OptimisticMom42

OK so you have "d" when you wake up and heartburn after eating bread but you don't think you are having symptoms? Everyone is different but those sound like symptoms to me.

I know my Lays potato chips where not gluten free because after eating them my elbows itched, the next day I didn't have a bm and by evening it felt like something was biting the back of my left knee. These are very mild reactions that warn me of the damage I am doing to my insides.

The "d" isn't important. Preventing further damage is.

Hope this helps

My oldest started eating cereal as an infant. He was always a big eater but was not a chubby baby. Gave up his bottle and started walking at 8 or 9 months.

My second son refused to eat anything but formula until he was 13 months old and was chubby. He didn't like the texture of the food on his hands or in his mouth. Didn't walk until he was 14 months.

Both boys are now tall, normal weight, intelligent, teenagers. But the oldest has celiacs with neurologic responces to gluten. The younger son (364 days younger) gets awards and job offers all the time. The older son got his first job today, working construction for his dad's best friend. He's had it tough. If I had it to do over I would wait as long as reasonably possible.

Aren't the FF's cooked in the same oil as the breaded meats? Also it's vegetable (soy) oil so no McD's FF's for me.

Are you already gluten light because of your husbands dietary needs? I don't think science has gotten to this issue yet. They only just got to celiacs in the mother increases the risk of autism in the child. So if you're willing and already gluten light, I'd say go for it. It's such a short period of time and I know I would always wonder if it would have made a difference. If he's short or she's a late walker or the first time he throws up...........the first time she gets a rash..........

And having seen the effects gluten has had on my son, I will be encouraging my children to have gene testing done before allowing my grandchildren to eat gluten.

A lot of us went through a faze that reminded me of the stages of grief. You know like denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.

There is also gluten withdrawal that can feel like depression and sometimes food cravings.

And then there are neurologic disorders associated with gluten. I've read a lot recently about studies in which gluten was taken out of the diets of people diagnosed with mental illness or juvenile delinquents and marked improvement was noted. I have family and friends who have had very odd mental health issues from gluten ingestion. Issues that go away when they are gluten free.

So yes depression can be from the diagnosis or the gluten or both!

I know this is a crappy answer but it's the one I know is right.

I hope you are feeling happier soon.

RA

Wow, geez, oh my! I had no idea. About ten years ago when I had my first go round with celiacs, I dropped to under 100lbs and was a nervous wreck, they gave me effexor. It worked. I went from laying in bed with repetative thoughts to planning what color of flowers to plant in the flower bed overnight. It felt like it jump started my brain. I was only on it for a couple of months because I just didn't need it anymore after that.

I do agree with PattyBoots. These meds are dangerous. But at the time my family took me to the hospital because I was exhausted. I intended to go to bed......and that was it. Ever. I just couldn't think past that. I had no intention of hurting myself or anything like that. I had no intentions at all, to do anything.

Sometimes the good outweights the possible side effects.

Take Care RA

I've had gluten like tummy troubles after using Lawry's on chicken breast and from an off brand chili powder we used to make taco seasoning. No trouble so far with McCormick's spices or The Vegetarian Express spices.

I also have my own PB and my own jelly. The Family likes grape. Blahhh, I like marmalade.

I've been using Enjoy Life Chocolate Bars and Chips. I like them. You can find them in the Gluten Free Mall. I buy them at Meijers.

I'm the oppisite. I react to soy drink but not to soy lecithin. Gave up soy oil because my DD reacts to it. Positive for allergy to soy in Feb.? "09

Blends are often made with gluten.

Hello, just wanted to throw this in there. I just spoke with Connie of The Vegetarian Express. She has a granddaughter who is gluten free and another relative who has celiacs. So she knows her gluten. Her company makes spice blends, gravy mixes ect.

I love her Parma Zaan Sprinkles (made from almonds, dairy and gluten free) and the All Purpose Veggie Salt.

