Jump to content

Gluten-Free Guy

Advanced Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    22

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Profiles

Forums

Events

Blogs

Celiac.com - Celiac Disease & Gluten-Free Diet Support Since 1995

Everything posted by Gluten-Free Guy

  1. Gluten-Free Guy
    I'm not a doctor and every person reacts differently to gluten, but I'll try to answer your questions. It is possible to have the gene but not the intolerance. No one knows what causes a formerly tolerant person to become intolerant. The change can happen at any age. I belong to a large celiac support group and at our monthly meetings we have newly...
  2. Gluten-Free Guy
    I know it's difficult to make such a complete and permanent change in your eating lifestyle, but the worst thing you can do is cheat and occasionally ingest gluten, even a trace. I don't remember where I found this paragraph, but it clearly explains why you should never, never, never cheat: "The gluten-free diet must be carefully and continuously followed...
  3. Gluten-Free Guy
    First, let me say "It will get better." When I was first diagnosed 7 years ago, I was overwhelmed, but now it's pretty easy for me to be gluten-free. The riskiest thing is eating out, not only at restaurants, but also at people's homes, school cafeterias, etc. You say you eat yogurt. Most Yoplait flavors are safe (and probably some other brands), but...
  4. Gluten-Free Guy
    Every person is different, but as far as I know, the only solution to being glutened is to wait it out. Let it work its way out of your system. The length of time varies per person. You must always be careful about what you consume. Cross contamination is a concern. Utensils, pots and pans, cooking surfaces, etc., may harbor crumbs or other traces of...
  5. Gluten-Free Guy
    You asked about potential damage. Gluten, even in trace amounts, causes internal damage. I don't remember where I found this paragraph, but it clearly explains why you should never, never, never consume gluten in any amount: "The gluten-free diet must be carefully and continuously followed. When untreated, the disease can cause life-threatening complications...
  6. Gluten-Free Guy
    I have been on a gluten-free diet for over six years and have been very careful to avoid accidental glutening. I've only been glutened two or three times. Regarding the pain, before I was diagnosed, the pain was so bad that I often could not eat for 24 hours or longer. I even had trouble drinking water because it made the pain worse. I'd get over the...
  7. Gluten-Free Guy
    I can understand your frustration. It does get tiresome. I see several comments about food, but another source of gluten is prescription and over-the-counter medications. Making it even more frustrating is the fact that manufacturers can change formulations or suppliers and an item (medicine or food) that is gluten-free today may not be tomorrow. You...
  8. Gluten-Free Guy
    As the others mentioned above, you may have other allergies along iwth the celiac disease. Another problem may be hidden gluten in medications, cross-contamination, dining out, etc. Cross contamination: Utensils, pots and pans, cooking surfaces, etc., may harbor crumbs or other traces of gluten. For example, you need a separate toaster that is dedicated...
  9. Gluten-Free Guy
    I suspect the caterer or the hotel chef can take care of you, although cross-contamination could be a concern, depending on how knowledgeable they are about gluten-free. A light-weight, very portable backup food is Quaker Instant Grits (check the label to be sure they are still gluten-free). All you need is a bowl or cup of hot water which the server...
  10. Gluten-Free Guy
    The worst thing you can do is cheat and occasionally ingest gluten, even a trace. I don't remember where I found this paragraph, but it clearly explains why you should never, never, never cheat: "The gluten-free diet must be carefully and continuously followed. When untreated, the disease can cause life-threatening complications. A delayed diagnosis or...
  11. Gluten-Free Guy
    I don't see that anyone mentioned two other sources of gluten. As you probably already know, eating out is the most risky thing a celiac can do, whether at a restaurant, the home of family or friends, school, church potlucks, treat days at work, etc. Some restaurants are learning to handle gluten-free. At www.triumphdining.com, you can order "The Essential...
  12. Gluten-Free Guy
    I presume you are diagnosed with celiac sprue. While rice is a good product for most celiacs, it may not be for all. I know a diagnosed celiac who has allergic reactions (though not severe) to rice and she avoids consuming it as much as possible. She will, on rare occasions, consume a small quanitity such as in a muffin made from a flour mix containing...
