pixiegirl

its on their web site, fruit and walnut salad... it says it has gluten but when you look at the ingredients only the walnuts appear to have any gluten. I hope this link works:

Open Original Shared Link

I think its now available nationwide.

Susan

They have that new fruit salad with yogurt and I've been told the walnuts that come with it (packaged seperatly) have wheat in them... But what about the yogurt. I know their yogurt parfait is gluten-free but is this yogurt with the fruit salad the same stuff? Has anyone called them? I looked on the web site but couldn't find the info I was looking for.

Thanks, Susan

Well my boyfriend is not Celiac and certainly does not eat gluten-free and I kiss him all the time, and I'm hugely gluten sensitive. He's a neat eater and wipes his mouth a lot and will drink something before we kiss to rinse down any gluten. I've never had a reaction. I guess I'd just suggest to hold off on French kissing during meals!!!

Susan

Hi Andrew....

Well its certainly a change when you have to go gluten-free... I try to look at it not from the standpoint of looking at how awful it is or dwelling on the things I can't eat but on how much better I feel and how healthy I'm going to be.

I'm no expert but I think an elimination diet works the other way (although the name is misleading).... not that you start taking things out of your diet... because that doesn't really nail down the foods that bother you... for example lets say you are eating, corn, milk, beans... and you are having problems... you take out corn and you are still having problems... that doesn't nail down if corn does or does not bother you... it does nail down that "something else does as well"

The way an elimination diet is done is you start off with very few things you know you can eat. (I'm doing this right now so I can really relate). For me its chicken (roasted, but plain, no spices or even oil) white rice. Then I added in potatoes and I had no reaction, then I added in banana's, then applesauce. I add a new food in every few days..... and if after a few days I'm still feeling fine, I assume that food agrees with me. You can't however eat white rice and assume that all rice products are ok because I can eat plain rice but a lot of products with rice in them (lundenburg farms rice chips for example, plain I can eat, barbeque I can't) still bother me. Its a fairly long and drawn out process but for me its worth it.... I just don't want to be sick and fighting digestive problems all my life. I can eat Ben and Jerry's vanilla ice cream so live is good!

Its an adjustment to change the way we have eaten all our lives and its certainly not easy to keep it up away from home, but I still try and keep a positive outlook, its just food and as enjoyable as eating is... I feel we are pretty lucky to have a disease that is managed by just diet.

Best of luck to you!

Susan

My blood test were totally 100% negative for Celiac. However, I went on a gluten-free diet after the test and in 3 days felt about 85% better. I then sprung for DNA testing and found I carry the 2 main genes for Celiac. Every time I've had a gluten accident I'm sick in 20 minutes for a good 2 weeks... so you have to keep in mind that the blood test is not the gold standard.

Susan

I know how you feel... I've had some issues with my brother... but I don't think your family is being mean.... people often nix what they don't understand, many people just resist new ideas... a lot of people have trouble with the idea that food (which of course we all need) can cause problems. And lastly your parents are probably worried about your health issues and don't want you to be disappointed if this doesn't work for you. I think to a lot of people the idea of just changing your diet to fix a lot of health issues just sounds too easy.

I know when I told my brother... (my family is aware of my 10 year battle of digestive problems) he said, diet fixed it???? What else did they give you? Its just hard to imagine that not eating wheat (thats how my brother puts it) and fix all the problems I had.

I bet they will come around, give them time.

Good luck, Susan

I can relate to your story because I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and IBS prior to finding out the gluten is my problem. I may have those other issues, I don't know, but I do know for a fact that I am Celiac.

People can have a variety of allergies and sensitivities and I'm not sure if this is accurate but it seems like people with Celiac have more then the rest of the general population.

I don't think Celiac is related in any way to weight, too much or too little of it... after reading these boards for months and months I can tell you for sure, there are skinny celiacs, there are overweight celiacs and there are just plain old average celiacs. You have to keep in mind that very few people in our medical community really know much about celiac. You have to go out and learn about it and try and educate them.

I seem to have issues with some other products, I've not been able to narrow it down to a particular ingredient but some products bother me in a big way (for example, La Choy soy sauce.. I can eat other soy sauces and La Choy is supposed to be gluten-free but when I eat it I'm sick right away).

What I did was go on a strict restrictive diet for a few days of things I know I can eat.... rice, grilled meats and fish, potatoes, bananas, apple sauce. I do this for maybe 3 or 4 days until I start feeling really good and then I add stuff in.... broccoli... melon..... gluten-free ginger snap cookies.... and as long as I don't get sick, then I figure I'll eat it. Yes this can be a pain, but for me it quickly eliminates food that I can't handle.

PS - oatmeal has gluten in it.

Susan

I think we all need to remember that until recently, in the USA, this was thought to be a rare disease. Now we know its much more common then previously thought, but.... there are still so many undiagnosed people out there. When the doctors and nurses were trained, they were told this was rare and that they will hardly ever see it and that is their mind set.

My ex husband is a RN at the hospital... he has further training as a Physican's assistant.. and he told me they never, not once, covered Celiac in school, he had no idea about gluten problems until I found out I was celiac.

