VioletBlue

I have had fluctuations in my period for the last couple years. Honestly, at 44 I assumed I was entering Menopause and that was the cause. After all I was having hot flashes and mood swings etc etc. I went to see the doctor eventually and found out how low my iron was and one thing led to another which lead to Celiac Disease.

Now a year or so later my periods still fluctuate and are becoming progressively fewer and farther in between. So they believe I have actually entered menopause. Those medical geniuses. Though the hot flashes and mood swings and migraines and what not ceased when I went gluten free and have not returned. Whatever.

Chicken and the egg. Did the menopause come first or Celiacs? I've seen some doctors suggest that Celiac Disease can bring on early menopause. But one thing is known, low iron levels can interfere with a woman's cycle. In my case they became very erratic and I had a couple periods where I bled for nearly four weeks Sincerely upping my iron intact actually appeared to have stopped the bleeding. I am firmly convinced that it's all connected, more so than doctors get; the absorption of vitamins and minerals effects hormone production which effects just about everything else.

I just try not to worry anymore. Granted for me it's easy. I have no children or plans to have children, and in the end I simply save a small fortune on feminine products.

I am the same way. I suffered from hypoglycemia prior to diagnosis. That was what brought on the shakes for me. I have read that it is somewhat common in untreated Celiacs. I also had days where I was always hungry, and when hunger pangs would hit it was such an urgent need I couldn't do much of anything else until I ate.

Now when I actually feel hunger is not as intense an experience and I can actually ignore it and continue with what I was doing. There have been days when I just haven't noticed that I'm hungry and have gone eight hours without eating.

Nope you're not the only one. I used to get bad hunger pains followed by the shakes and irritability, followed by headache or migraine. That was if i didn't eat every 2-3 hours or so. I can now go 4-6 hours between meals, and I don't ever get that severe hunger I used to have. I don't miss it!

I know from experience that some of the Aussie line contains gluten. I've used Pantene products without any problem.

Violet

Hey Gal's I'm looking for gluten-free hair products, I thought mine were and my shampoo's and conditioners r I think,, I use Aussi line but my eyes r still sweeling after I use the hair spay or the scrunching spray

I have hair down to my buttox and usually don't fix it on a daily basis due to medical reasons with my arms.

But on the days it get's shampooed then sprayed I have the eyes swelling and such.

I'm allergice to tons of stuff so kinda hard to find any thing that works for me, so if anyone has ideas- would be greatly appr.

Thanks!

Bea

Rapeseed is very closely related to Canola seeds. Biologically speaking they're kind of fraternal twins. I would think if you could tolerate Canola oil you could handle Rapeseed oil. Likewise, if you can't tolerate Canola oil, Rapeseed oil would be a bad choice.

Violet

It wouldn't contain seeds but the oil is made from that.

I would check into that..if something is made from nuts or nut product and you have intolerances to them I would not eat it.

I wonder how they treat their fries? Some places drench them in a solution to preserve them and keep them from going brown between the time they're cut and the time they're cooked. Those solutions can contain high levels of sulfites which bother some people.

Violet

Today I ate at In-N-Out and had 'protein style' double burger (w/ cheese), fries and med diet coke. I know the effects of when I've been CC'd or directly glutened, but I got pretty sick and it was very different than that of being glutened. Is there anything obvious in these foods that could have made me sick?

I suspect I may also be fairly sensitive to casein (cheese?) , as a DQ blizzard made me sick in a similar way, but with a headache from heck. Yes, I probably got sick because I shouldn't be eating this stuff....

Oh yeah, 'Protein style' is the burger wrapped in lettuce instead of poisoned with a bun.

Ugh. I'm sorry you wound up getting glutened after all that work.

You can rent an RV. It's somewhat expensive, but probably on par with a hotel room for a half dozen people. And usually dealers who rent RV's have several options from small van conversions and pop ups to giant RV's with slide outs.

You might also google tailgating. I know there are some very inventive tailgaters out there who literally bring the kitchen sink with them to games, and some of them do it out of the back of a truck or SUV. It might give you some ideas on setting up a makeshift kitchen. You could also look into vacation home rentals. Some areas, particularly if they're vacation destinations, have rental agencies that just rent out private vacation homes on a daily or weekly basis.

Violet

Great list. It might be easier to add to your list.

I don't believe I saw See's Candy on your list. With the exception of some of their decorated specalties, their chocolates are now gluten free according to their customer service. I believe they're stores are just in the western US though?

Bubbies Pickles, my very favorite pickle in the whole world is gluten free, both the dills and bread and butter chips as well as their dill relish, this from customer service.

Also M&M's candies, milk chocolate peanut almond and dark chocolate. The crunchy blue variety contails gluten.