  13. Gluten-Free Guy
    You may want to do some research into the independent (not the manufacturer's) scientific and medical validations to confirm the safety and effectiveness of any enzyme product claiming to assist celiacs in the digestion of gluten. At the national conference of the Celiac Sprue Association in October 2007, an expert expressed his opinion that one of these...
  14. Gluten-Free Guy
    Hidden gluten is a real problem. Even though federal labeling law requires identification of wheat or its derivatives, barley and rye need not be identified as allergens. Rye generally is not a hidden problem. Barley is a problem because its derivatives are used frequently as flavorings (malt) and as colorings, etc. Up to this time, there has been no...
  15. Gluten-Free Guy
    I'm glad you were able to express your concerns to the group of friendly celiacs in this forum. There are many fine, supportive, knowledgeable people here. I don't know where you live, but I would suggest joining a celiac support group located in your area. I have belonged to one for six years and it has made life much, much easier. If you don't have...
  16. Gluten-Free Guy
    As stated by curlyfries, everyone is different. It is likely that you will react each time you are exposed to gluten. I've been on the gluten-free diet for six years and have been mostly successful at being 100% gluten-free. I think I was glutened only twice in the past six years and I reacted very painfully both times. Eating out is probably the...
  17. Gluten-Free Guy
    Point well taken. I don't use Rice Dream and you do, so I defer to your knowledge. This brings up an issue that bothers me and, probably, most other celiacs. The rumor is that the FDA's August 2008 definition of "gluten-free" will allow up to 20ppm. If, during one day, we eat 4 or 5 things each containing 20ppm, will we react? I hope we get some...
  18. Gluten-Free Guy
    I checked the Rice Dream website and it appears that most of the products ARE gluten-free. You may wish to check for yourself and, by all means, read the package label. Here's the website: Open Original Shared Link In my earlier post, I forgot to mention that you must also verify the gluten-free status of prescription and over-the-counter medications...
  19. Gluten-Free Guy
    Hidden gluten is a real problem. Even though federal labeling law requires identification of wheat or its derivatives, barley and rye need not be identified as allergens. Rye generally is not a hidden problem. Barley is a problem because its derivatives are used frequently as flavorings (malt) and as colorings, etc. Up to this time, there has been...
  20. Gluten-Free Guy
    We also stay where we can have a kitchen wherever we travel. It's a great help for breakfast and the evening meal, esp if you don't mind cooking. Upon arrival at our lodging, our first mission is to the grocery store. For lunch while sightseeing, attending amusement parks, etc, I carry a soft-side lunch cooler with a blue ice pack. I include cheese...
  21. Gluten-Free Guy
    Another resource in the Celiac Sprue Association at www.csaceliacs.org with support group chapters all over the U.S. I belong to a long-established support group with 500 members. About 50-60 usually come to the monthly meetings, but we have about 125 at our Thanksgiving Potluck. For montly meetings, members make gluten-free foods and snacks at home...
  22. Gluten-Free Guy
    I'm not a doctor, but the symptoms you describe in your first paragraph are the same as those I had about a year or two before being diagnosed with celiac disease (7 years ago). In addition, I had pitting of the teeth and very brittle finger nails and toe nails. In my opinion, you sound like a good candidate for celiac disease. If you have it, ask for...
  23. Gluten-Free Guy
    Progresso has several good gluten-free soups. By far the best tomato soup is Pacific Natural Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup which we buy at Costco. It even states "Gluten-Free" on the carton. Even if I were not a celiac, my wife and I would still find this to be the best tomato soup on the market. If you don't have a Costco in your area...
  24. Gluten-Free Guy
    A support group for the Kansas City area meets on the second Sunday of each month at 2:00 p.m. at the Community Center of St. Joseph's Medical Center at I-435 and State Line. This is a very active group with a lot of knowledgable, experienced members who will welcome you and answer any question you have. A word of caution: You should not go off gluten...
×
×
  • 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.