It would be nice if our medical community knew every thing but the bottom line is they don't. And most of them learn a lot of stuff in school, when they are constantly exhausted, studying 5 different subjects and when they are told, "this is rare and you probably won't ever see it... it certainly gets filed away.

I'm not defending the medical community... I'm just trying to deal with it the way it is, I try to educate. When I found out I had Celiac, the internist I had then fought me tooth and nail, he insisted I do not have celiac, despite the only time my runs had stopped in over 11 years was on a gluten-free diet. I feel really lucky to have found a new doctor that went to medical school in Spain (she is spanish). She knows what celiac is and what the implications for it are.

But when it comes to our medical community we have to advocate for ourselves.

Susan

I think being diagnosed as IBS is pretty common for celiac's. My former doctor told me I had IBS and lactose intolerance for 10 years... then thru a round about way and long story I decided I was celiac... I immediately go off all gluten (I was carb crazy too) and guess what, in a matter of days all my IBS symptoms go away and after about 6 weeks i get brave and try regular milk... heck I'm not lactose intolerant either, for me it was all celiac.

Now this might not be the case for you but I'd certainly get tested. Be aware that the test isn't foolproof either, my test for celiac turned out normal, however I felt so wonderful without any gluten in my diet that I paid out of pocket to have my DNA tested and I carry the 2 main celiac genes. And every time I have a gluten accident I pay for it for a good 2 weeks. There is no doubt in my mind I need to be gluten-free.

Good luck, Susan

Yes do rule out mouth/tongue cancer... my brother has no mouth cancer risk factors, has never smoked and is not and has never been a alcoholic and he is battling mouth cancer right now.... it started with just a small white spot on his tongue, its certainly not common, so don't freak out.... but rule out the bad stuff.

Just as an FYI so far my brother is doing ok!

Susan

I just want to say that I've never had a problems with "plain" meat, fish, or chicken, however I almost only eat at expensive places because I've had such good luck with them (I will however do MacDonalds, Outback and PF Changs) and I can't see a restaurant such as Morton's or Ruth's Chris using steak that has anything added to it.

Also I've had far better luck telling the server that I have allergies as opposed to intolerances... and to me if you say food issues... its like a mental thing not a physical thing. Most people in the restaurant industry understand allergies and because of the severity of some allergies like....peanut and shellfish (deadly) they take food allergies very seriously.

Susan

Ok darn... no its not by Thai Kitchens, that company I know, its called Curry Classics.... I ate it and its got some gluten in it because I'm already reacting. About an hour after I ate it I got thru to the company and they said it contains gluten... I don't know where, it must be small amounts because the word spices is the only questionable thing. Oh well back to square one... sheesh I never do that!!!

Susan

When I was at Whole Foods market on Sunday I found in the frozen section some Thai frozen dinners called Curry Classics... Thai Chicken Basil. Its parent company is Arch Foods? They have a phone number on the package that I have been calling for 3 days, its always busy.

I'm wondering if anyone knows if this is gluten free, the only questionable ingreident on the package is "spices".

Seems appealing to the group here might be faster then calling, busy busy busy!

thanks, Susan

Hmmm I feel like there is something wrong with me.... I didn't go thru what all of you are describing! I do agree its a big deal, its wheat world out there! And I hate the fact that eating away from home is difficult at best, but I didn't freak out (I'm generally not known too, so maybe thats it).

I guess because I felt so terrible for so many years that when I went on a gluten-free diet and after 4 days for the first time in years I didn't have the runs, well I was relieved to know the rest of my life could be lived without knowing the location of every toilet in a 20 mile radius.

To me I was so happy to finally have an answer. So try and keep in mind that you have finally found the road to waaay better health. But I won't down play the fact that it takes some time to figure it out, there is a lot to learn, you WILL make some mistakes... but don't let them get you down! We've all been there! You can do this and you will figure it out and once you do it really does become like second nature.

I've loved the support of this list too, everyone here has been such a help to me!

Best, Susan

Wow, without a doubt I'd give up catering halls and the like... too difficult to control where the gluten goes.

I agree with whom ever said that each person has to make their own decisions about how to handle these issues. I fall into the catagory of one that refuses to let Celiac run my life... its what I've got and its not a big deal is my attitude.

That being said, eating out is tricky to say the least. I have had mostly good luck in chain resturants that have gluten-free menus. I've had pretty rotten luck in just plain old restaurants and I've had the best luck in fancy, expensive places that have a trained chef. My luck at these sorts of places has been so good in fact that I've never been glutened at one. But I do order my food done plainly at them, simple grilled fish or meat, veggies with no seasoning, and baked potatos... I talk to everyone.. maitre'd, server, often the chef. I insist on it and never has anyone acted like its a hassle. Its usually worth it in my case, I'm with a few people (so it will be a big bill) we always order drinks and/or wine (adds tons to the check) we often order appitizers, dessert and coffee. And I've been known to tip like all get out when everything works out for me. So even with all my issues the local places around here have been very receptive.

