lynnelise

I always take Larabars everywhere. I research the area I'll be traveling to and find restaurants with gluten free menues. I play it super safe and don't eat anything unproven before the concert, pack pepto and advil just in case. Then depending on how late it is after I find a safe meal.

Something I didn't think of at my last concert...beer. Unsure what type of concert you attend but I go to metal shows and I got beer thrown all over me in the mosh pit.

I am doing the elimination diet at the moment with my dietitan , I have been told to cut potatoes out for 3 weeks ( done 18 days so far ) . Did you have any tests on your gallbladder to find it was badly swollen or you just found out after it was taken out ? Thanks for the reply and advice

They did an ultrasound to rule out gallstones and when that was clear they did a HIDA scan that showed that my gallbladder was not functioning. When they took it out they saw the swelling and scar tissue! Hope this helps!

Larabars are amazing. Kind bars are good. Nature Valley almond crunch bars aren't bad. I once found a protein bar, I think they were called Bumble Bars, that was gluten free and fairly tasty. I've also made my own granola bars with gluten free oats and also some with quinoa flakes.

Coconut water can also be good for constipation!

Did you say in a previous post that you have gastritis? If that is the case that could be causing some of your discomfort. I occassionally eat something (either gluten or not) that causes my gastritis to flare and then I will have discomfort for several days after. Something I have found to really help is coconut water. It really soothes the stomach lining! Also lay off Advil or anything real acidic for a couple of days!

I agree with the above about not knowing who may be more understanding that you think. I got in an embarrassing glutening situation while me and my husband were out with another couple...turns out they have several family members with Crohn's disease and completely understand mad dashes to the restroom.

I have days like that too and it is so frustrating. I'm trying to get back into working out this week and was doing good until I pulled a calf muscle. Now I can barely walk plus I've had a sinus headache off and on for over a week. It can really get you down. I just keep reminding myself that even with this I feel 100% better than a year ago. This is minor compared to then!

Hang in there! It will get better!

I would say so. Everyone reacts a bit different and honestly every once in awhile I have a reaction that is abnormal compared to my usual. I would say the headache, joint aches, nausea are very common! Glad it passed relatively quick for you!

Try the elimination diet and if you still have pain I would suspect gallbladder issues. I had mine out, like the previous post said no stones but it was terribly swollen and adhered to my liver with scar tissue.

Well advice-wise definately tell your hosts. They are good friends so they will of course do what is necessary to ensure you have a safe and healthy visit! Pack lots of safe snacks and offer to go to the grocery store upon arrival and stock up on the stuff you need. Throw in disposable baking sheets and pans so you have less to worry about.

This may make you feel better...from my experience of being a girl and having lots of friends who are girls I can say with some confidence that your girlfriend is also anxious about going to the bathroom on this trip. Girls would like for their boyfriends to think that they are perfect heavenly beings who don't do anything worse than powder their noses in the restroom. Therefore the first overnight trip is usually when the girl realizes that at some point she is going to have to poop and it could be awkward.

I honestly think they are just ignorant. When you are used to doing something like serving yourself from an appetizer plate it's kind of ingrained in you and you scoop into it without thinking.

When I'm out and an appetizer is ordered I say do you mind if I grab my portion first so I can be sure that no gluten will touch it? Everyone has been really cool about it.

When people ask to share from my plate I ask for extra silverware and I give them a serving. That way I don't have to worry about their fork getting in my food. I find by saying "Yes, let me grab some silverware and I'll get you some" they are less likely to try to grab it themselves.

I agree with getting the vitamin levels checked. I needed B12 shots for the first few months I was gluten free just to make me feel alive!

I love the Udi's bagels and the bread! I grew up in Arlington...too bad I don't live there now! I have to drive over an hour for Udi's!

I would give Panera another try just to be sure it wasn't a coincidence.

I also agree that you should just tell them. It's nothing to be ashamed of!

