Newbie To This Site

[toxemicfrog]

hi everyone

im new to this site. Was diagnose with celiac disease bout 5 weeks aga and am still waiting to see a dietician...live a little bit remote in queensland australia and these things take a lot of time.

Am having trouble getting gluten-free food and have lost a lot of weight...about 3 clothes sizes.

I have gone from mega pain to mega depression and Im sure for my family it must be hell on wheels.

I pee a lot and have to make sure b4 i do the 30 min drive to work that the bowel is empty or im in trouble.

anyway just wanted to say hi and any help would be appreciated (sick of the dr.....mad at him...had my bloods with posotive celiac disease for eight weeks and did not let me know...and me eating tons of gluten the whole time and literally screaming in pain duriing bad attacks)

Tis great to find a place where I know people will understand.

Must go gotta go to the loo b4 i leave for work.

Have a great day

[psawyer]

Welcome aboard!

We all were new to this at one time or another. There is a huge amount of valuable information already in the posts on here, which you can search for. There are also many of us with experiences and knowledge to help you out.

Going gluten free is a big adjustment that affects everyone in the house, but it makes a huge difference in how you feel. I can't speak for Australia, but here in Canada there are several places where you can order gluten-free specialty food items online.

[Carriefaith]

Welcome!

You should be able to order some gluten free items online, if you can't get them there. These foods are great, if they can ship them to you:

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Any of the gluten free products from Thai Kitchen

Open Original Shared Link

I highly recommend:

Original Pad Thai Rice Noodle Stir-Fry/Soup Meal Kits

Spring Onion Instant Rice Noodle Bowls

Pad Thai Noodle Carts

[VydorScope]

Hi! Your right, no one understands.. well cept the few million of us that deal with it everyday that is.

First thing I recomend you is print out :

https://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodi...-24105546970.04

And keep a copy with you. Alway read the ingredients of anything you plan to eat, and comapre to that page. If a food has any of those ingredents, dont eat.

There are a lot of normal foods that are safe, you just have to be diligent on reading all labels.

Good luck and welcom aboard! It will take time for your body to heal, but once it does you can enjoy a normall happy life, so long as you stay gluten-free.

[nettiebeads]

Am having trouble getting gluten-free food and have lost a lot of weight...about 3 clothes sizes.

I have gone from mega pain to mega depression and Im sure for my family it must be hell on wheels.

anyway just wanted to say hi and any help would be appreciated (sick of the dr.....mad at him...had my bloods with posotive celiac disease for eight weeks and did not let me know...and me eating tons of gluten the whole time and literally screaming in pain duriing bad attacks)

Tis great to find a place where I know people will understand.

Must go gotta go to the loo b4 i leave for work.

Have a great day

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree it is great to find a forum where everyone can say "Been there, I totally understand" And to know that you could have started healing a whole lot sooner (two months) but didn't because someone didn't have a simple human courtesy to say you have a sever autoimmune disorder is criminal, in my mind. Hello, they are in the HEALTH profession!!!!!

Anyhow, you can simply tweak a lot of your favorite foods to be gluten-free. Like chicken pot pie - use cornstarch for thickening instead of flour. Use mashed potatoes for the topping instead of crust. You just have to look at things and add more thought, but after awhile it will become second nature. Beware of hidden gluten as in glues, cosmetics and shampoos. But you will start to feel better, keep us posted!

[toxemicfrog]

hi everyone and thanks for your kind words. Am home sick today although have printed off info vydorscope reccommended (thank you) so with a bit of luck i wont be accidentally glutening myself as regular. I have seen some of those ingredients on bottles and packaging and not even realised what they were so again thaks so much.

went back to the dr yesterday (cos vomiting diarhea would not stop) apparrently i am stressed and should take valium...hes lucky i did not throttle him. Does anyone else have severe seafood reactions...dont know wether i am allergic to it all of a sudden or whether it is celiac disease. B4 nearly stangling him i have had him run a few basic allergy tests so we can rule out what is celiac disease and what is allergy.... i think he thinks im going mad...but im paying him so to a certain extent he will do as he is bloody well told...hehehehehe (that felt good)

am gonna go and investigate sites that carriefaith reccommended see if i can find some gluten-free foods that tickle my fancy.

