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

In Search Of Help.

carmello1521

Recommended Posts

carmello1521 Newbie
carmello1521
Posted

Hey guys,

I'm pretty new to this whole thing. I'm 15 years old and yesterday was the first day of my sophomore year or highschool. A week ago yesterday I had a stomach scope done. For the last 8 months I have been struggling with intense stomach problems. I had the hida scan, an ultra sound, blood tests for various types of ulcer related problems. However, they never tested me for a gluten allergy. When the surgeon had discovered my inflamed small intestine he decided to take a sample of my tissue. He told us there was a slight chance I had a gluten allergy, but it was very low. That is was probably caused by stress. Yesterday, I recieved a call confirming I had celiac disease, only half way through my first day of school. I truly believed that that wasn't going to be the problem, so it took me back quite a bit upon learning that it was. Now I'm struggling knowing that this is a life time problem. It's honestly depressing to know. I'm also struggling with finding gluten free foods. I live in a small town (no walmart) so it's been hard. I really could just use some advice and maybe some easy foods to eat without gluten? Please, I'm feeling really lost seemings as nobody I know has this problem...

Thanks!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

I promise it gets easier. I had a surprise diagnosis too and didn't take it particularly well, but threw myself into everything gluten free because what choice did I have? Before I realized it, everything was second nature to me.

 

All I can really think of is to read the newbie thread at the top of the coping section. That will help you get a good grasp on getting started. If your shopping options are really limited you'll be stuck doing whole foods. Its really healthy anyway, but that doesn't make it any less sucky in the beginning to be giving up foods you love. As time passes you'll take on new challenges like baking and such (you can order flours online) and you won't feel the least bit deprived. Check out the local store's health food section if they have one, lots of places mix in the gluten free stuff with that area. Or some just have it on the shelf with everything else and you have to kind of do a scavenger hunt for it if you want something specific. Lots of people suggest giving up milk (temporarily until you begin to heal), but frankly unless you have an obvious problem with it I think its just silly to deprive yourself of one more thing at an already difficult time.

 

You may want to have your parents set up a 504 plan for you for school. This is just a thing that will lets the school be aware of the problem and how to accommodate you. Things like making sure you can always use a bathroom immediately if you need to go. (Stealing this from another thread...) Being able to carry a water bottle because lets face it, people put their gross gluteny mouths right on the water fountains like pigs so you can't use them. Whatever you specifically need, the plan can be set up to cover. Every 504 is individualized to the student. You may need to get out of cooking classes or have them modified if the teacher is up for that. Sometimes teachers have treats (apparently even in high school :blink:) and such, and maybe you need to be able to keep something with you so you aren't left out. Just lots of little things that will keep you this side of normal.

 

Anywho... welcome. I'm sure you'll find lots of good advice if you poke around. And if it makes you feel better, you can still eat all the bacon you want. :D

tka Apprentice
tka
Posted

Carmello,

It will be hard, but just know it does get better. When I first went gluten-free, I lived on rotisserie chicken, brown rice or baked potato and veges. My local store has some gluten-free foods in the frozen food section or health food section. You just need to get really good at watching labels. I can usually easily find different kinds of gluten-free pasta and meats are ok (except be sure to check processed meats).There are cereals and frozen waffles that are good gluten-free choices.

I agree that you should let the administration at school know about your diagnosis and push for a 504 plan. You could try taking rollups of gluten-free lunch meat and cheese to school. There are lots of nuts and chips that are ok and many types of candy are as well.

Definitely check out the newbie thread. Educate yourself as well as you can.

Thought I'd pass along a link to one of my favorite little treats when I get the craving for some "normal" food: Gluten free donut holes. I bake them, not fry. Open Original Shared Link

Keep in touch and let us know how you're doing.

mommy2krj Explorer
mommy2krj
Posted

Hugs to you. It does get easier as you figure out what you can and can't eat. The newbie thread really is very good and any of the threads about dinner or lunches will help too....and give you some ideas for when you're feeling ambitious and what to try something new.

Good luck! Feel free to ask questions, we're here and we all have varying levels of knowledge or things that worked well for us.

 

I would suggest....not eating or attempting to eat any gluten free bread right now....although, my 15 year old son actually liked it right off the bat so who knows. :) There is a blog called Gluten Away.com run by a 16 year old with an adrenal disorder and Celiac disease. He has lots of really simple recipes on his site. I would definitely go check that site out as well. I know it can help to talk to someone your own age. :)

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

If you want donuts that are better than gluten donuts, as my gluten eating husband will tell anyone, try these. I make donut holes because it seems pointless and stupid to waste time and energy making them into round donuts. It makes like a bazillion, and you can freeze the ready to fry dough for later. Also, you won't have to find pancake mix since you're worried about that. You can just get them shipped right to you. Open Original Shared Link

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Hi Carmello,

 

Welcome to the forum! :)  The good thing about starting young on the gluten-free diet is that you will have a lifetime of healthy eating.  After you get used to eating gluten-free it is not a big deal at all.  You can bring snacks with you in  a backpack or something when you go out, so you don't have to worry about not having something safe to eat.  Things like fruits, or Lara bars or nuts are easy to carry around.  Mission brand corn tortillas and chips are good.  If you get the soft corn tortillas you can make mini-wraps with them.  They are much cheaper than gluten-free bread.

 

But mostly you want to stick with whole foods instead of processed foods.  Whole foods are foods in their natural state, like apples, bananas, chicken or beef etc.  Pizza, unfortunately , is not a whole food.  It is made of several different foods all put together in a pizza factory somewhere.  There are gluten-free pizza's available these days though.  Just don't make processed foods a big part of your diet.  It is really helpful to learn to cook when you have celiac disease.  There is often a celiac support group in the area that can help with local information.  And many restraunts do offer gluten-free options these days.  Some will let you take you own food in to eat.  But it is good to check ahead of time on that.

