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Newly Diagnosed with Questions


L.J.

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L.J. Rookie

:lol: We certainly think that we are *quite* humorous Squirmmy! Hmmmm, so the iodine diet has helped you with the rash, eh? :) Good news for you--but it is sooooooo hard to stay on! I am gluten-free--but adding the iodine free is difficult for me! :blink: I miss my eggs. I have tried eggbeaters...to me, kind of like egg whites with yellow... :lol:

FPinDC I do love to knit! How on earth did you guess that one? I have completed one little present for holidays, started another. Two months ago, I couldn't even *think* of knitting because of the rashes on my hands. Progress!!! Yahoooo! :lol: :lol: :lol:

I do want to add butternut squash. I have one that is cooked--sitting in my fridge. Something in me says no...but I Love butternut squash which tells me it is probably *not* good for me. If I love something too much and crave it--it is not a good sign. Does that sound superstitious? :huh: Has anyone else found that the foods they Craaaaave and Love :wub: are the foods they react to? I swear that is the case for me! (I have been trying to find a way to use that emoticon since I saw it here)!!!! :lol:

Pea soup I am craving. Are peas a legume? I tried some pinto beans three days ago made from the dry ones. Yummy, but it is Not on the iodine diet--in fact a no-no, and I was froggy headed afterward. Maybe they were a cousin to Squirmmy's shrooms?? :D:D


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GFinDC Veteran

Oh we are funny alright Squirmy, funny in the head! :) Where's that farm we were supposed to be staying at?

Ah, so a woman who likes knitting. Good stuff there LJ. It's so neat that you can make useful things like that. It's great to make something with your own hands. I've got a nice sweater on right now. They sure make a difference in the winter time.

I wonder if you could test the squash by eating a very small amount? Or maybe just putting a little in your mouth and spitting it out, and waiting to see if there is a reaction? Another person said they scratched themselves with stale wheat bread and that showed a skin rection. I guess a do it yourself scratch test is possible. Shoot, with those knitting needles flying around it may be impossible to avoid! :) Seems like ti would be hard to scratch yourself with a squash tho.

I believe we do crave things that are bad for us. Don't get me started on blonds, we might be here all night! Just kidding. LOL. But that doesn't mean everything we crave is bad for us. I think people sometimes crave foods when they are deficient in vitamins. And of course eating is very habitual for most people. So they tend to want things they are used to any old time. And since we learn to eat as young children i it is a very ingrained thing to expect to eat whatever/whenever. Old habits die hard. Until new ones are formed that is.

I am going to probably try some pumkin again soon. Last time I tried some it was kind of not so great results. Maybe this time it will go better. I have to really watch my sugar intake tho, stuff does a number on me. Maybe pumpkin soup would work. That shouldn't need much in the way of sugar.

Catch you later gators!

L.J. Rookie

Oh, How I love when I Glut myself....At least that is what I think happened last night. Ugh :ph34r: I had chills, shivering, and dizzy-head. Nauseaus... (sp?) heart racing. Ich. This is not my usual reaction to Glut. One white potato. I doubted it at first, but, now I can only come up with that... Guess they are out. Then a leaky gut this am. Pretty well glutenized I think :(

Oh well. Onward and forward...feel better now. But, uhhhhhh, last night, I went to bed :ph34r: Hiding under the covers helps! :D

I need to knit some more--It is good therapy for me! FPinDC, I do one more hobby--can you guess it? It is musical--my only hint! :lol:

Back to the basics of eating...Pick up some veg's and goodbye for awhile to white taters! In a while, my fellow GFers! (Is that a word?) :lol:

mushroom Proficient

Oh, How I love when I Glut myself....At least that is what I think happened last night. Ugh :ph34r: I had chills, shivering, and dizzy-head. Nauseaus... (sp?) heart racing.

