Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Gluten Free Support Groups In Southern Ca?

FruitEnthusiast

Recommended Posts

FruitEnthusiast Enthusiast
FruitEnthusiast
Posted

Does anyone know of any gluten free support groups in the Los Angeles/Orange Co area? There's one in San Diego, but that's too far. I'm in Long Beach. I'd like to find a group near one of the beach cities between Santa Monica and Newport Beach if possible. Haven't had much luck so far looking on the Gluten Intolerant Group site or the Celiac Foundation Site.

I've been gluten free for 3-4 months now, and I'm still healing, and sick off and on. I'm not even close to going out to eat yet, so gluten free dining groups are not an option at this point. I have experienced what happens with even slight gluten exposure :( and my diet is extremely limited, as I have other food sensitivities from Leaky Gut. I just found a great Naturopathic Doctor locally who has helpful information and is very supportive. She has me drinking a natural supplement powder to heal the damage. Can't tell if it's working yet.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Did you check the category of support groups on the main page yet?

https://www.celiac.com/categories/Celiac-Disease-Support-Groups%2C-Organizations-%26amp%3B-Contacts/United-States-of-America%3A-Celiac-Disease-Support-Groups-and-Organizations/

FruitEnthusiast Enthusiast
FruitEnthusiast
Posted
  • Author

Yes. The Los Angeles group was more of a social/dining group, and pretty far from me, considering LA freeway traffic. I was looking for a meet weekly and talk sort of group, hopefully a bit closer. Unfortunately traffic is a huge consideration in these parts.

When I left two voice mails for the contact person in Orange County on the Gluten Intolerant Group site, and never heard back after two weeks,I was a little deflated.

I just looked at the main page list again on this site, and I'm going to try the contact numbers listed for the Orange County and Newport Beach groups. Less traffic in that direction. Thanks!

cap6 Enthusiast
cap6
Posted

check the celiac Disease Foundation site. I don't know what part of L.A. you are in but sthere is a very active group in Pasadena. Also one in Burbank/Glendale area.

FruitEnthusiast Enthusiast
FruitEnthusiast
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the info. I'm hoping to say closer to the coast, but I may try those if nothing else turns up. Good to know.

AGH2010 Apprentice
AGH2010
Posted

I'm in Santa Monica and have similarly had no luck finding a support group for my 2 year old who is celiac. I was hoping for a playgroup so she wouldnt feel like the only celiac kid out there. I emailed the Celiac Foundation and was told they'd forward my contact but still haven't heard anything. I'm surprised our area has so few groups when other areas (like NorCal where I used to live) have so many!

FruitEnthusiast Enthusiast
FruitEnthusiast
Posted
  • Author

I agree. I thought I would find lots of options anywhere in CA. I thought Santa Monica in particular would be one of the likely locations for a gluten free support group. I'm from both southern and central CA. I've always related more to central or northern CA mindsets. Sometimes it seems people in the LA area are too busy being happy to stop and think about reality. I'm happy, but also very down to earth. Sigh. I had the same problem years ago when I was looking for a divorce support group. Nothing.

I did just find a gluten support group in OC that meets for dinners about once a month. It's for adults though. If I hear of something for kids I'll let you know.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


AGH2010 Apprentice
AGH2010
Posted

What irks me is that these same neighborhoods are now full of restaurants serving gluten-free foods in contaminated ways to appeal to people avoiding gluten just to be trendy. So now I have to explain to friends that we can't just eat out because places claim to serve gluten-free when they use the same grill to make them. They probably think I'm being over-protective.

Thanks, I appreciate you keeping an eye out for groups tailored for kids. Good luck meeting fellow adults!

cap6 Enthusiast
cap6
Posted

Celiac Disease Foundation Southern California support groups:

Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena contact tenaya3@earthlink.net

East San Gabriel Valley contact travelynne812@yahoo.com

Inland Empire contact treshearer@aol.com

Los Angels-Santa Monica contactsfrieder@earthlink.net

San Fernando Valley contact

RonSchon Explorer
RonSchon
Posted

What irks me is that these same neighborhoods are now full of restaurants serving gluten-free foods in contaminated ways to appeal to people avoiding gluten just to be trendy. So now I have to explain to friends that we can't just eat out because places claim to serve gluten-free when they use the same grill to make them. They probably think I'm being over-protective.

Well stated!!!!!!!!!!

That's what I just encountered upon emailing a restaurant.

I got an appropriate response from the GM, then the CEO of the restaurant group wrote back to me a little later and his response made me nervous. He talked about the gluten-free items in a "trendy" context, like low cal or organic context.

People can't grasp how little it takes for us to get a cross contact/contamination. I feel like many people must think since we aren't hospitalized because of it that it isn't that big of a deal.

Losing 3 productive days of our life (in many cases more) because of their trendiness is not what we need.

FruitEnthusiast Enthusiast
FruitEnthusiast
Posted
  • Author

Celiac Disease Foundation Southern California support groups:

Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena contact tenaya3@earthlink.net

East San Gabriel Valley contact travelynne812@yahoo.com

Inland Empire contact treshearer@aol.com

Los Angels-Santa Monica contactsfrieder@earthlink.net

San Fernando Valley contact

  • 6 months later...
CaliSparrow Collaborator
CaliSparrow
Posted

I'm in South Orange County. Looking for one in this area!!

Cali

  • 7 months later...
sequoiakam Newbie
sequoiakam
Posted

I live near Orange in Southern California and am looking for a support group too. I had my first major flare ups recently, but have been trying to get a diagnosis for over 20 years. I am still getting sick, I had a salad I made myself for dinner and I don't have any idea which ingredient was wrong. It was walnuts, arugula, balsamic vinegar, tomato and olives.

