mbrookes

I can drink any distilled spirits except gin. I think it must be the botanicals that are added after distillation to give flavor. I can drink bourbon, scotch, rum and tequila with no reaction.

My favorite is a potato vodka (I think from Poland) called Luksusowa (Spelling is close) It is available in most liqour stores here and is not expensive.

Red or white wine (including sparkling) give me no trouble.

Someone earlier mentioned a diminished tolerance. Do watch out for that. And remember, the amount can give you a bad reaction just as it does our non-celiac friends.

Gluten free beer (I like Redbridge) is great with pizza or Mexican, but here it is about never available in a bar or restaurant. I do wish more places carried it, and they will if enough of us ask for it.

Yep. I've got it, and it bout drives me crazy. Do you suppose it is in any way connected to Celiac?

All the medications for it seem to have such dreadful side effects that I have decided to just live with it.

Any body got "home remedies" or suggestions other than high powered drugs?

Hey,

That was me. I don't remember where it was either, but I will look at some of the places I usually go.

I know it is hard for others to put up with us sometimes, but it really is a natural condition as opposed to an act.

I have had some rough times (divorced with 2 small ones, lost both parents, job problems etc) but it does all seem to work out OK. Kids are grown and doing great. Remarried to a WONDERFUL man. Much better job and retiring in 8 months.

I guess what I mean to say is it's not that we don't have problems... sometimes huge ones... it is just a different way of reacting. I wish I could remember who said it: I can't always control what happens to me; I can only control the way I react.

Try putting "Pollyanna" in the key word search box. The quote you're looking for is under "Only a few weeks in and not trusting...." all the way to the end.

Nothing to eat? Surely, you jest.

How about fruit, vegetables, meat... or do you mean packaged convenience foods?

Have a Snicker and a Coke. (gluten-free)

Have some Lays potato chips and a V_8 (gluten-free)

There is tons of stuff to eat... you just have to look for what you CAN have as opposed to what you can NOT have.

I feel its a bit tough for me too a this moment...just gluten free for one month doing better but its hard to eat out .its like eating with anxiety hoping that you are not going to be glutened....i guess its live and learn, I'm glat to have read your post it makes me feel better to know that I'm not alone with this

Diva

You are far from alone, my dear. Our name is legion.

One thing... because of the very nature of Celiac Disease it will have a great deal of control over you, but don't let it take over your whole life.

Part of eating out is the social side, which I contend is necessary for mental health. The simple fact is... be as careful as you possibly can and you will still get a dose of poison occasionally. Suffer through and start again. No guilt, anger or any other negative emotion will speed your recovery, so don't waste the energy.

(Feel free to roll your eyes and call me Pollyanna. I've always been like this and don't expect I'll change any time soon)

I specifically avoided the bakery at the store, which is not easy to do. The closest I got was the fruits. When I got up today, I felt OK, not great, but my hubby woke me up by locking himself out - again...

So I got home, and now I'm dizzy, migraine started, and I feel weak all over. I called in sick to work, because I just feel like junk.

But, is this going to happen every week at the store?? This is very frustrating! I can't tell if its that, or from kissing my hubby after he'd eaten pizza! See, when I'm home I feed him Gluten Free, lol, so this hasn't happened yet!

So, I guess I'm not sure which one caused it. I'm really frustrated, cause I'd been feeling soooo good.

I can't believe walking through the bakery dept would cause a problem. You don't get gluten by breathing the aroma of bread!

The kissing? Unless he had big hunks of the pizza crust stuck in his mouth that shouldn't be a problem, either .

If I were you, I would l;ook for some other hidden source of gluten.

Just got my results from the biopsy and the pathologist said there was inflammation which showed the beginnings of celiac. However, the nurse practioner was hesitant to call it celiac because my blood didn't show it! She wants me to go back on gluten to redo the blood test which I said no. Enterolab found high IgA, fecal fat, the dr who did the endoscopy said she saw flattened folds and now the patholigist thinks its celiac. Plus, gluten-free has cleared my rashes and stopped my gi symptoms. So why won't she call it celiac? Any one else experience this?

Laurel

My blood tests were"inconclusive" but my gut was slick as an oil spill. Yep. That's celiac. Maybe the NP doesn't realize that the biopsy trumps the blood tests.

You can find out about cosmetics etc by calling the companies involved. Almost all companies will be totally cooperative.

One word of warning as you start this journey into gluten free good health. Don't listen to the whiners and complainers. There are lots of them AND THEY WILL NOT BE HELPFUL.

Living totally gluten free is not the easiest thing in the world, but it is very "do-able". If you don't cook much, expect that to change. Some foods will be safe only if you know what's in them (I make fried chicken, fried catfish, hush puppies, pizza, brownies... lots of stuff, but I KNOW what's in them)

You can eat out, but avoid fast food (Set recipes and frequently pre-prepared food) Restaurants that prepare food when it is ordered can tailor to your needs. Remind them (make a joke of it) to use clean utensils and cooking surfaces.

I know. I am the gluten-free cheerleader. But I feel so good and I know that I want to keep on feeling good. Don't let any one rain on your parade. I'll help whenever I can, but so will most people if you just ask them.

It seems to me that the first logical step would be to ask your present doctor to refer you to a GI who is familiar with celiac, possibly at a teaching hospital if there is one near by.

I hope it is the experiences some of you have had that are unusual and not mine. Every person, family member or friend, that I am in contact with has been very concerned about my health and they knock them selves out trying to be helpful.