This is it, exactly.... the way I used to react to lectins (of which potatoes have a lot :( ) For me, eventually it would ultimately lead to a brief faint. I would be frantically swallowing yogurt trying to calm the storm in my gut and make it all go away. But it seems to be a response of the vagus nerve and once set in motion you just have to ride it out, hopefullly without fainting :o I ended up being sensitive to quite a few lectin families, much more than is usual unfortunately, for those who have lectin problems. And yes, if you have a leaky gut you can keep losing more and more foods, found that one out.

If you are not already doing so, I would suggest a really strong probiotic, along with L-glutamine and, if you are having trouble digesting what you do ingest, some digestive enzymes.

And yes, split peas are a legume. I used to love split pea soup with that good smoky ham flavor :wub:

I hope you do not have lectin problems. If you want to read about them, here are some links:

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

GFinDC Veteran

Oh, How I love when I Glut myself....At least that is what I think happened last night. Ugh :ph34r: I had chills, shivering, and dizzy-head. Nauseaus... (sp?) heart racing. Ich. This is not my usual reaction to Glut. One white potato. I doubted it at first, but, now I can only come up with that... Guess they are out. Then a leaky gut this am. Pretty well glutenized I think :(

Oh well. Onward and forward...feel better now. But, uhhhhhh, last night, I went to bed :ph34r: Hiding under the covers helps! :D

I need to knit some more--It is good therapy for me! FPinDC, I do one more hobby--can you guess it? It is musical--my only hint! :lol:

Back to the basics of eating...Pick up some veg's and goodbye for awhile to white taters! In a while, my fellow GFers! (Is that a word?) :lol:

Oh-Oh, the nightahdes are attacking! Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplant ftom outerspace! Could be a problem with lectins like Shroomster said. I react to nightshades myself. And not in the common lovey-dovey manner. It is a negatory reaction. But I don't think I have any major problems with other lectiins. Nigthshades seem to be it. Except for the other stuff that is. You could trial the other nightshades one at a time to see if they are a problem. Since it probably wasn't gluten that got ys, it may have been a tatering. Or a nigthshadering. OK, that was a foul one, hold your nose! :)

I'm not sure what all foods have lectins, I know some grains do. Like our favorite wheat. There are probably lots more. So hopefully iti's just nightshades and not lectins. Nightshades have alkaloids in them that can cause problems. That's why they say not to eat the eyes of potatoes because the alkaloids are even higher in the eyes and can cause anyone to be sick. Especially the green eyes. Green eyes in women are ok tho. They use alkaloids as medicines too. Tobacco is a nightshade also.

Well lets see another hobby, something muscial. I can't see drums and knitting going together. Knitting and guitar could work tho. But I am leaning towards violin in this case. What do I get if I am right? Shroomie will probably guess kazoo or some such. And Squirmy will probably guess harp or base.

See, you are learning lots of neat stuff about your body L.J. And it's hard to tell what other interesting things it has to teach you about itself. Quite an adventure eh? :)

Later GFer!

squirmingitch Veteran

I'm thinking piano or flute. Floutist?

I'm sorry the tater got you. I'm off to read about Shroomie's lectins.

L.J. Rookie

Hi All!

OK, I have been AWOL for a bit. Hectic new schedule, and my sis visiting until Friday!

So, white potatos are a Nightshade??? I know I can't eat nightshades...Tried a Green Pepper...ugh :ph34r: White potato...ugh :ph34r: My family is beginning to think I am overreacting sometimes--but as we know--the symptoms are very obvious after awhile!!! :rolleyes:

Yesterday, I went shopping! I have lost weight--enough that I had no clothes that fit...Went craazzzzzy...and then did not look at the labels in *all* of the sweaters I bought :blink: What was I thinking?????? Sure enough, I leave the store and start feeling glutted :wacko: I had not eaten a thing...but all the symptoms were there. You know that frantic frenzy feeling of jitteryness???? Then the sweats and ugh :ph34r: Read All the labels--and sure enough, wool was in two of the sweaters I bought--which my rash and arms, hands, torso went craaaazzzzzzy on :( So returning those--and learned yet another lesson. Allergy to wool has been with me for many many years--and I bought two without looking???? Where was my head????