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I live near Orange in Southern California and am looking for a support group too. I had my first major flare ups recently, but have been trying to get a diagnosis for over 20 years. I am still getting sick, I had a salad I made myself for dinner and I don't have any idea which ingredient was wrong. It was walnuts, arugula, balsamic vinegar, tomato and olives.

Here's a group that meets in Garden Grove.

 

Open Original Shared Link

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Jay Heying
      - Jay Heying replied to Jay Heying's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      6

      Celiac friendly probiotics

      Thank you so much for the advice!! I will try to make a batch this weekend. Have a great weekend,
    2. Florence Lillian
      - Florence Lillian replied to Jay Heying's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      6

      Celiac friendly probiotics

      In response to your questions regarding probiotics. I have had Celiac for 40 years. Stomach issues: digestion, IBS to chronic constipation, bloat after eating anything. I was unable to eat a healthy variety of foods, tried probiotics supplements - some made me worse, others made no difference. After reading about people with Crones, IBS, etc, who made...
    3. slkrav
      - slkrav posted a topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      0

      Gluten free beer ?

      Help me out here. Lauren Dam gluten-free beer from Spain is listed as gluten free. Yet its made from Barley Malt. I thought barley and any form had gluten. Anybody have any more information about it?
    4. cristiana
      - cristiana replied to Colleen H's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      16

      Ibuprofen

      Ferritin levels. And see what your hemoglobin looks like too, that will tell you if you are anemic? You can have 'low normal' levels that will not be flagged by blood tests. I had 'low normal' levels, my lab reading was. c12, just over what was considered normal, but I had small benign lesion on my tongue, and sometimes a sore mouth, and a consultant maxillofacial...
    5. Mari
      - Mari replied to KathyR37's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      5

      New here

      Hi Katht - I sympathize with your struggles in following a gluten-free diet and lifestyle. I found out that I had Celiac Disease a few months before I turned 70. I just turned 89 and it has taken me almost 20 years to attain a fairly normal intestinal function. I also lost a lot of weight, down to 100 lb. down from about 140 lb. What Trents wrote you was...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,882
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    ammocat
    Newest Member
    ammocat
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Jay Heying
      Celiac friendly probiotics

      By Jay Heying · Posted

      Thank you so much for the advice!! I will try to make a batch this weekend. Have a great weekend,
    • Florence Lillian
      Celiac friendly probiotics

      By Florence Lillian · Posted

      In response to your questions regarding probiotics.  I have had Celiac for 40 years.  Stomach issues: digestion, IBS to chronic constipation, bloat after eating anything.  I was unable to eat a healthy variety of foods, tried probiotics supplements - some made me worse, others made no difference.  After reading about people with Crones, IBS, etc, who made their own probiotics I started making Milk Kefir: not water Kefir. There are 10 probiotics in milk KEFIR. After 3 weeks I was able to eat more, no gas, no IBS.  If you have a computer just ask for videos on making milk Kefir. I branched out and make my own Kombucha for even more probiotics. I do not make my yogurt because there are only about four probiotics in that. I started this when I was 82 and I still make my own Kefir and Kombucha. My stomach issues were fixed with the Milk Kefir alone. If you decide to try making it, make certain you order MILK GRAINS. The finished product tastes a bit like Buttermilk. I hope this helps in your journey to good health.
    • slkrav
      Gluten free beer ?

      By slkrav · Posted

      Help me out here. Lauren Dam gluten-free beer from Spain is listed as gluten free. Yet its made from Barley Malt. I thought barley and any form had gluten. Anybody have any more information about it?
    • cristiana
      Ibuprofen

      By cristiana · Posted

      Ferritin levels.  And see what your hemoglobin looks like too, that will tell you if you are anemic?  You can have 'low normal' levels that will not be flagged by blood tests.  I had 'low normal' levels, my lab reading was. c12, just over what was considered normal, but I had small benign lesion on my tongue, and sometimes a sore mouth, and a consultant maxillofacial ordered an iron infusion for me as he felt my levels were too low and if he  raised them to 40, it would help.   Because you are not feeling 100% it might be worth looking at your levels, then discussing with your doctor if they are low normal.  But I stress, don't supplement iron without your levels being monitored, too much is dangerous.
    • Mari
      New here

      By Mari · Posted

      Hi Katht -  I sympathize with your struggles in following a gluten-free diet and lifestyle. I found out that I had Celiac Disease a few months before I turned 70. I just turned 89 and it has taken me almost 20 years to attain a fairly normal intestinal  function. I also lost a lot of weight, down to 100 lb. down from about 140 lb. What Trents wrote you was very true for me. I am still elimination foods from my diet. One person suggested you keep a food diary and that is a good idea but it is probably best just to do an elimination diet. There are several ne and maybe one for celiacs. I used one for a while and started with plain rice and zucchini and then added back other foods to see if I reacted or not. That helped a great deal but what I did not realise that it would only very small amounts of some foods to cause inflammation in my intestine. Within the last few years I have stopped eating any trace amounts of hot peppers, corn and soy(mostly in supplements) and nuts, (the corn in Tylenol was giving me stomach aches and the nuts were causing foot pains). Starting an elimination diet with white rice is better than brown rice that has some natural toxins. In addition it is very important to drink sufficient plain water. You can find out how much to drink for your height and weight online. I do have difficulty drinking 48 ounces of water but just recently have found an electrolyte supplement that helps me stay well hydrated, Adding the water and electrolytes may reduce muscle cramps and gag spams you wrote about. . Also buy some anti-gluten enzyme capsules to take with meals. I use GliadinX advertised here. These are a lot of things to do at one time as they reflect my 20 years of experience. I hope you do what you can manage to do over time. Good luck and take care.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.