Frustrated

[nursenation2]

I am new here but diagnosed with celiac 2 years ago. I have had my ups and downs, rebelling the diagnosis as such. I am an RN and love research so when I first got diagnosed I went crazy with research. I have been more lax lately on asking questions and making sure when eating out its gluten-free. I have totally paid the price. I am currently a total mess health wise and being super strict to try and get back to where I was. I just feel so restricted when I am this strict. Plus when you feel so crappy its hard to want to cook every meal you eat. I was/am kind of a foodie. Love to cook and very into wine. I struggle everyday to stay on this diet and be happy. It seems like every time I think I am doing well I get glutened, usually from something I thought was safe like a latte or whatever. Any advice on how to be happy and still stay on the right track?

[rosetapper23]

I understand where you're coming from--I also rebelled against this diet at first. It took me probably close to four years before I realized that I was negatively affecting my health by not being truly careful with my diet. I even used to occasionally "cheat." It finally took a very nasty experience with Dermatitis Herpetiformis combined with the inability to absorb iron (had to get weekly infusions for two years) to convince that I needed to make a change. There is no easy path to health, I'm afraid. Over time, though, it becomes habit, and you can enjoy eating again through accepting the fact that food preparation and daily cooking must become part of your life. I've identified a few restaurants where I feel safe, and there are even a few places where I can buy food that will last me for nearly a week (a ham or turkey breast from Honeybaked Hams or a couple of rotisserie chickens from Whole Foods).

Believe me, eventually the cravings go away...and cooking becomes a way of life. I'm no longer unhappy with my gluten-free diet and enjoy the good health it brings me. Remember, gluten can makes us feel depressed, so the longer you stay away from it, the happier (and more accepting) you'll become.

[nursenation2]

I am so sick this time, I am sure from cross contamination. I didn't knowingly eat gluten but as I said I have eaten out a bunch and I do ask questions but prob not enough. It's time to really take this seriously cause I know that I am risking my health. I have goals I am sure I am not achieving because I am getting glutened too often. I am no where near where I would like to be with riding my horse. I feel tired all the time. After work I have a hard time doing regular chores at home. GI symptoms, brain fog, fatigue, joint pain, etc. These are all signs that I am on a bad road but instead I can't just grow up and do what I am supposed to. I think its time for a total over haul. Thanks for letting me vent. I know what I should do, all of you are such an inspiration to me. I just need to really be strong and stick with it and heal my body.

[mamaw]

Sorry you are having a hard time of things...You may be a person who can not tolerate eatinig out even when the place states it has gluten-free. There are some who are VERY sensitiveto the slightest amounts of gluten.

Another is it is something else making you ill. ie: sulphites or tannins in wine..

Your body is telling you its not happy .I would suggest a very basic diet for a month or so to let your body heal.. Or an elimination diet to find out what other foods may be causing you problems...

I also would stay away from the major allergens...soy, milk & so on.

Do you take digestive enzymes & probiotics?If not you should. Digestive Gold is a good enzyme, many good probiotics.

Have you had

your bllodwork done forthethyroid? Not just the TSH but Free T-3 FreeT-4, Total T-3, reverse T-3, most docs will only check the TSH so youmay need to be pushy about getting the other tests done.B-12, & Vitanim D levels as well..

I also would check A1C& glucose

You want to rule out any other things. If everything else is good then you can settle down into it being celiac & gluten issues..& how sensitive you may be.

Plus there are many gluten-free foods that are available that are very good & tasty...no one should ever feel food deprived with the gluten-free diet ....( plus feeling deprived causes depression)

One needs to stay positive,by following the gluten-free lifestyle we find health & happiness being once again able to live & enjoy life..I understand you are not quite there yet but like all on here ,we have been where you are at.. You too will get there but it will take some time, healing & determination on your part.

Don't stress yourself out because you have no energy to clean house & such. Just do what you can do , let your body heal itself without pressure...Don't try to be wonder women......I wanted that one time years ago when I first got dx's , couldn't do it until after I let my body heal & then I got my life back...

You control the illness don't let it control you..You be the winner..

blessings

mamaw

[nursenation2]

Thanks for your support. I started on probiotics. I had it easy when I was first diagnosed. After a few years of stomach battles. Bam!! I found the answer and I eliminated gluten and things got better fast. Then a lot of my symptoms that I thought were lupus were celiac. I was low on b12 and calcium and vit d. So started on them all. Been good about d and b12. My thyroid is good. No diabetes. I have lately got glutened several times in a row. Scared to eat out or at someone else's house. Started with my mil glutening me even after I asked questions. Now so sick and I can't eat anything without pain. Feel like I'm barely getting by with work. Grrrrr!!! Eating mild and only from home, lots of water and probiotics is what I'm doing. Any more ideas?

[squirmingitch]

It doesn't have to be that hard to cook right now. Pop some frozen veggies in the nuker & a game hen in the oven. No standing & measuring, stirring etc... Chicken too -- especially a whole one; it will give you more than one meals worth of food. Don't make a sandwich to take to work, just wrap some cold chicken up in foil & grab a piece of fruit. Go whole foods & skip all the spices & don't try to bother with sauces & gravies yet.

[Skylark]

Follow your foodie impulses, but focus on cooking your own food. You can make fabulous meals gluten-free. When I'm tired I rely heavily on my crockpot and Dutch oven. I don't eat out much, and there are only a couple friends I trust to cook for me. One has severe soy allergies so she "gets" CC. The other is just brilliant and has text-messaged me to double-check ingredients.

I cook lazy but tasty foods when I'm tired. Whenever I have some energy I cook in batches and freeze leftovers so I always have gluten-free "TV dinners" on hand. That way there is no temptation to eat out when I'm too tired to cook and do chores. If I'm making muffins or quick bread I double the recipe and freeze some. My freezer is my way of coping.

I often dump a package of skinless chicken, whole mushrooms, a sliced onion, a little pressed garlic, wine (well that's out now for me but it tastes good), some random dried herbs, salt, and pepper into the dutch oven, maybe a can of tomatoes, chopped carrots and celery if I have the energy, and put it in the oven 45 minutes to an hour. I don't even brown the chicken when I'm tired. What comes out? Yummy chicken with leftovers for lunch and the next night's dinner! Rice in the rice cooker, steamer veggies in the microwave and I'm good to go.

I'll also crockpot cook stuff. Put a pot roast or chicken in the liner the night before and put the liner in the fridge. In the morning, pull the liner out, set in the crockpot on low. Come home to a nice, warm dinner when you're tired after work.

[nursenation2]

Using my crockpot in the am. Good idea!! I forget it's there. Thanks. You guys are awesome!! I should have joined this site 2 years ago. Been kinda a lonely road so far.

[squirmingitch]

Well you're not alone anymore! Welcome to the site.