On the good news--I started a "Fat Pill"--otherwise known as Fish Oil. It is a good brand--of which I now cannot remember, but had no citrus, no mango, no flavorings--but oh, we will see. Took it about an hour ago. My skin is so cracked and dry that I feel like a snake shedding it's skin....(That is one visual image)...Thankfully, I am not a snake--a friendly gluten-free woman with blue eyes FP...and yes, played the piano since I was 5 (Squirmy wins that guess) Also, I played the violin from 10 to 18. FP wins that one! :lol: :lol: :lol: So the prize for guessing correctly...hmm....I think you're favorite gluten-free snack that is something decadent but healthy for you!!!! Then, describe what you ate--even if I'm allergic. (If you love avocado--*please* eat it if it's on your safe list--ooh, I can never have guacamole again)....Pea soup or lentil soup would also be on my decadent list! So enjoy knowing you guessed right!!!!!!! :lol:

And Shroomie, looks like I'll be looking into lectins The more knowledge the better tho!!! :P In a bit my gluten-free friends! :D


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kareng Grand Master

Hi All!

OK, I have been AWOL for a bit. Hectic new schedule, and my sis visiting until Friday!

:rolleyes:

Feed her all the nightshades left in the house and dress her in wool! :D

L.J. Rookie

Feed her all the nightshades left in the house and dress her in wool! :D

Oh Kareng!

You really want me to go craazzzzzy in the gluttened way--wrap me tin foil and slather Vanicream on quick! :lol: :lol:

Then send me out to the desert (It is right behind my house--not far to get me there :D ) and a quick death... :D

So Kareng, I did have one more thing that came up--I went to my optometrist, who has said that I have *no* "tears"...she had to squeeze my eyes to get some to show up. Needless to say, no contact lenses anymore :( But she said if I did not start on the "Fat Pills" i.e. Fish Oil... My eyes were going to be permanently damaged. Have you or anyone else heard of this????? Crazzzzzyy! :blink:

But I am feeling good after one whole hour after taking my "fat pill". Yay! I hope I can continue it! :)

Oh, I decided to skip the desert visit Kareng ^_^:D:lol:

kareng Grand Master

Running out the door. I'll get back to you on the eye thing. I have the same issues.

Celiac Mindwarp Community Regular

I have dry eyes that get watery. No, honestly. Like officially. No contacts for me either :(.

I think I am going with denial on some other intolerances until after Christmas now. 5 diets in 6 months has done my head in!

Good luck with your next stage

kareng Grand Master

Ok. I'm back from the eye doctor! Honestly! :o It was my son who needed to go.

My eye doc has several patients with Celiac and some with Sjorgens. She said all her Celiac patients, even the kids, have dry eyes. I have a special contact lens called Safigel (sp?). These are for very dry eyes. You throw them out each day. She also said I should use artifcial tears (OK with contacts in) twice a day.

If you make no tears, maybe you need Restasis? It isn't good for your eyes to be too dry.

squirmingitch Veteran

Okay, as co-winner of the guess what instrument contest.....let's seeeeee...... my favorite gluten-free snack.....hummmmmm..... I might have said sharp cheddar cheese but that's on my no-no list b/c of iodine which makes me want it all the more. Soft egg on gluten-free toast would not have normally been my favorite snack but since that's also on the no-no list I am craving it like crazy. So, of the items on my allowed list at present I will have to say fruit, fresh fruit ---- I just finished dinner but there are some lovely tangerines waiting for me when dinner gets digested a bit.

I also had eye problems before I knew I had celiac. They began around the time I have figured out the celiac was starting to make itself known. I wore rigid contact lenses since I was 14 & had no problem at all until ?8? years ago. Then they started torturing me. I could not tolerate them for more than about 3 hours at a time. Then I got blepharitis --- uh huh --- I now know associated with celiac disease --- then my eyes got dry; not officially dx'd with dry eye type of dry but uncomfortably dry to the point I gave up my contacts & quit wearing them. I despise glasses & my peripheral vision suffers greatly with glasses plus the dh likes to get my scalp where the temples of the glasses hit over my ears. I think I will be able to go back to contacts & can't wait to. Karen, I'm so glad you listed the type you wear so i will know what to ask for. I want to give it a little more time yet & then I'm going to give it a go again!

