PattyBoots

Being DC, I would imagine he's come into contact with more than his share of people with restrictions (dietary or otherwise). I would simply state that you have dietary restrictions (without going into what type and why) and suggest a cuisine that's Celiac friendly - such as Ethiopian, of which there are TONS of restaurants.

I have a soon-to-be 10-year-old diabetic wiener dog who takes 7 units(!!!!) of Vetsulin twice a day. We feed him a small amount of regular dog food with home cooked brown rice, boiled chicken, cottage cheese, and a little bit of fiber. He was getting too skinny without the dog food because I was afraid to feed him too much rice and chicken and I'm just SCARED of Science Diet and the whole "prescription food" thing. I see that the grocery that I frequent keeps the Lassie food and I believe I will try him on it. I can't bear to lose him; he was my dad's dog and Dad died in 2005 and then he was my mom's dog and she died in 2007, so he's really (people call me goofy but they can go to hell) my only remaining family!

Dammit! And before I got a chance to even try one!

We had a Starbucks about 10 miles down the road and it was one of the ones they closed up - it was only open about a month and then they closed it up. They seem to be a very rash, hair-trigger company. I can't imagine how much R&D had to go into developing the cake as well as the distribution scheme and now they're going to discontinue it?

My bet is that they're having problems sourcing raw materials - they had one supplier and now they need to find a new one and it's prohibitively expensive. Let's face it folks - money talks and bullsh*t walks, and there are very, very, very few altruistic companies out there.

Nature's Bounty, sold at CVS is also. And tasty, too!

Don't be offended by their response. It's just another CYA that ANYONE sending in an idea of any sort would get. Like if I sent them an idea like, "Hey, why don't you try making bubble gum flavored doughnuts? I bet they'd sell, well, like hotcakes!" If they did that and made a buttload of money and I could prove that I gave them the idea, then I could sue for part of that buttload.

In other words, if one day they DO come out with a gluten free doughnut, even though you suggested it, it would still be their idea because of the disclaimer. They could say they thought of it themselves. Granted, it's a poorly worded response, but that's the crux of it anyway.

I have no doubt that they're suitable for some people.

I just wasn't one of them. Of course I was depressed. My thyroid had crapped out and I'd spent 3 years trying to find a doctor who would run the damn test. I kept being told I ate too much, which is so far from the truth it's not funny. I had to go to a local health fair and pay $35.00 for a blood draw to get the results back that, yes, I was severely hypo. I was taking care of a dying father and a handicapped mother, I had what I now believe to be DH - even though every derm I went to said it was eczema and I was so tired that I cried every morning getting ready for work. Once I got on the Synthroid, I got much better for a long time.

I'm also very leery about side effects because at one point I was taking Bactrim (an antibiotic) and got the side effects - bad. They were interesting ones, too, and were listed in the little pamphlet. I had a taste in my mouth that was exactly what I would imagine sucking on a paper clip would taste like (that icky metallic taste you'll get if you hold one in your mouth while you sort papers type), but constantly. Also, I was farting like a bazooka. I had to leave work because every step I took going down the hall sounded like I had a pair of those jokey "Old Fart" slippers on.

I also don't believe in bringing out "the big guns" like Effexor immediately. Try some of the older, more well known drugs first. He just had some samples he was trying to palm off so the drug rep that was sitting in the waiting room would give him more. Needless to say, I don't see that endo any longer. He only tolerated thyroid people. All he wanted to do was treat diabetics since he's one.

Starburst Jelly Beans say in giant letters right on the bag - GLUTEN FREE. I love them

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Of course, it goes without saying to use gluten free chicken bouillon. I use Betty Crocker Potato Buds. I just mix this up and keep it in a Tupperware and reconstitute as necessary. As written, the 3 tablespoons of mix makes the equivalent of HALF A CAN. So, for a whole can of soup, just use 6 tablespoons of mix and 1-1/3 cups of water. It's a lifesaver! I used it even before I went gluten free because I use it so rarely and I only cook for two, so a half can amount is perfect. And black pepper is fine - they just use white pepper because it looks nicer without the black specks in it.

It's not as thick as undiluted Campbells *shudder* but works just fine in any recipe that you'd use it for. I don't think I'd eat it as soup, but then again cream soups as, you know, SOUP, have always made me cringe.

I have a recipe for a homemade cream of "X" soup mix (throw in mushrooms, you've got cream of mushroom soup; throw in sauteed celery, you've got cream of celery soup, etc.) that uses dry milk, chicken bouillon, mashed potato flakes and seasonings. It makes a batch that will make the equivalent of 8 cans of soup - you just whisk a few tablespoons of mix with some water and nuke it a bit. It's not quite as thick, but much tastier and waaaaaay healthier if anyone's interested.

Oh, and cornstarch, too.

You may be experiencing withdrawal symptoms, which apparently mimic many of those of celiac.