I don't eat out as often as I use to BC (before celiac) but I still do and won't let that change.

Good luck, Susan

Sounds great to me I can't wait to try it, except I'm going to use the jalapeno, I like spicey!!

Thanks, Susan

Wandering Hermit... do you have a receipe for the sticky rice it sounds good.

I don't reward myself for my diet because I'm so much more healthy then I was before but I am one that when I feel down, I go shopping. I have a huge walk in closet stuffed and over 100 pair of shoes.... (very silly I know...)

Susan

Hi celiac3270.... I'm actually a member of Delphi groups but for me to be able to open the list I need to download winzip which appears to be $29.

Could you send me the list you have so I don't have to buy yet another program for my computer (why can't they come with what you need).

thanks,

Susan

bailey@cape.com

I just want to say I'm a huge gluten reactor and every time I used La Choy I reacted. I have switched to San-J Wheat-Free Organic Tamari Soy Sauce and I've not had a single problem. I'm not saying that La Choy has gluten I'm just saying SOMETHING in it bothers me.

Susan

Well I hate to get on the nutrition band wagon but I'm going to! I have a 13 year old daughter and so I speak from experience... if you feed your kids only processed snack food you do yourself and them such a disservice. Get them started early to good healthy foods.

Yes my daughter eats chips and cookies now and then but she loves fruit, cheese, veggies, yogurt and if you start them young I believe you have an easier time introducing these choices as snack food. As a very young child I fed my daughter all sorts of fruits and veggies (I would cut grapes into quarters to avoid any choking hazards and I even cut raisins in half when she was really little). We even had fun together making popscicles.. with fruit and fruit juice or fruit and yogurt.

My daughters friends eat only junk, I'm amazed when they come over here, my daughter will eat chips with them but also cut up an apple, or have some cheese and they all say, "oh gross". She eats anything avocado, asperagus, beans, papaya, mango, everything.

So at the very least offer your kids a wide variety of things to snack on, expand their taste buds!

Susan

Hey Mel...

I'm not sure what you can and can't eat, but if your interested you can tailor my suggestions to your dietary needs... I've been gluten-free since Sept 2004 and I've had really only 2 set backs, the first time on Thanksgiving (at my brothers house) and those symptoms I was able to get under control in about a week. And then 2 weeks ago I was again at my brothers house and we ate out every night and I spoke with every restaurant (chefs, maitre'd, servers..) and yet I feel like I got glutened every night, I went from bad to worse.

Anyhow here I am after 2 weeks still feeling sick as a dog... I still have the runs, sleeplessness, fatigue, stomach pain... I'm not doing well and I know for a fact I've not had any gluten since I've been home, but I'm not getting much better.

So just the other day someone on this forum suggested I go on a low residue diet, I did some research and decided to just start out with chicken and white rice.... and i'll add to it once I feel a little better. Well its only been 24 hours but I've not had a single dash to the bathroom and I've already added bananas and applesauce.

Even though I haven't had gluten since I've been back from Florida I think that my insides just got so damaged that they just won't really heal without a totally bland diet, I just couldn't handle the spices and such. So now I will add things back slowly and see what bothers me and what doesn't. When I get a reaction to something it happens rather fast so it will be easy for me to tell.

Anyhow you might want to try this for a few days and see if it helps.

Susan

I have tried a bunch of ready made breads and a bunch of gluten-free mixes. The ready made ones from Whole Foods Market are good but by far the best is Manna by Anna (google it). I make it in a really old bread machine and it comes out perfectly. I wouldn't trade this bread mix for anything. If I could only choose 1 gluten free product it would be this one. Its that good. Again if you pass a Whole Foods Market in your travels you will find an entire section in the bakery of Gluten Free bakery products that they make in their own gluten-free free kitchen.

Susan

I get pain when I ingest gluten and mine starts about 20 minutes after eating gluten, but its at its worst the following day. I had a lot of your symptoms... fatigue, I've been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and I'm not sure I ever had that, I'm almost symptom free as long as I stay away from gluten. I have various rashes and had years of sleepless nights.

Best to you! Susan

I eat sushi often and I always take my own soy sauce, I plop it right on the table and just tell them I need wheat free soy... they could care less as long as I'm ordering sushi!

Susan

I posted earlier that I was visiting my brother in the panhandle of Florida and got really glutened even though I tried really hard not too. I talked to restaurant owners, servers and chefs/cooks. But it still happened and I got really sick.

Its a week later, and I still have the runs so badly I can't leave the house.... I know since I've been home I've not eaten any gluten at all, but I have been eating more "complicated" foods... gluten-free soups, mixes, breads, milk, soy... for the next few days I'm going back to the very basics... grilled meats, eggs, and/or rice or potato, that usually helps but does anyone have any other suggestions at all?

I've not been glutened in months and months and this time my reaction was so bad... (I know that can happen after a long time of being gluten-free) but I can't seem to lose the runs...... I can't really even go to the grocery store! Its awful, any suggestions at all would be helpful....

Susan