L.J. Rookie

A quick note...Soooo, dry eyes are part of all of this, eh? Wonderful :angry: I miss my contacts too! I too have worn them--but it was a "no go" from my Dr--she said maybe some day.... What exactly does some day mean??????? B)

Fruit for being a co-winner sounds *marvelous* to me!!!!!! Enjoy! :D :D :D:lol:

GottaSki Mentor

I lost contacts for a year in my 20s - was able to get them back using disposables - very thin and comfortable. Still have occasional bursts of dry eyes but have avoided Restasis thus far. If your eyes are continuously dry - Restasis is the way to go!

Celiac Mindwarp Community Regular

Wow, another celiac symptom unmasked then. Might have a chat with my friendly optician..

GFinDC Veteran

Well LJ, I did get some sesame Halvah at the store yesterday, so that must be my treat! It doesn't have any avocadoes in it tho, but I can live with that. Purty good stuff anyway.

Experimenting with the wool sweaters 'eh LJ? What a bold move! :D Hopefully they take them back or let you exchange them. I am experimenting with black tea myself. Seems like it is going ok so far.

Big plans to do some work on my Jeep soon too. It takes about 3 to 5 minutes for the computer to start up in it. Can't start it without the computer working. Some improved design! :( Simple things made complicated, courtesy of modern man. Oh well.

kareng Grand Master

A quick note...Soooo, dry eyes are part of all of this, eh? Wonderful :angry: I miss my contacts too! I too have worn them--but it was a "no go" from my Dr--she said maybe some day.... What exactly does some day mean??????? B)

Fruit for being a co-winner sounds *marvelous* to me!!!!!! Enjoy! :D :D :D:lol:

Some day probably means that they come out with new contacts all the time. I have what was the newest kind as of a year ago.

Safigel 1 day.

The dry eye contacts are very thin and prone to ripping, so one day disposables helps with that. I will see my eye doc in Feb so, if you want to, you can always PM me & see what kind I get then.

  • 2 weeks later...
L.J. Rookie

Hello my Wonderful gluten-free friends!

Long time no talk! I am currently digesting on some new information from my allergist. After believing that I am extremely careful about what I eat (except for the occasional weekend alcohol beverage....) he has determined that I have still other allergies! :rolleyes:

So he wants me to do the "chemicals" patches on my back. These are the nasty chemicals that we get daily and that are in everything! I looked up 3 of the "many" that I will be tested for... Formaldahyde--nasty stuff that is in everyday products. Chemicals that are in clothing, leather, plastics, containers of many kinds, etc. etc. etc.

And that was just one...(Who isn't allergic to Formaldahyde I ask??? :o He believes I have an accumulation of chemicals that I am extremely allergic too--and so wanted to test me that day. Now, the bad news is that these chemical patches are three large strips that stay on my back for *exactly* 3 full days! Because of the absorption process. That means no showers for three days--and I cannot do this to my students.... Peeeeuwwww! Three days of no showers, messy hair, and body odor (yes I sweat!) :wacko: Anyone around me would probably run out of the room I would guess! :lol: :lol: :lol: So, instead, I agreed to do it on New Years Eve--and go without a shower during my Winter Break...my poor hubby, eh? This is where we need an emoticon of someone holding their nose because of how I will smell! :D :D :lol: But, I may sponge bath--and of course, this is a very effective way to get rid of body odors and my dirty hair.... ;)

I am taking my "Fat Pills" really known as Fish Oil for my eyes and skin....(The skin was an added plus after I took them for a week) The optician may look at my eyes today as my new specs are in! Yay? :rolleyes: Happy for new specs, Sad about no Contact Lenses :(

So, thought I would share my new updates and check on how everyone else is doing????