A couple years ago I was prescribed Effexor, rather cavalierly IMHO, by my endocrinologist, whom I was seeing for my thyroid. I've always been a little leery of antidepressants, so I researched it thoroughly on the Internet before taking it. After seeing all the side effects, the number of petitions attempting to get it banned, how difficult it was to get off of, and seeing that one of the treatments for getting off of it was liquid Prozac!!!! I promptly threw the samples he was so generous with in the trash and shredded the prescription.

If you Google "Effexor withdrawal" you'll come up with a ton of hits.

Sorry

I make my typical chicken-n-veggies in gravy (then again, I've ALWAYS used cornstarch instead of flour for thickening, so no changes there), put it in a pie pan, then cover it with hot mashed potatoes and bake until the potatoes get a nice brown on them. You can even sprinkle with some cheese (if tolerated) and then stick it back under the broiler for a second to melt/brown the cheese a bit. Boy that sounds good but too damned hot here for that!

I found all of them (finally) at one of the Food Lions in Winchester, VA. I only picked up the Devil's Food; they were $4.29. Bless his heart, the old fart who checked me out did a spit-take and checked the receipt because he couldn't figure out why Betty Crocker (normally on sale for $0.99 for the regular stuff) was so high. On the Betty Crocker site there's a recipe for using the Devil's Food with orange juice to make an orange cake which sounds just wonderful!

Bottom line is, you just can't make people do what you want them to do.

Put the shoe on the other foot - if someone were to bug you about your habits, would you listen? Would you say, "Sure, you're right, I bow down before your infinite wisdom"?

All you can do is tell them that when they're tired of feeling crappy, they can come to you for some advice that they thought was crappy but might help them get over feeling crappy.

I'd say you have lead to worry about too.

That, I know I don't have to worry about because my parents used to rent this place out, and one of the tenants tried to sue over lead because one of their children was autistic. My parents spent many thousands of dollars having the house tested (because it was much less money than they were being sued for). No lead was found, the suit was tossed out of court, and it was later determined that the renters sued EVERY previous landlord trying to make a buck, for everything under the sun.

I live in a farmhouse that was built pre-1900 and that was both electrified and plumbed well after it was built. It still has much of the very old wallpaper, which was put up in those days with what amounts to a flour paste. A few years ago I had started taking the wallpaper down, but then life got in the way and I literally spent every waking hour for three years taking care of my parents as they died; my father of lung cancer at home and my mother at well-known-but-horrible-clinic-in-Ohio as she died of sepsis (from undx'd celiac I'm convinced since she'd suffered from what they called ulcerative colitis for over 40 years and then Crohn's a few days before she died). So, there's spots where there's exposed plaster and spots where it's just coming off the walls. I believe there's not a surface in my home that's not been glutened and this is why I still feel awful.

Does this sound like a legitimate idea or am I just harebrained, grasping at straws?

We are at present looking to purchase a lot and build a new home within 6 months; actively working with a realtor now, so hopefully it's a moot point, but still, I'm awfully curious.

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No doubt the snark in the comments section on their site will be overwhelming - a lot of the people really go overboard there; but at least it's more information getting out there.

Just for the record, I do not take issue with anyone disagreeing with me or with a correction of my information. I DO take issue with the tone and the nastiness directed at me by PM. I will forward those to the administrator I suppose, but there's really no need. I'm a grown up, I addressed it and while I was going to leave immediately, I found my need to check if anyone had accurate information (and hence clarification for my child's sake) too important to leave right away in a huff. I will still be departing though...I don't believe this forum is a good fit for me and mine. Many thanks to those of you who were kind enough to reply and correct me with courtesy, and even pm me info I didn't know. My sons and I thank you...

And I did indeed get GSK to say that about glutaraldehyde, but in reference to a study about increased reactions to it in regard to it being used as an disinfectant in endoscopies and sigmoidscopies (I believe 19% celiac rx vs 11% non celiac). She said that although they haven't specifically studied it as a problem with that particular vaccine (I think it was Hep A? Maybe HiB? I don't have my notes in front of me), they do not test it to be gluten free and there was a SLIGHT chance that it was cross linked with wheat proteins/fibers. I did get the line about discussing the ramifications of any vaccine with my doctor.

My son has neurological complications with his celiac disease...namely, moderate apraxia, Wernicke's aphasia, and mild ataxia. All of this has vastly improved on a gluten-free diet...he's made 6 months of progress speech wise in less than a month and all ataxic symptoms have disappeared entirely. I am desperately afraid of reversing that by injecting him with something that I can't trust. I am hyper vigilant about gluten and CC at home, so you can see my hesitation about blithely assuming that because the gluten doesn't get digested that it's not an issue...it might be an even worse complication from being injected straight into the bloodstream for all I know, and I can't find anyone to give me a straight answer. I believed I found a partial one in my research and found I was not entirely accurate, for which I apologized.

If anyone does have TRUSTWORTHY sources so that I can present my fears/arguments/ concerns in an educated way to the doctor, I would appreciate it.