A woman I work with but don't even know away from the office brought me a pkg of gluten-free biscuit mix. She saw it while shopping a thought of me.

No one has said a single mean or belittleing comment.

Surely more people have this kind of experiences. I cannot imagine being that cruel and unfeeling toward a stranger, much less a family member or friend.

Cereal is my favorite for breakfast, with or without fruit. Corn Chex and Rice Chex are both gluten-free and there are good cornflakes and fake Cheerios that are also gluten-free. I can't remember the brands right now, but they are both generally available anywhere with a gluten-free section.

Dr. Shirley Donelson

Jackson, MS

She saved my life. I was at the end... severe malnutrition, renal failure, dehydration, BP 60/40 when I wound up in the emergency room. Thank Goodness she was on call. She had me tested for Celiac as soon as I was stable.

Now. a year sand a half later, my quality of life has improved immeasurably. Gluten free is not so hard when you consider the alternative!

For a little country town that got fat (That's Jackson) we have a startling number of excellent physicians. Of course, having the medical school here with a teaching hospital doesn't hurt.

All that "Eastern" medicine sounds suspect to me... awfully close to wierd science.

Find a good nutritionist. Your "Western" doctor or a teaching hospital should be able to reccommend one. Then learn how to become truly gluten free. If you think you have other allergies (eggs, dairy) be tested for them.

Your gut is in a mess if you have just been diagnosed Celiac. Eat easily digested foods for at least 6 months to heal. Then add ather things back gradually.

Celiac is a reaction to gluten... not a result of what foods you eat together or the time between eating certain foods.

I'm not saying your Eastern specialist is not sincere and maybe right for some people. There are, however, a lot of charlatans that will take your money without any ability to really help you.

I very rarely have trouble eating out. The higher end places actually are safer, as each meal is fixed especially for that order and you can specify what to NOT include.

I eat out a lot and frequently use a card that explains the foods to avoid. We are such a litigous society that most places will be very careful not to make you sick so you won't sue them. Lousy reason, but it works.

Chains are a special challenge as they often have recipes set in stone or use pre packaged foods. Even they don't know what is in them.

I have not had a problem with anything except gin. Vodka, bourbon, wine, scotch are all OK I really do like Red Bridge beer, but no bars or restaurants around here carry it. I can only buy it at the store for home. Do the bars/restaurants carry Red Bridge where y'all are?

I've had to learn that not all tummy upsets are Celiac related. Example: I had diarrea during a course of antibiotics (normal) and too much wine (also normal) It is easy once diagnosed to blame everything on gluten, but that is not always the case.

[Welda, I like what you said about others relaxing. I know just what you mean. And I'm almost over the "poor me" except for occasional bouts. It has been 14 months since I wsa diagnosed.

I know I am fortunate because I don't have a lot of sensitivities other than gluten. Dairy, eggs and most other stuff is OK for me. I've read that distilled alcohol is safe, but it is not for me. I do love a martini, but now it is a potato vodka martini.

Thank goodness for wine, tequila and rum. I sound like a big old drunk, but I just have a very active social life.

I am sorry that so many of us seem to have trouble with depression. I guess I felt so bad (in fact, I was in the hospital near death) that I can put up with anythinmg that makes me feel so good. I am 64 years old and have more energy than I have had for years.

I guess my message is "hang in there" Gluten free, although difficult, is totally worth it!

I was diagnosed Jan of 2008. A few months later my Dr. started me on B12 shots (I give to myself once a month) and more recently on prescription D. I just keep feeling better and better, unless I slip up and poison myself.

Thank you much. That should help.

That pretty much rules out Taco Bell for me. Oh, well.

I was so excited when I got the CIA baking book... you just KNOW their stuff will be good. Now I can't find one of the ingredients in the flour. Where do you get albumin? I have looked evereywhere I know. I guess it is a form of dried egg white. My local stores don't have it and I can't even find it on the net.

I can tell you something NOT to try... I was going to make a pie crust like a graham cracker crust, but use gluten-free ginger snaps. I loaded up the food processor with gluten-free ginger snaps and turned it on. It souinded like a load of rocks. The cookies did not crumble. They just bounced around.

Next I triesd the blender with even worse results. I was afraid the blades would break off.

Finally, I lined the pie tin with whole cookies and poured the filling over them. Turned out to be a great Key Lime Pie. Just don't try to make gluten-free ginger snap crumbs. My husband is still laughing about it (as he gobbles the last of the pie)

There are so many gluten-free cookbooks and recipes available that I cook only gluten free for my family and guests. Nobody knows the differeence, except that there is no bread. In fact, I just had my family here for Thanksgiving and served all gluten free food, even desserts. Everyone raved!

Just tell your family that this is something you have to do to stay healthy. There will be no more gluten cooked in your kitchen. They can eat all the gulten they want when they eat away from home.

This may sound selfish, but what good are you to them when you are sick?

Recipes... now you are in my territory.

Brown a small rump roast in a bit of olive oil.

Put it in the crock pot along with small Irish potatoes

quartered carrots

quartered onions

small chunks of sweet potato

1 cup gluten-free beef broth (Swanson's is good)

Cook on low about 8 hours.

Thicken juice for gravy by mixing a little corn starch with water and gently boiling until thick.

Add salt and pepper as desired after cooking.

This usually lasts husband and me for 2 dinners and an office lunch.