Have a great day guys and thanks for the warm welcome.

just found this site Open Original Shared Link ,has good gluten-free range and ships world wide...ships with an $8 fee(capped) everywhere in australia...so have ordered some CHOCOLATE!!!!!!YUM YUM YUM...ive missed chocolate...also ordered some real food...pasta and such

[skoki-mom]

Hello, just wanted to say welcome and I hope you are feeling well soon. I'm new here too, I was just diagnosed on August 25. I'm lucky I don't have the symptoms many people here have, but I still most definitley have celiac disease.

The lists are great, and I use them myself. However, I must caution you to keep the source in mind if they are American. I live in Canada, and some foods (of the same name/manufacturer) in the US have gluten but in Canada they are gluten-free and vice versa. A brand may have a slightly different formulation because of international manufacturing facilities or practices. It is still a good idea to peruse the label unless you got your list from a specifically Australian site.

I haven't tried a lot of gluten-free bread yet (I think it looks kind of scary, lol), but I have found so far I like brown rice pasta better than corn pasta (my corn pasta seems to get a furry texture when I cook it that I don't like), and I like Kinnikinnick products (I like the pancake/waffle mix, LOVE the double chocolate almond cookies, like the almond cookies and the Montana Chocolate Chip cookies). I have been trying to eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, legumes, etc. If I try to get a lot of naturally gluten-free food, it helps keep the cost of food down. I have always pretty much cooked from scratch and I have found there are a number of alternatives to your gluten loaded faves, you just need to know which brand of soy sauce to buy etc.

Best of luck!

[VydorScope]

celiac disease wrecks havocs on your digestive system so often till you heal you will react to alot more then just hte normal gluten foods, diary is extemly common cause of problems untill ppl heal for exmaple. So keep that in mind. The best thing to do, IMO, is back off foods till you find a base where your no longer sick. Some place to start. Once you have that place, then if you add a food and get sick you know you cant have that one. Then remember in a couple years once your fully healed and "normal" again you can try some of those foods again... as long as they dont have gluten that is You can never ever again have gluten.

[toxemicfrog]

again thanks for the info

just worked out this morning that milo (made on barley) is a problem...was to busy concentrating on wheat and forgot that i have...well had....milo everyday.

seeing my dietician ( 1st time and have been celiac disease for 3 months now..bloody health system)next wed 5th oct so that should help with these hidden gluten products...well not so much hidden but not commonly known of!

am on valium buscopan and maxolon at the moment just to stop the vomiting and keep the spasms at bay and to keep the intestine/colon relaxed...great cocktail

at least the body is to doped up for the vomiting and pain to start again...and with a bit of luck will be able to go back to work by thursday...would give my right booob for everything to feel normal again....with time things will get easier but this week has been horrible so far......what do thay say though...what does not kill you only makes you stronger....lol i will be one strong australian girl by the time i get through this...thats for sure.

gotta go...am searching the net for a list of food additives containing gluten...you know all those numbers in the ingredient list that tell you nothing well im gonna find out what they mean..that should make things clearer.

have a great day guys

[laurelfla]

hi, toximecfrog!

just wanted to say welcome and good luck!! i know how frustrating it can be in the beginning finding out all the things you've been consuming that you didn't realize weren't gluten-free... i too was without the benefit of a dietitian for a few weeks, and i felt really alone! this forum has been a lifesaver, and i'm glad you found it!

here's hoping you feel all better soon.

Laurel.

[toxemicfrog]

hi laurelfla

am off to a natrapath today so heres hoping they can help. This last attack is finally easing up and tommorrow i will be back to work...im a butcher...its amazing how many of our marinades at work have made me sick....they all smell great though, so i live vicariously through my customers.