CoffeMate creamers state they are gluten free on the container.

Many Hormel canned chili products are gluten free. I buy the chili and beans with no problem. You can find that info on other lists on this site.

Many Thai Kitchen products. They will clearly mark theirs. I love their sweet chili sauce and their rice noodles.

And Haagen Dazs vanilla and chocolate ice cream. They have about the simpliest ingredient list of any ice cream out there. For other flavors you need to check the ingredient list for obvious gluten. Their ingredients are as minimal as possible though and clearly show barley or wheat in the content list.

I can only handle moderate amounts of caffeine. Before I was diagnosed I drank the fully leaded coffee without problem. Once I went gluten free the caffeine started to really bother me. It was no longer an energy boost so much as a manic moment. I drank mostly decaf for about nine months after that. Now days I can drink moderate amounts of caffeine and it is pleasantly stimulating. But if I go overboard it zaps my energy and causes concentration issues. If I remember right, caffeine also interferes with iron absorption and that can further impact your energy levels. For me the key is moderation. Well, that and a good espresso machine. Espresso is the only way I can tolerate the taste of decaf.

Violet

I was wondering, if anybody out there has issues with coffee and/or caffeine. I struggle a lot with my energy and sometimes it seems to make things better and sometimes (coffee) it seems to make things worse. Any ideas?

I either buy from Barry Farms through Amazon or at the local Organic store. I can't say enough good things about Barry Farms. I oder enough at once from Amazon to get free shipping. The local organic store is small and can only carry so much. I can count on them to have rice flour if I run out, but I don't see the point in buying little one pound bags from them when I can pay about as much for a 5 lb bag from Amazon.

Violet

That is the best explanation of the feeling I've ever read. I can't explain what the difference is between feeling like that and not, but it's profound. That is how I feel when I've been seriously glutened. Everything takes on a significance that is unrealistic. The difference between how I think and feel about things when I'm on gluten and how I feel when I'm off it is night and day. I was on Celexia for a year or two and it made a huge difference to me as well. Probably the most important thing it taught me was what "normal" feels like.

Violet

My whole life I have had so many issues. In high school I wanted to die everyday. Life seemed so hard for me from such a young age. And the pain and hardship never went away. It never seemed worth it. I would go on my roof and cry out to God... yet I couldn't even cry. I was so numb. I didn't know what to do.

When I took Paxil in college it was like I was released from Hell. I knew it wasn't the answer though. But it was a nice vacation. I knew I had to figure out the underlying cause.

Hi and welcome. I'm glad you're finding help and comfort here. They knew me well at Taco Bell and the local Chinese take out place. I've considered holding a wake for my former lifestyle. I may still do it.

Violet

I'm not the one to ask, LOL. I couldn't eat your chilli. Or indeed most chillis. The red wine red pepper and chilli powder would make me sick. Also it looks like black pepper is an issue for me They all give me horrible gas. Are you all right with peppers otherwise? Do you know how you react to red or green or hot peppers, do you use them very often in things? Red wine tends to be higher in sulfites than white. Do you drink much red or wine in general?

I rarely make chili because I always feel like this afterwards! But my husband wanted some so....now I feel like crap. I can't understand why?? Unless I'm missing something it should be gluten free! ground beef, yellow onion, Campbell's tomato juice, Kroger red beans, red wine, chili powder, red pepper, black pepper, salt, vinegar, cheddar cheese on top. It starts immediately (I just ate an hour ago and now I'm miserable) Plus we eat beans regularly and they don't usually bother me. Does anybody know something I don't? Why do I feel glutened???

Oh and I was surprised by how good it tasted. I was prepared to grin and bear it if I had to, but it's actually very good

One of the advantages to Redbridge I've discovered is that it's made by anheuser busch. While no store within an hours drive of me stocks it, I was able to ask a small local market if they could order me a case. It turns out not to be a problem. Just about every store that carries beer receives AB deliveries on a regular basis. If the driver doesn't have it on the truck, he can get it next time around. Yes the store tacked on overhead, but I'm so thrilled to have something to drink I don't care. And a case is going to last me a while since I only drink one or two a week.

Violet

So can you eat things like lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, celery? Salads are a good option if you're able to handle raw veggies. Add a simple oil and vinagar dressing with a few herbs or spices in it and you're set. You can also include boneless chicken stripes or shrimp in your salads. Or you can cut out the lettuce part all together and just do a crudites of fresh cut veggies. Are you all right with potatoes? You can do wonders with potatoes from twice baked, to home made french fries or quarters.