Basically I like that it can be treated on my own without expensive drugs. I like that it can get me out of situations like eating gross storebought cake at work without hurting anyone's feelings.

I don't like that it makes traveling a pain. That outings with friends always involve a big debate about where I can and can't eat. I especially don't like that when my baby nephews toddle up with cookie crumbs all over their hands and face I have to reject their hugs and kisses.

I think there is a chance your tests could come back inconclusive. It's typically recommended that you keep eating gluten until all testing is finished.

I always say if I ever go back to Key West I think I may have to consider the chocolate dipped frozen key lime pie. It was the best thing I ever ate and I'm not sure I could turn it down! lol!

It really depends on who I'm speaking with. I usually say I have food allergies or that I cannot digest gluten. If the person has some type of medical background I will go ahead and say I suffer from celiac disease. It was not diagnosed by biopsy but it is just easier because somehow medical people don't take you seriously unless you name a diagnoses.

Glad you got off mildly! I had a big gluten goof up this weekend but it was all my fault! I ordered a bunless mushroom swiss burger wrapped in lettuce. I took three bites to realize that it was mushroom gravy not sauteed mushrooms. I felt like such an idiot! I was practically in tears over my stupidity.

My issues are usually bathroom related as well and oddly I just got really horrible bloating and wicked heartburn the day of...my usual rash the next day, but no D. Weird.

Oh well. No ideas it seems. Guess there will be no more dinners out with friends.

The funniest part for me was that I had been seeing my regular doctor for digestive issues, fatigue, and body aches as well as the repeated shingles outbreaks and he was all gung ho about cancer and HIV tests because of my weakened immunity...well I broke out with shingles on the weekend and had to go to a generic walk-in urgent care center and the lady there who knew nothing of my history said immunity starts in your digestive system and that she'd suggest that my regular doctor start looking into that first! That was my first clue to what the real problem was!

I have been gluten free for about a year now and have unfortunately gotten glutened several times. What usually happens is around an hour after eating I get sharp stomach cramps and bloating and then D. I usually have about 20 minutes to find a bathroom after the cramps start. Then I hang out in the bathroom for about an hour and later the fatigue starts. The next day I'll get joint aches and then a rash on my legs. Very predictable cycle. Well the other night something weird happened. I went to eat at a Mexican restaurant that I frequent and trust. This time I had a burrito bowl (no tortilla). All of the ingredients in the bowl I have eaten in other entrees except for the pico de gallo which should be safe. Anyhow about 15-20 minutes after I finish my meal I get a super sharp pain in my stomach and literally had less than 2 minutes to get to the bathroom with D. I don't want to be too graphic but we'll just say this was definately the food I'd just eaten. Well I made a few more (less immediate) trips to the bathroom but the next day there was no joint pain or rash.

So basically I'm wondering if this was gluten or if the reaction was too immediate? The whole situation has me terrified to go out to dinner. Two minutes isn't a lot of time!!!

My first outbreak of shingles was when I was 18 years old. After that I was good until last year when I got shingles 4 times. In less than a year. The doctor also tested me for HIV and various cancers. I was not gluten free at the time however. Once I stopped eating gluten the shingles outbreaks stopped.

I also get DH and can tell the difference because of the searing nerve pain that only a shingles sufferer could know!

As a side note my doctor recommended olive leaf extract to prevent outbreaks. Not sure if it really works but I take it daily just in case!

I ate some cassava chips just this week with no issues. Most of their products will say if they are manufactured on shared equipment. I've not tried the dried pineapple but I have successfully eated some trail mixes labeled no gluten ingredients.

It sounds like you are pretty sensitive so I'd maybe call to be sure. Everytime I've dealt with them they are very courteous and helpful! I'd hate to say it's good and you get sick!

Glad it went so well and congratulations to your daughter!

I think sometimes people will ask why someone isn't eating out of curiosity but for the most part people are so self absorbed they forget it about it pretty quickly! lol