 

Helpful threads:

FAQ Celiac com
https://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/forum-7/announcement-3-frequently-asked-questions-about-celiac-disease/

Newbie Info 101
https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/91878-newbie-info-101/

 

Dessert thread
https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/93840-whats-for-dessert-tonight/page__pid__802399#entry802399

Easy yummy bread in minutes
https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/56641-easy-yummy-bread-in-minutes/
 

Super Easy Meal Ideas Anyone?
https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/97027-super-easy-meal-ideas-anyone/
 

dilettantesteph Collaborator
dilettantesteph
Posted

You now know the source of your problems and you can fix them.  There are all sorts of foods that you are probably already eating that don't contain gluten.  Potatoes, rice, meat, vegetables, fruit, eggs and lots more.  No problem.  You may need to start doing some cooking, but that can be really rewarding and fun.  My son is 16 and cooks our meals these days.  He does a great job too.  There are so many great things to this life.  It can seem hard at first, but once you get used to the idea, not eating gluten is no big deal.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,145
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Kundrey
    Newest Member
    Kundrey
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Headaches / Migraines and Hypoglycaemia

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Sarah Grace,  Thank you for the update!  It's so good to hear from you!  I'm glad Thiamine, B Complex and magnesium have helped you.  Yes, it's important to take all three together.    I had to quit eating cheese and nuts a long time ago because they triggered migraines in me, too.  They are high in tyrosine, an amino acid, found also in fermented foods like sauerkraut and red wine.   I found taking Tryptophan very helpful with migraines.  Tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin and people with migraines are often low in serotonin.  (Don't take tryptophan if you're taking an SSRI.)     This recent study shows tryptophan really helps. The association between dietary tryptophan intake and migraine https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31254181/   For immediate respite from a migraine, try smiling REALLY BIG, mouth closed, tongue pressed against roof of mouth, and crinkle up your eyes like you just heard or saw the funniest thing...  This causes an endorphin release in the brain.  Usually it's the funny event, then the endorphin release and then the smile.  Smiling first makes the endorphin center think it missed something and it catches up quickly by releasing endorphins after the big crinkle eyed smile.  Must make crinkly eyes with smile or it won't work.  If you do this too frequently within a short time frame (several hours), you can deplete your endorphins, but you'll make more in a couple of hours, so no worries. Get your thyroid checked, too.  Migraines are also seen in low thyroid function (Hashimoto's or hypothyroidism).  Celiac and thyroid problems go hand in hand.   Vitamin D helps, too.  Low Vitamin D is found in migraine.   I'm so glad you're doing better.  
    • Jmartes71
      Related issues

      By Jmartes71 · Posted

      Its been a complete nightmare dealing with all these health issues one thing after another and being told many different things.I am looking for a new primary care physician considering when I told my past doctor of 25 years I was diagnosed before any foods eliminated from my diet and now this year at age 54 no longer able to push considering Im always exhausted, leg pain , stomach,skin and eye issues,high blood pressure to name a few all worsen because I was a  school bus driver and few years until my immune system went to hell and was fired because of it.Im still struggling now, Im sibo positive and been told im not celiac and that I am.I have a hernia and dealing with menopause. Its exhausting and is causing depression because of non medical help. Today I saw another gastrointestinalist and he said everything im feeling doesn't add up to celiac disease since my ITg levels are normal so celiac disease is under control and it's something else. I for got I had Barrett's esophagus diagnosed in 2007 because recent doctors down played it just like my celiac disease. Im currently looking for a pcp in my area because it is affecting me personally and professionally. Im told since celiac looks under control it's IBS and I need to see a therapist to control it. Gastrointestinalist around here think only food consumption and if ITG looks normal its bit celiac disease it's something else. Is this right? This is what im being told. I want medical help but told its IBS.Im feel lost by " medical team "
    • trents
      Headaches / Migraines and Hypoglycaemia

      By trents · Posted

      My migraines generally have their onset during the early morning hours as well. Presently, I am under siege with them, having headaches all but two days so far this month. I have looked at all the things reported to be common triggers (foods, sleep patterns, weather patterns, stress, etc.). Every time I think I start to see a pattern it proves not to pan out in the long run. I'm not sure it's any one thing but may, instead, be a combination of things that coalesce at certain times. It's very frustrating. The medication (sumatriptan or "Imatrix") is effective and is the only thing that will quell the pain. NSAIDs, Tylenol, even hydrocodone doesn't touch it. But they only give you 9 does of sumatriptan a month. And it doesn't help that medical science doesn't really know what causes migraines. They know some things about it but the root cause is still a mystery.
    • Scott Adams
      Tamale ingredients

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      These are labeled gluten-free: https://www.amazon.com/Corn-Husks-Tamales-Authentic-Flavorful/dp/B01MDSHUTM/
    • Wheatwacked
      GI DX celiac despite neg serology and no biopsy

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      Just a gluten free diet is not enough.  Now you have to identify and replenish your malnutrition.  Celiac disease is co-morbid with malabsorption syndrome.  Low vitamin D, Low Thiamine caused Gastointeston Beriberi, low choline, low iodine are common the general population, and in newly diagnosed Celiacs in the western culture its is more likely.  It takes time to heal and you need to focus on vitamins and minerals.  Gluten free foods are not fortified like regular processed foods.  
×
×
  • 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.