While I'm sorry that you're bound and determined to leave, I'm also sorry that you're bound and determined to believe everyone is wrong unless they're giving you the answers you want to hear. At least that's the way you're coming across here. You've already apparently made up your mind that your child won't be getting the immunization; and I'm just as glad I have no children because I'd hate for yours to be a carrier due to his lack of immunization - and that's my right to believe that, too.

I do find it irritating that, while there is no known cause for autism or cure for autism, the same people who will crow that their genetics cause them to be blond or blue-eyed can't fathom that their genetics just might cause the autism as well. And our celiac - because I'm certain my genetics is where mine came from. My mother's problems, my grandmother's problems, my being Irish, my eczema, my grandmother's eczema .... it's all part and parcel.

We have had a lot of discussion here about many things. I want to bring the focus back onto the original questions.

The practical question, for which a definitive answer seems to exist, is: Do these vaccines contain gluten? The majority seem to agree that they do not.

The hypothetical question: If they did, in fact, contain gluten, would that make them any more risky for celiacs than for non-celiacs. I realize that there are many debatable issues about vaccine safety--the question is whether celiacs are more at risk.

There is much controversy about vaccines. This board is about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet.

Strongly held opinions are fine, but we must all respect the opinions of others with whom we disagree.

I think it also begs the question that even IF the vaccines contain gluten, will it cause a reaction due to it not going through the intestines? Regardless if it's a vaccine for children or some sort of preparation we might receive in the hospital as part of treatment, I doubt it.

I firmly believe that if you have a wheat or barley, etc., ALLERGY that you may have a reaction to something administered IV; but if you're "simply" celiac (yes, I know there's nothing simple about it) then it won't make a bit of difference since it's not going through the intestines.

Because the Celiac(no "s")immune response occurs in the small intestine. It does not take place in the circulatory system. Different animals, as I said.

That was the very first thing I thought, too, and I couldn't have said it any better myself. We could all be mainlining baguettes (although what would be the fun in that?) and not be affected since it's post-digestion.

Do you really think I'd post with so much detail if that's not what I always use LOL? And my non-gluten-free husband doesn't know the difference. I also finely grate some extra gooooood parm in most of the time. I use them in my infamous stuffed zucchini in place of the crushed croutons and there's really no noticeable difference.

Go to the Chex web site and get the recipe for the Italian Chex Mix. Make that, with the gluten-free Rice Chex (easy peasy), and then crush as needed to make Italian bread crumbs. I like to add double the spices and then a little dried parsley after crushing. You also need to keep the heat down a bit when you fry. Other than that, it's a completely acceptable substitute, IMHO.

Here's the rub (LOL) - you're not doing yourself any favors because you're still using tobacco.

I've buried both parents and an aunt due to lung cancer/celiac in the last 3 years, and I'm a 7-year-quit-smoker, but I'm still no Nicotine Nazi - if you want to smoke, smoke. If you don't, don't. But IMHO you're just prolonging the agony of quitting by using the "smokeless" tobacco.

No judgment, it's just to me like an alcoholic saying, well, I'm going to quit drinking bourbon, and since all my friends are drinking bourbon, I'm just gonna drink a beer.

If you can get it, you can't go wrong with Daisy brand. I don't buy any of the cheaper or off brand ones like Walmart that have ingredients I can't pronounce. I CAN pronounce "Cultured Grade A Milk". It doesn't keep quite as well, but then again, it doesn't have all that extra crap in it. And the sour cream is divine, too!

A wonderful treat that you AND your pup can share is: Take a cookie sheet, put a piece of parchment on it, and pipe (I just use a plastic bag with the corner cut off) blobs about the size of your pinkie nail of canned pumpkin on it. Not the pumpkin pie mix, but just plain ol' canned pumpkin. Then freeze until the blobs are completely solid, put them in a plastic bag, and store in the freezer. Next to no calories, plenty of fiber, no gluten, and a crunchy, frozen treat that doesn't make a mess! We make these for our diabetic wiener dog and he loves them!

I guess in some ways I can add the other side of the spectrum - I've always been a scratch cook, and as I told my endo one time, my idea of convenience food is frozen vegetables. I think I've eaten Hamburger Helper MAYBE five times in my life. So I guess this disease is particularly depressing to me because I've not eaten much of what should be a trigger.

BUT, it also makes it easier! I made a fabulous sweet-and-sour meatballs over rice tonight - used some shredded parm and Rice Chex as binder It's easy to use cornstarch instead of flour as thickening - think chicken fried steak with gravy - mmmmmmm. Think creamed peas - mmmmmmm.

This has actually been very easy for me/us - except on the rare occasions when I'd reach for pasta instead of potatoes, and then I need to stop and say, "ugh, rice".

It's WAAAY doable, once you decide to cook, instead of opening up a box. Now, if I had to give up corn and rice, well, I dunno - but I guess I'd figure it out.

I also had a heads-up, in that my mother suffered from gastro issues her whole life, up to, and including having her entire rectum and colon removed in the mid-60's, so once I started getting symptoms, I wanted answers. So hopefully I won't go through the entire spectrum of intolerances - 'cause if I now have to give up my Redbridge, there'll be hell to pay LOL.