Violet

my diet is very limited now. after getting tested for food allergies i have to cut out dairy, eggs, gluten, soy, ginger, mustard and most nuts. right now im eating mostly chicken, turkey, salmon, shrimp, avocados, gluten-free cornbread (made w/o eggs), sweet potatoes, red potatoes, rice, quinoa, green beans and spinach. im getting very board with these foods but feel better when i keep my dishes simple. anyone have suggestions? id appreciate your help

And there's the lovely thing about research. I've read research that says Vitamin D from a pill is virtually worthless because the body can't process it in that form. That piece of research claimed that the body gets only limited benefits from Vitamin D pills.

But I don't accept that one piece of research as fact, nor do I base my life on it. Research and opinions vary on just about every health science issue out there. I could find you research that makes a case for grass fed beef over grain and vice versa when it comes to how healthy it is for the average human to eat - it's all about who did the research, what they wanted to prove and their methodology.

The Vitamin D issue is also important and I've found you can take quite a large dose when trying to elevate and maintain your levels. Personally, I wonder if as many women who are told they have soft bones really do. Doctors are all too anxious to put people on meds for that and I don't think it's always necessary. They aren't even told about Vitamin D and magnesium. I pretty much take the supplements, eat a healthy diet and stay active and don't worry too much about the bone issue. I'm confidant it can be improved.

When I realize I've eaten something with gluten in it I stop eating it. Bad is bad is bad. I've even spit out what was in my mouth if I realized while I was chewing. It never occured to me to just keep eating because the damage was already done. I wouldn't keep eating gluten anymore than I'd keep eating poison if I realized there was some in my food. It has nothing to do with logic or amount for me. I know the stuff causes damage, makes me sick and affects my mood. Knowing that I wouldn't knowingly eat it or keep eating it. That just follows for me. It's the way my brain works.

I understand sniiiffffffffffff . . . You have my sincere sympathies.

I had to do the same awhile back. This week I realized peppers have the same effect on me. I LOVE fresh red and yellow peppers. I suspect eggplant has the same effect on me too but I haven't tested it out yet.

It totally sucks. Never to taste a french fry again . . .

Violet

HAHAHAHAHAHA my whole face is swelled up

my nose is running I am sneezing and I got D .

So I am removing them from my ever-growing list of no no foods

I know you all understand thanks for letting me whine.

lovelove

sickchick

Ahhhh, thank you for solving yet another mystery. And thank you for going into details that I know had to be unpleasant for you.

I had episodes of that for years and years, from my late twenties until a year or so ago. The doctors had no clue. They'd test for strep and get nothing and give me antibiotics which had no effect.

But I also haven't had an episode of it for at least a year, possibly a little longer. I've been gluten free for 13 months. Another coincidence? I think not.

Violet

Is it stuck in your tonsils? You can rinse them out with a water pik or even gently nudge them out with a Q-Tip. It's called cryptic tonsillitis and the only cure is a tonsillectomy. I started getting it in my early twenties and they treated it with antibiotics. But it is almost impossible to clear because of the nature of the the gland. I wound up getting infected ears repeatedly to the point I have low level hearing loss in one. It was a case of young person and stupid HMO dr that kept me from getting treated. It hurt like I can't even tell you but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

If you get one of those out, give it a sniff. It will smell like-----the most horrible stench you've ever smelled. Push under the spot and it should pop out. Gross, huh? Oral cancer is usually a patch not a chunk.

Not the most pleasant thing I've ever typed in the am. Ask anything you want if you think I might be right.

Is there somewhere you can put the gluten free pots and pans and cutting board, either up on a higher shelf or outside of the kitchen or in a closet or something? It would be a pain to go get them everytime you wanted to cook, but it could be that part of the reason he uses your stuff is because he can't remember which is which or is just too darn lazy to go looking for the right one. If it's harder to get to yours maybe he won't bother? I've found that men tend to live in the moment and do what's easiest rather than considering long term consequences. They like immediate results.

Can you cover the cutting board in plastic wrap or foil, something you can remove to use it but that he would not be inclinded to bother to do? Plus it would serve as a reminder that he shouldn't be using it. Maybe stuff a little "gluten free" note under the plastic wrap so it's visible when he goes to use it Sometimes humor and or passive agressive avoidance can work as well as a knock down drag out.

The wiping the counter thing is a problem. I've wound up using a part of the kitchen counter at work that doesn't usually get used because it's further from the frig and microwave. I just let the rest of the counter accumulate crumbs and wait for the cleaning lady to come in. Is there counter space you can visually cordan off or something, maybe a big piece of paper taped to it that reads "Gluten Free Counter"? Let him clean up his own space and hopefully he eventually will? Leave crumbs alone long enough and sooner or later they grow feet and start walking.