They are working on more gluten free soup mixes et. and adding a recipe tip section to their website. It's a small company, Connie and Laurie still answer the phone themselves and are happy to answer questions about ingredients, processes, cooking hints......

Check them out if you're looking for gluten free flavor.

Take Care RA

I'm glad you're feeling better. I don't do fast food, for me it's chips. I know I have to give them up. When I eat them it's back to drinking the miralax. But dang I hate giving those up. They should be gluten free. Several people on this site warned about shared facilities but I still just don't want to give up my chips.

I'm thinking that when my kids are grown I'm going to move to someplace with bike paths, live theater, museums and gluten free food! Until then does anyone have a caveman diet book they would recommend?

Timeline.......

I'm 42, was sick for 9 months before diagnosis.

I'm almost 5 months gluten free.

Still have tummyaches if I eat to many carbs or get glutened. Still using Miralax to undo my mistakes.

No longer needing naps on my days off, starting to clean closets and catch up on paperwork even though I'm working 10 hour days with 2 1/2 hours on the road to and from.

I'm lucky, I don't have any of the additional autoimmune disorders associated with celiacs. I think it might be because I've minimized the damage by going on and off the Atkins diet for years.

Enjoying the timelines.....

OptimisticMom42

It's always been obvious to me that the women who are morbidly obese and have very thin hair and open sores are malnourished. I'm just a Mom, a dr should know better than to assume that a overweight person can not be malnourished.

According to my WII I'm overweight. I lose weight quickly when I go low carb (under 10 carbs a day) but it's incredibly hard to sustain. So I tell myself I'll have more time for that when schools out for the summer, then when the kids go back to school I'll have more time. It's bull, I just don't enjoy cooking! My latest deal with myself is .....July 16th I'll go low carb until my WII smiles.

I don't have to weight in to play golf!

Wow! What a great friend you are! I have a great recipe for pancakes that uses only cornstarch.. no expensive hard-to-find flours. That would be a real treat! Let me know if you want it, and I'll do a quick post! Good Luck!

Hi beedamom, I would love to have that recipe for my son. Thank you RA

As with Ravenwoodglass, my allergies to other things are calming down now that I'm gluten free. I use to live on claritin-d. But have only use an antihistamine twice in since going gluten free in March. I'm hoping my allergy to dairy will resolve itself but I won't be trying it out for about hmmm maybe a year.

Does corn bother you in all it's forms? I can not digest corn chips but don't seem to have a problem with corn syrup. Like corn chips are a no-no but gummy worms don't seem to bother me. I haven't tried corn on the cob because I'm dairy allergic and corn on the cob without butter......what's the point.

So that's where we are. She's been off gluten and dairy for 2 weeks now.

Any advice would be appreciated. I feel like I'm shooting in the dark. Thank you!

Hello AZmama,

Taking things out of the diet one at a time is the long way around. You should really read up on the elimination diet. You eliminate all but a few "safe foods" for a period of time. A week is recommended. If your DD is still not feeling better then you will have to rotate the "safe foods" to find out which one was the problem. I use to include carrots in my "safe foods" but found that I'm allergic to the whole celery plant family. After you are sure you have found some safe foods then you begin adding other foods, one a week. Bring it in to the diet, take it out, bring it back in. Watch for tummy aches, change in BM, rashes, nasal congestion, ect. The carrots gave me blisters on the back of my head in an area covered by my hair. So sometimes it's hard to see the reaction. But if you bring the foods in and out a few times you will notice things like that your DD itches her head or knees when she eats a certain food. I know this sounds like a pain in the a**. But it really is better than wandering and worrying about what to try next.

Hope this helps

My son gets all kinds of swelling in his neck, shoulder and underarm so I'm not sure there is a right or wrong place for lymphnodes. Maybe ask your PCP to refer you.

Add my mom to that list. She has IBS and fibro, soy and dairy give her the "D". She's over 200lbs and takes 10 different medications. But she will not even consider changing her diet. She says, "As long as I'm home 20 minutes after I eat........" and "It doesn't make me very sick." And my favorite, "At least I can have a little..."