Sesame Halvah sounds heavenly--but honestly, I am not sure what it is FPinDC! :lol: :lol: All wool sweaters are back and credited! :D My skin is doing somewhat better--even though my Allergist saw the rashes that are still present...I am feeling better tho! ;)

Kareng-I hope I will be in contacts soon--my Optician did not sound very positive about it tho--but we shall see! :)

Gotta Ski--Restasis is new to me--I will have to look that one up.

Hope you all are doing well--or at least share if you are not! This forum is wonderful! We can share the goods and bads and the uglys. Oh, I think that's the name of a movie, yes???? The Good The Bad and The Ugly??? :lol: Later GFFs! My new initials for all people posting here--stands for GFFriends! :D

GottaSki Mentor

Hey LJ-

Good to hear from you...thought of you the other day as I am on to one more piece of my puzzle. I have an allergic reaction to heat and exercise that has gotten worse each year of my life - the reaction is similar to my reaction to sunflower seeds and avocado -- what do these things have in common? Histamine. It seems that the enzymes needed to regulate histamines are produced in the mucosal lining of the small intestine :blink:

Even more frustration ensued when UCSD's lab along with assistance from Mayo couldn't figure out how to run one of the blood tests necessary to measure the production of these enzymes...I'm still working on it - seems I can visit another country and get the test no problem -- absolutely crazy! Will let you know when I figure this one out.

If you are interested - google "Histamine Intolerance" or "Histamine Foods".

Very glad to hear you are doing better -- keep it up!

L.J. Rookie

Wow Gotta Ski! Histamines, eh? Very interesting! I too have to watch the sun/heat stuff. Rashes like crazy if I am sweating or in the sun too long. I blamed it on the AZ sun--maybe not though, eh???

Sorry you are having trouble with the lab testing :( I have personally not found labs to give me many answers tho--I hope you have better luck with finding the lab tests!!! :) Let me know what happens!:)

GFinDC Veteran

HI LJ,

Halvah is a candy made from sesame seed paste (Tahini). Joyah is the brand I see in stores around here. You can make it yourself altho I have never tried that. i don't buy it often because it doesn't last very long once opened. Very sad :( I suppose you could make something similar with any seed paste or butter. It is a middle Eastern treat. Our equivalent would be peanut butter fudge, kind of.

How to make it:

Open Original Shared Link

Disgusting pictures of Halvah: (Don't look ! eww!)

Open Original Shared Link

Your allergist has a flaky sounding plan there to me. Heck, if you are allergic to something just stop eating it. Isn't that simpler? If he finds you are allergic to plastics, chemicals in clothes, and chemicals in the air and water, what is the cure? Moving to the moon or an Amish community? Not that there's anything wrong with that. The Amish have some interesting ways of doing things and a great community spirit. They have smoe neat things going on.

A more organic diet and less plastic is ok I think. But if you want to live in the modern world there are limits to how much you can avoid these things. I am not saying you can't live without them, just it is not as simple as eliminating a little gluten or dairy or whatnot. Might be time to get a subscri[tion to the Mother Earth News. And take up hunting and gardening.

If you join up with the local SCA chapter (Society for Creative Anachronism) they teach classes on medieval crafts and arts. Could be very helpful in your new life. i am an SCA member myself.

Ok, I am kidding a lettle, lettle bit. :)

Well, your allergist has some interesting ideas there. I am curious how he plans for you to live if you turn out to be allergic to all modern materials. It could make an intersting reality tv series. I'd be interested in seeing the show! :D

Just kidding, I think you know that. :)

Things here are the same. Good to hear from you!

L.J. Rookie

Hi All and Good to hear from you too FPinDC! :lol: :lol:

I really do think I am sooooo funny, yes?? Yes, regarding the chemicals--I guess I will have to become a "CaveWoman"--oh wait--no leather products...That won't do either :D

Honestly, I am worried about the tests--One Anaphalactic reaction "recently" is enough for me! I already know I am allergic to at least two of the chemicals that will be sitting on my back for *three days*... If I am that allergic to chemicals--what in the heck is my back going to do??? :wacko: I have visions of rashes bumping up and becoming blisters--of which I cannot put cream on during the test... Then my mind goes craaazzzzzzzyy...and I think--What if I do an Anaphalactic Routine to these chemicals that we are testing? :ph34r:

My hubby is a bit nervous about this chemical testing thing--so much so that he is taking the days off in case I do have an Anaphalatic Reaction...I hate that he has to do this--but I also thought about it myself. I *hate* being a burden--and this feels like I am being a royal pain in the arse!!! B) Yet, I did not argue with him being around me, which says I truly am afraid of these chemical tests...