Violet

Soy Sauce should have a pretty simple ingredient list: Soy Wheat Water and Salt. So if it's wheat free it's a pretty good bet it's gluten free. Gotta love it. Sometimes store employees choose to err on the side of caution. So go look at the bottles in the store and read the labels and see. The two brands I know of that are gluten free are the San J and LaChoy. LaChoy is not the best tasting stuff, but it may be easier to find in a mainstream grocery store.

My tolerance for alcohol seems to have changed quite a bit. Now I can't feel the effects of a single glass of wine or a beer, while before just one would make me a little tipsy. But there are few things left I can drink so it's not like it really matters Getting "comfortable" on Redbridge Beer isn't really appealing to me. I don't seem to be able to tolerate hard alcohols anymore, and I've only found one brand of sparkling wine low enough in sulfites for me to be able to drink, and even then I can only have one glass or it starts to bother me.

I sometimes miss the days of dirty vodka martinis.

Violet

I have a problem with sulfites. Many dried fruit products use sulfites to preserve color, and many chemically processed starches are treated with sulfites to prevent color changes and or bleach them. Sulfites are also used and or occur naturally in other foods in varying degrees.

I've read that most people with a sulfite allergy suffer asthma attacks. But for me, the food or drink with sulfites either goes right through me in record time or makes me physically uncomfortable within minutes. But then I've had chronic bronchitis for so long I doubt I'd know of I was having an asthma attack. I'd probably assume it was just another bronchitis coughing fit.

I am trying to use the powers of the internet, but does anyone know of anything that causes mouth-to-butt GI problems with any form of sugar/fruit/grain/starch?

This cannot be normal. I refuse to believe I must subsist off of meat and vegetables.

Grumble grumble grumble . . . yeah, I remember looking them up. Sweet potatoes and Yams are not nightshades but from different families of plants. Didn't matter in my case, Sweet Potatoes made me sicker than potatoes did . . . sigh . . . But avacados are a wonderful food. When I can find good ones I eat them on or with everything. I make a cheese and avacado omlet. I love it in salads or cold pastas, or just as a side dish sliced with salt and garlic powder.

Violet

Nope--sweet potatoes are not nightshades. Just the white ones

My diet these days does not contain potatoes or GMO corn or sunflower oil or cucumbers or gluten or non organic starches or sodium nitrates or sulfite's or many legumes or . . . the list goes on. Every one thing that I CAN EAT is a triumph for me. I relish each thing I can still eat that does not give me gas, a rash, diarrhea, make me itch or keep me in the bathroom for a good part of the day.

I drink milk and eat cheese. I eat eggs. I consume white sugar. I relish chocolate. I eat meat. I drink coffee. And when I can find an alcoholic beverage that doesn't contain gluten or sulfite's I drink it. None of those things cause my body distress. What my body likes and doesn't like determines what I eat. All the studies in the world don't mean anything to me anymore. My body decides from now on. My body is the ultimate authority on what is good for me.

I've had to alter my diet on what seems to be almost a weekly basis for the last year since being diagnosed. I hope those that haven't had their dietary world turned upside down by Celiac Disease realize how lucky they are.

Violet

Edit: Animal protein is not "pretty much unavoidable" if one is celiac or gluten intolerant. When I cut out gluten, I didn't have to change my diet that much. I merely had to sub in with nongluten grains. There are plenty of us out there than manage quite well. I have more recipes than I can ever hope to try. If you want to eat animal protein, fine. But realize that this is your choice, not something imposed on you by celiac.

I am assuming that you are a vegetarian because they usually refer to meat as "animal protein"....which it is but most meat eaters refer to it as meat. If you are not I stand corrected. I would probably have difficulty in believing that a non-meat eating culture would all have strong bones due to that one factor alone. Meat, like anything else, must be eaten in moderation and not in the amounts traditionally eaten by many Americans. It offers many nutrients and I would never have gotten my iron levels back to normal had I not eaten red meat after diagnosis. My soft bones were caused by 20 years of malabsorption and not because I eat red meat a couple of times a month. I'm also sure there are probably many vegetarians who eventually will develop osteopenia or osteoporosis.

As far as eating meat being pretty much unavoidable with a Celiac diagnosis, to me it is if you want variety in your diet. Many vegetarians do not do the diet correctly and end up with deficiencies. I'm not saying all do but I know quite a few who did. I love vegetables and eat them in many ways but having to cut out gluten does limit your choices more than the general population. I also feel man was designed to be carnivores for a reason and there are nutrients that come with meat that some feel important to have. I have no problems if a person chooses to be a vegetarian but I've had too many personal experiences with fervent vegetarians who think meat is the root of all evil and I definitely don't agree with that.