Does anyone else find that since being on a gluten-free diet(mainly fresh veges, fruit and rice cakes) that the traditional meat and 3 vege for dinner sits very heavy in their stomach. I dont know if its just the change in eating habits cos certainly most of what i am eating now is very light but my normal heavier meals are certainly upsetting my tum.

have a great day guys

[judy05]

hi laurelfla

am off to a natrapath today so heres hoping they can help. This last attack is finally easing up and tommorrow i will be back to work...im a butcher...its amazing how many of our marinades at work have made me sick....they all smell great though, so i live vicariously through my customers.

Does anyone else find that since being on a gluten-free diet(mainly fresh veges, fruit and rice cakes) that the traditional meat and 3 vege for dinner sits very heavy in their stomach. I dont know if its just the change in eating habits cos certainly most of what i am eating now is very light but my normal heavier meals are certainly upsetting my tum.

have a great day guys

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When I was first diagnosed I spent the whole summer in bed. The only way I got better was by eating very simply and light. I ate mostly chicken, pork, potatoes, rice, very bland veggies and fruit. Be careful of any dairy, some of us have a problem with it and it causes many of the same symptoms. I'm 2 years into the diet and can only tolerate Cheddar Cheese. If you follow the diet faithfully I know you will feel better soon. For me it took almost 9 months because i was sick for a long time. Others feel better in a few weeks. Be patient and hang in there.

[toxemicfrog]

hi judy

they told me 15 years ago that i had irritable bowel now the are thinking that i have had celiac disease for a very long time and that will mean the damage to the stomach is going to take some time to heal. Apart from gluten-free diet are thier any other ways to speed up the healing of the colon...lots of bowel cancer in my family so this concerns me.

thanks

[judy05]

hi judy

they told me 15 years ago that i had irritable bowel now the are thinking that i have had celiac disease for a very long time and that will mean the damage to the stomach is going to take some time to heal. Apart from gluten-free diet are thier any other ways to speed up the healing of the colon...lots of bowel cancer in my family so this concerns me.

thanks

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi back to you. The first thing I would do is get a complete GI workup if you haven't already had one. Everyone needs to do this after the age of 40 or even younger, just like a pap test or mammogram. This includes a Colonoscopy and an Endoscopy. I fought the idea for a long time but I'm glad I finally agreed because they found a condition that I didn't know I had, Barrett's Ring around the Esophagus, which can also turn to Cancer. I had to be biopsied for 2 years in a row. My biopsies were both Neg, so now I have to be checked every three years. It is cause by Acid Reflux, I knew I had it but the symptoms were not bad. My husband's family has a history of Colon Cancer and they are currently doing a gene test on his younger brother. My husband has to have the Colonoscopy because he is loaded with polyps. So far, so good, all of the polyps have been benign. If you have these test done it will ease your anxiety and speed up your healing.

Like I said keep your diet bland and gluten-free, watch the dairy. If you get sick a lot I found that peppermint tea helps(make sure it is gluten-free). This can be very boring but it will speed your healing. I always start my day with a banana, it is very soluble and gets me started off on the right track.

Believe it or not but fiber pills are good for both diarrhea and constipation. This has really helped quiet down my GI track. I take Citracel, they are gluten-free. I used to take NuLev, under the tongue, for spasms, I don't get them anymore. Hope these suggestions help. Keep coming back to the board, it sure has helped me.

[toxemicfrog]

hi judy

Thats my mums name so i feel right at home.

Have to go to brisbane for surgery for my daughter (motorbike and barbwire fence...not a good couple and a rather nasty neck wound...this will be the third surgery) and so i will try and see a specialist then....am seeing a dietician in a week so hopefully he can help.

One of my big problems is that when Im glutened because of the body stress, in kicks the epilepsy and the two resident virus' that i carry. Both make you very tired and both kick in when youre run down....so any gluten and its a quadruple whammy for me. I have the crappiest auto immune system and i think it originates from the reasus factor with my parents which meant that muns white blood cells crossed the placental barrier and attacked me as a feotus. All this cos my parents blood types were incompatable. Go figure.