Great question--what AM I to do if I am allergic to all of these chemicals??? :o I cannot live in a bubble, or on the moon, (but the sight of earth from the moon would be absolutely beautiful, yes??? :lol:

So, the show will start on New Years Eve Day at 2:45 exactly--i.e. Chemical patches Three patches of them with *many* chemicals per patch....Ugh :ph34r:

This is where I feel like a wimp...Where is the emoticon for *that* feeling???? :lol: :lol: :lol:

squirmingitch Veteran

You're braver than I dear girl. Nuh uh ~~~ I wouldn't touch that one with a ten foot pole!

Wishing you a fabulous, NON REACTIVE, New Years Eve & beyond!

L.J. Rookie

Hi! Yeah, wondering if I have lost my mind and headed for the funny farm :lol: ...My hubs said, you know you don't have to do the test... Which is true. But, I am still struggling with some rashes--yet I am doing better. :huh:

I am just wondering if I am going to lose all of the progress I have made if I *DO* the freekin' chemical tests??? :ph34r:

Plus the Anaphalactic thing lingering around my mind :ph34r: Uh oh, two dark faces in a row--that's my sign of Itshay, I am in "trouble" :D:lol:

I'll keep thinking on it! Obviously, Squirmy, you would not do them, eh? B) May be giving me some food for thought! :lol:

