goes in our mouths and choosing to eat strictly gluten free is extremely liberating. It becomes habit and then becomes incorporated into routine.

This road certainly is not easy but it is a road that is doable. And we are all here to support one another when that road becomes tough to follow, and we share when we made advances. Every baby step matters - they all add up and eventually become giant leaps! :)

IrishHeart Veteran

I am a little envious of you. I still am not real happy about this and today I chose to eat how I wanted to, which included a piece of cake, Oi and UGH :blink: Now I feel yuck and will have to live with it for at least a week.

I even like Gluten Free food so don't know what I was thinking. I had made it 2 months gluten free and was feeling pretty good. At least I can see all the posts here and realize that I am only 4 months in, so maybe another 4 months and I will have this figured out.

Many people decide to "test the waters" for some reason. Does not matter why, it's human nature. :) You "get it" now--so just get back to you "new normal"--gluten-free all the way. ;)

It's a learning process. Hope you feel better soon.

Do you want an easy recipe for a chocolatey decadent flourless cake that will make you cry it is so good?? I can give you one.

No need for gluten. EVER. :)

Take care--drink a lot of water and take some probiotics to get past your glutening.

IH

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