My sister has lupis, mum has hyperthyroidism and one of my brothers is a chronic diabetic. I have encouraged them all to be tested to no avail. Apparently there is no way they could have it....sheesh...I keep telling them that it is hereditary...but they just keep saying that i am the sickly one not them. One day i will get them to liten.

gotta go off to work today for the first time this week due to accidental glutening.

have a nice day.

[judy05]

Just wanted to let you know that it takes time to get your immediate family to get tested. I had a phone call from my daughter asking me to e-mail her the tests she needs to have done. She has a rash on her hands and I have been telling her for a year that she needs to be tested. Her call came out of the blue, but I'm glad she is willing to do it. I have just about given up on my brother. Last week he had surgery on a rectal fistula, he's not supposed to eat ice cream but he won't give it up. He actually has a lot of the GI symptoms that I had but he said he would never go on a gluten-free diet. My Mom had a lot of GI problems too but she was terribly sick with other issues and never got tested, she died on Valentine's day. Be good to your Mum, it's hard to lose them. Take care...

[laurie222]

[ I have encouraged them all to be tested to no avail. Apparently there is no way they could have it....sheesh...I keep telling them that it is hereditary...but they just keep saying that i am the sickly one not them.

I so understand this. Even with my son and I both diagnosed, and my sister with all symptoms, there is "no way she has it either"

There is nothing you can do about it. I just figure that they are going to have to figure it out the hard way. Seven years later, they still haven't figured it out.

[Guest nini]

A couple of good gluten-free Australian products for ya if you haven't found them yet... Real Foods Corn Thins... OMG! These are delish! You can make sandwiches out of them, snack on them like crackers, pile meats and cheese on them like a cracker... eat em like popcorn... (all flavors EXCEPT Rye and Carraway are gluten-free)

And Orgran, this company has a whole line of mixes and flours, the only thing I really recommend is their gluten-free self rising flour mixture and their gluten-free all purpose flour mixture, these are great for baking, gravies, thickeners, etc..

I have a online friend that lives in Queensland that I've known for over 5 years now! Welcome to the board!

[Rikki Tikki]

Hi Frog:

Welcome to the boards. You will find a lot of support and information here. I wanted to add that you need to check your medications to be sure they are gluten free. Also, it took me about three years to really feel well. After the doctor put me on steriods for a chest inflamation it seemed the symptoms of celiac slowed way down.

I noticed you were eating rice cakes, I just read somebody's post that Quaker will not say theirs are gluten-free. I also read that some people have had a reaction to it. Watch your soaps and lotions, anything containing gluten can cause a reaction.

You will get better, just give it time.

My mom was just checked for celiac, she had been really sick and I happened to ask the doctor to check and she was positive. My brother so far refuses to get checked or have his kids checked, seems his doctor told him if he wasn't having symptoms why would he want to go on such an awful diet. No, it's much better to get cancer, what is up with the medical profession?

Anyway, welcome, we will learn from you and you will learn from us!

[nogluten-]

Welcome. The diet definately gets easier over time. You're one of the lucky ones to have discovered you have it.

[FaithInScienceToo]

Hi Newbie ;-)

Just chiming in with my warm "Welcome!"

Hope your daughter's third neck surgery went well - not a fun place to have to have surgery, I imagine...

Best wishes,

Gina

PS - Love your angel avitar!

[toxemicfrog]

thanks everyone for the warm welcome

will keep working on my family....auto immune disorders every where....diabetes, rhumatic fever, lupis, arthritus all sorts....but none of them could possibly be celiac disease...sheesh...frustrating.

SOme rice cakes in Aus are not gluten free but i seem to be fine with the non flavoured variety.

Have had a good weekend ....no pain...no bloating ....whooo hooo...tis good to feel normal.

Dietician on Wednesday ...lets see if he can tell me more than you guys have....seriously doubt it (major break down in faith with medical system) and back to doctor today as they found something amiss with my last lot of bloods. Cross ya fingers its just something simple.

Love the angel to faith...have fairies everywhere in my home ...just love them!

Have a great day!