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First noticed in the gym. • Abdominal bulge on the right side, not painful but seems to be getting slightly bigger. Doctor didn’t find a hernia on ultrasound, but it was done lying down (I’ve read those can miss hernias). Noticed it like 6 months ago, couldve been there longer. • extremely dry and mildly swollen hands (this started before I started excessive hand-washing), and bloated face. • Signs of inattentive ADHD (noticed over the past 3 years), now combined with severe OCD focused on contamination and cross-contact. • Growth/puberty seemed to started after going gluten-free. Before that I was not developing. Dont know if any of these are because of celiac as my dad doesnt have those and he is a lot less strict gluten-free then me. I also had pancreatic elastase tested four times: values were 46 (very low), 236, 158, and 306 (normal). Gastroenterologist said one normal value is enough and I don’t have EPI. Family doctor prescribed Kreon anyway (after I pushed for it), and I just started taking 1 capsule (10,000 units) with meals 2 days ago, but couldn‘t see effects yet because I’ve been constipated the last few days. Maybe because of thyroid. I don’t have Hashimoto’s. No thyroid antibodies. But I took levothyroxine for slightly low FT4 levels. My thyroid levels fluctuated between borderline low and low-normal. And recently lowered my dose so that may have caused the constipating. I probably didn’t need it in the first place, and am thinking about stopping it soon.   Current Diet Right now, I only eat a very limited set of “safe” foods I prepare myself: • Gluten-free bread with tuna or cheese • Milk and cornflakes • gluten-free cookies/snacks • Bananas (the only fruit I trust right now) I rarely eat other fruits or vegetables, because I’m scared of contamination. My dad, who also has celiac but doesn’t care about CC, buys fruits, and he might’ve picked them up right after handling gluten bread. That makes me feel unsafe eating them. Even fruit at stores or markets feels risky because so many people with gluten on their hands touch them.   My Home Situation (Shared Kitchen) We’re a family of 5. Only my dad and I have celiac. He eats glutenfree but doesn’t care about CC and sometimes (but rarely) cheats. My mom and siblings eat gluten bread at every meal. My mom is honest (so if i ask her to be cautious, she most likely would try to), but doesn’t seem to understand how serious celiac is. She: • Stopped using gluten flour • only cooks gluten-free meals (but they still heat up gluten bread and also cook gluten noodles) • Keeps separate butter/jam/jars for me • Bought me a stainless steel pan Bu we didn’t replace old wooden utensils, cutting boards, or other pans. The new they bought me pan was even carried home in a shopping bag with gluten bread in it, which triggered my OCD. It also has a rubber handle and I’m scared it might still hold onto gluten. Even if it’s washed well, it’s stored next to other pans that were used for gluten food/bread. Our kitchen table is used for eating gluten bread daily. My mom wipes it but not with soap. I’m scared tiny particles remain. If she made gluten-free bread dough on a board at the table, I’d still worry about cross contmaination contamination even with something under the dough and on the table as at one point the dough would probably touch the table. So I stopped eating anything she makes.   I know OCD is making it worse, but I can’t tell how much of my fear is real and how much is anxiety. Examples: • I wash my hands 20–30 times a day — before eating, after touching anything at home or outside, after using my phone/laptop. • I don’t let others touch my phone, and I’m scared to use my laptop because friends at school or my brother (who eat gluten) have touched it. And it annoys me a lot when others touch my stuff and feels like it got contaminated and is unsafe instantly. • I stopped eating while using my phone or laptop, afraid of invisible gluten being on them. • I wash my hands after opening food packaging (since it was on store cashier belts where gluten food is placed). • I avoid sitting anywhere except my bed or one clean chair. • I won’t shake hands with anyone or walk past people eating gluten. • At school, when switching classes, I wash my hands before getting out my laptop, again before opening it, etc. • I open door knobs with my elbows instead my hands   Job Concerns (Powder Coating, Sandblasting, Etc.) I’m working a temporary job right now that involves: • Powder coating • Sandblasting • Wet spray painting • Anodizing There’s also a laboratory. I don’t need this job, and my OCD makes me believe that dust or air particles there might contain gluten somehow. Should I quit?   Doctors Haven’t Helped My family doctor told me: “Asymptomatic celiac isn’t serious, if you have no symptoms, your intestines won’t get damaged, so you don’t need a gluten-free diet.” I knew that was wrong, but he wasn’t open to listening. I just nodded and didn‘t argue. My gastroenterologist (who’s also a dietitian) said: „If your antibodies are negative, there’s no damage. It might even be okay to try small amounts of gluten later if antibodies stay negative.“ Also said, pepper that says “may contain gluten” is fine if it only contains pepper. She was more informed than my family doctor but didn’t seem to fully understand celiac either.   Questions I Need Help With 1. Is it realistically safe to eat food my mom cooks, if we get separate pans/ and boards even if gluten is still used in the same kitchen? There will always be low risk of cc chances like that she will still touch stuff that was touched by her and my siblings after they ate gluten. And as there are gluten eaters in the house and she also prepares and eats gluten. So would opening the fridge then getting the food and touching the food be okay? So basically what i am doing, washing my hands multiple times while preparing food, she would only wash it once before, then touch anything else (for example water tap or handles) that were touched with gluteny hands, then also touch the food. I dont know if I ever could feel safe, I could try telling her how important cc really is. And I trust her so she wouldnt lie to me then be careless about cc, but idk how safe it really can be if she and everyone else keeps eating gluten and touching stuff in the house after eating. 