My reply, "Please insert the word poison in that statement."

She gets this tone in her voice like she's talking to a very small child who just isn't all that bright. And I want to smack her in the face with a big slimmy fish! So unless her computer breaks and I have to go fix it, I stay away.

The diet is easy. I feel great (cleaned that darn closet yesterday just because I felt like it). People tell me all the time that I don't look my age. Some of it is flattery but some of it is just looking healthy and alert.

Thanks for that chance to steam!

You should really read up on the elimination diet. Your health problems could be due to a combination of a lot of intolerances happening all at once. If that is the case as it has been for many of us just eliminating gluten will not seem to fix the problem.

You may have to eliminate

■Milk

■Eggs

■Peanuts

■Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, walnuts)

■Fish (such as bass, cod, flounder)

■Shellfish (such as crab, lobster, shrimp)

■Soy

■Wheat

these are "the big eight" allergens. I'm allergic to three of them.

You just have to find your "safe foods" and then test other foods one at a time until you have found the ones that are causing your reactions. And don't overlook spices. Celery seed is a very common allergen.

My safe foods are chicken breast, rice, and green foods (lettuce,broc, peas, green beans).

Hope this helps

Are you being tested for celiacs?

that's how i feel when i get glutened. most people spend it in the bathroom, i spend mine crying and paranoid.

I just wanted to thank you and the other posters who have been frank about the "feelings" they get when glutened. You have helped me see my son's reactions in a very different light. A few weeks ago he wanted to hide his money in the woods. "D" kept him in the house until this idea passed. And more recently he thought someone was taking his meds at the same time that he was so bloated that he looked like a turtle. I count his pills and write it down so I know nobody touched them. That was several days ago. He's fine again now.

What about W.I.C. They were very helpful when my children were toddlers. My youngest was unable to digest formula (projectile vomiting) and my boys were on the small side so we qualified until age five.

Both boys are six foot tall now and the baby is 5'4". The time flew on happy wings

I was diagnosed first by a co-work/fellow celiac. I didn't believe him. The family doctor sent me to the gastro who said allergies not related to celiacs. Funny thing was I didn't ask him about celiacs. He sent me to the immunologist (allergy dr.). The immunologist (Dr. Horbal) tested me for food allergies. After removing wheat, soy, dairy, and a few other things from my diet it became clear that I was reacting to things like oatmeal with classic celiacs symptoms. Itchy elbows, burning knees, constipation, horrible stinky gas, floating poo. I went back to Dr. Horbal and said I think I have celiacs and showed him my elbows and knees. He walked me to the door, talking the whole way. Handed my chart to the receptionist while writing on his RX pad. He told the receptionist, "The diagnosis is celiacs." Handed me the script with instructions to see a nutritionist. I was shocked. I wanted him to say No, no this is just........ you'll be fine.

So No, I do not have the golden standard of diagnosis but I do have a dr's diagnosis.

My son's dianosis was based on family history (more than just my diagnosis) and symptoms when glutened. So also not the golden standard.

My Mother has IBS and fibro (celiacs?)

My Aunt died of intestinal cancer at age 39.

My Grandmother had chronic "d" and refused to eat anything but fruit because everything else hurt her stomach.

My Great-Grandmother refused to eat anything but popcorn.

If we do a poll it will have to be more involved than just positive biopsy or self-diagnosed.

Grab-n-go

fat slice of ham and an apple, coffee

smoked brat and a handful of grapes, coffee

precooked sausage and a banana, coffee

precooked bacon and an orange juice, coffee

peanut butter on a rice cake, peach, coffee

trail mix (nuts,chex,dried fruit), milk, coffee

Our Dr said that it takes a body 6 hours to break down protien, 2 to 4 hours for starches. So you stay full longer if you eat a good protien sorce for breakfast.

Hope this helps