2. Do I need to worry about touching doorknobs, fridge handles, light switches, etc. that family members touched after eating gluten? What about public places like bus handles or school desks? Or like if i went to the gym, I would be touching stuff all the time, so there will be small amounts of gluten and those would get transferred on my phone if I touch my phone while in the gym. But I want to knos if it would be enough to do damage. 3. Is an endoscopy (without biopsy) enough to tell if my intestines are healed? I’d pay privately if it could help and if i dont get a refferal. Or do i need a biopsy? 4. Could my job (powder coating, sandblasting, etc.) expose me to gluten or damage my intestines through air/dust? 5. Do I need certified gluten-free toothpaste, hand soap, shampoo, or moisturizer? (For example: Vaseline and Colgate don’t contain gluten ingredients but say they can’t guarantee it’s gluten-free.) 6. Is spices like pepper with “may contain traces of gluten” safe if no gluten ingredients are listed? Or does everything need to be labeled gluten-free?  7. Is continuing to only eat my own food the better choice, or could I eventually go back to eating what my mom cooks if she’s careful? 8. is cutlery from dishwasher safe if there are stains? Stuff like knives is used for cutting gluten bread or fork for noodles etc. I often see stains which i dont know if its gluten or something else but our dish washer doesnt seem to make it completely clean. 9. I wash my hands multiple times while preparing food. Do i need to do the same when touching my phone. Like if i touch the fridge handle, I wash my hands then touch the phone. I dont eat while using my phone but i leave it on my bed and pillow and my face could come in contact with where it was.  10. Do i need to clean my phone or laptop if theyve been used by people who eat gluten? Even if no crumbs fall onto my keybaord, i mean because of invisible gluten on their fingers. 11. Does medication/supplements have to be strictly glutenfree? One company said they couldn‘t guarantee if their probiotics don’t contain traces of gluten.  12. I had bought supplements in the past, some of them say glutenfree and some of them dont(like the brand „NOW“ from iherb). I bought them and used them when i wasnt washing my hands so often, are they still safe? As I touched and opened them after touching door knobs, water taps etc. It was like a year ago when i bought those and even though i was eating gluten-free, I never worried about what i touch etc. I know this post is long. I’m just extremely overwhelmed. I’m trying to protect myself from long-term health damage, but the OCD is destroying my quality of life, and I honestly don’t know what’s a reasonable level of caution anymore. Thanks for reading.
    • lmemsm
      I've been making a lot of black bean brownies lately because it's one of the few gluten free dessert recipes that actually tastes palatable.  I've also seen chocolate cake recipes with black beans.  Someone mentioned a cookie recipe using lentils in place of flour.  Just wondering if anyone's run across any tried and true recipes using beans, lentils or peas for desserts?  I've seen a lot of recipes for garbanzo flour but I'm allergic to garbanzo beans/chickpeas.  Was wondering if adzuki or pinto beans might be useful in replacing some or all of the flour in baking.  Since gluten free flours can be crumbly was hoping the beans might help produce a better, less crumbly consistency.  Any recommendations for recipes?  Thanks.
    • lmemsm
      I've seen a lot of recipes for chia pudding, so I decided to make some with chia, water, cocoa and honey.  Didn't like the taste, so I added ground sunflower and ground pumpkin seed to it.  It tasted okay, but came out more like frosting that pudding.  I used to make pudding with tapioca starch, milk powder, water and sugar.  It came out very good but I haven't figured out what to use to replace the milk powder to make it dairy free.  Most starches will work in place of tapioca starch but quantity varies depending on the type of starch.  If I didn't add enough starch to get a pudding consistency, I'd add gelatin as well to fix it.  Avocado and cocoa makes a good dessert with a pudding like consistency.  Unfortunately, I have a bad reaction to avocados.
    • lmemsm
      Seems like when I find a gluten free product I like, the producer stops manufacturing it and then I have trouble finding a new gluten free source for it.  What's worse, I've been contacting companies to ask if their products are gluten free and they don't even bother to respond.  So, it's making it very hard to find safe replacements.  I was buying teff flour at nuts.com and they no longer carry it.  I noticed Naturevibe has teff and soy flour.  However, I can't get a response as to whether their flours are safe for someone with celiac.  Can't get a response from Aldi if their peas are safe for someone with celiac either.  I know Bob's Red Mill has teff flour but was hoping to get a large quantity.  I've been using up the 20 ounce Bob's Red Mill teff flour too quickly.  Does anyone know of a good source for teff or soy flour?  Any recommendations where to get gluten free beans, peas or lentils?  I found some packages of gluten free beans at Sprouts but not much variety.  I've also been looking for lentil elbow macaroni and it seems like no one is making that now that Tolerant was bought out.  Any suggestions for safe sources for these types of ingredients.  Thanks.
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