lynnelise

Kareng has it right. I get so mad when I see wheat in products where it is 110% unneeded!

I don't blame you for skipping the endoscopy. I had one last year to look for an ulcer and though they noted that I had extreme inflammation in my small intestines they didn't biopsy it! My new doctor has suggested I may want to pursue getting another but I have been gluten free for 11 months now, get very sick from any CC, and don't want to shell out another $800 bucks after insurance! Plus I can't help feeling that they should have biopsied the first time given the inflammation!

As long as you are secure without the diagnoses and won't cheat then I think it's unjust torture!

The only time this sort of thing bothers me is when PMS hits. That's when I get sad and want things I can't have. I agree with the others bring a special treat that you just love. Make everyone else jealous!

I would love to tell you that these posts you are reading are from fanatic people obsessed with gluten but I'm afraid they are probably accurate. After almost a year of following the diet I have become increasingly sensitive to CC. Honestly I am at the point where going out to dinner causes issues 80% of the time.

Also I am so intuned with my digestive tract it is truely sad. I can definately tell the difference between gluten and other random ailments because my glutenings follow a pattern. First almost immediately I'll get the big D. Then within a few hours fatigue. The next day achy joints and a rash. Then a day or two later I'll typically get a canker sore.

My inlaws can't make any side dish without ritz crackers...seriously green bean casserole, corn casserole, pineapple (seriously) casserole...ect. I bring a few safe dishes of my own. Double check the turkey and eat only that and my stuff. Nothing else. Also I get my plate first so no one drops gluten in the safe foods!

At my nephew's party they served Subway sandwiches and my mother-in-law was trying to get me to pick the meat and cheese off. She just couldn't understand that it still wasn't safe.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I always suspect that people like the great aunt are getting quite a bit more gluten than they think and that if they were to totally eliminate it for a bit and then try picking the toppings of the pizza they would react like you or I do.

I have some Hall's sore throat drops and they are supposed to be gluten free. However, they do have glucose syrup in them which can be derived from wheat starch but supposedly has so little ppm of gluten that it isn't supposed to cause reactions. Nonetheless, I've heard people say they have reacted to glucose syrup so it could be the drops for your sore throat.

Forgot to add, yes if you keep ingesting gluten you are more likely to get cancer of the small intestines and also at increased risk for a certain type of lymphoma.

I think a lot of autoimmune conditions are connected but I don't have specifics about Meniere's. What I really wanted to say was PLEASE don't cheat! Yes it could be causing you to feel sore all over. My whole body hurts when I eat gluten. Also there is absolutely nothing you can take that will stop your body from attacking the gluten. The only thing that will make you well is to 100% eliminate all traces of gluten from your life. Sorry, I know it's hard but it's worth it!!!

Thanks Nor_TX, I really meant my post to be educational because sadly I have a lot more experience than I'd like to have with mono!

I don't know what kinds of things you are able to take with your other meds or conditions but you may want to try Olive Leaf extract. Some studies show it can help suppress mono and similar viruses. It's also got some antibiotic like properties. My doctor recommended it when I had mono and shingles and it really seems to help. I get sick a lot less often when I take it and illnesses clear up faster.

I'm sorry that I've obviously offended people with my supposed insensitivity! I was simply trying to say that with mono it isn't very easy to stay home until you are not contagious because every person and every case is different and you could be off for months. Doctors don't even know for sure how long each individual may be contagious.

Again I apologize if that is viewed to be insensitive. Maybe this forum isn't for me.

I am so happy for you! The cruise sounds awesome and so does the new guy! Congratulations.

I do honestly get where you guys are coming from and if it was the flu or strep throat I would say this lady definately needs to stay home. The thing about mono is that you are contagious 2-4 weeks before you even have symptoms. You can continue to be contagious for up to 18 months AFTER symptoms disappear! Mono is in the same virus family as shingles, chicken pox, and herpes. It NEVER leaves your systems, but it goes through phases where it is dormant and non-contagious and phases where you actively shed the virus with or without symptoms. Most people only have one bout of active mono and never get symptoms again. My friend however has been diagnosed with chronic mono so at anytime she can be transmitting the virus.

Basically the only advice is don't eat or drink after anybody, ever, period. Even if they feel fine at that moment.

Obviously I meant eat or drink AFTER them.

You are contagious with mono but it's not really airborne like a cold. You actually have to eat or drink or kiss the person. Something that would expose you to their saliva. The other teacher with the slobbering and the chapstick will probably catch mono. She sounds like a weirdo personally.

I do not work around children but when I had mono last year I had to work through it. Mono lasts MONTHS so taking the entire time off just isn't possible for most people if they want to keep their jobs.

I would only trust certified gluten free oats if those. I would explore other hot cereal options. They make quinoa flakes that cook up quite similar to oatmeal.

My gallbladder stopped functioning about 5 years ago, confirmed by a HIDA scan w/ cck. After having it removed I continued to have less severe right rib cage pain until I quit eating gluten. I think gluten issues and gallbladder problems are definately connected.

Honestly if it's someone you don't know very well and they are the type that won't take "gluten intolerance" seriously just tell them you have celiac. They don't need to know your medical history. If you have all the symptoms and quitting gluten makes those symptoms go away then I say you have your answer.

"If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it must be a duck!"

Hi, Not sure where WV is... I live north of Dallas in a small city.

I'm a bit far from you then. I'm in West Virginia. It's nestled between Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Quite rural so we don't get a lot of new products or speciality products very quickly.

I got mine at Wal-mart for $3.50ish. (I live in WV so we're usually last to get stuff like that!) I used it in a couple of muffin and cookie recipes and it did fine. I prefer Pamela's gluten-free baking mix but the Bisquick is a lot cheaper and perfectly acceptable. I also love the brownie mix and I used the cookie mix to make a chocolate chip cheesecake recipe from their website and the gluten eaters LOVED it.

Anything with phyllo dough.

Also my mother in law made apple dumplings the other day and sat beside me and proceeded to ooooh and ahhhh over them. The smell was killing me and I wanted to snap her neck! lol!

mushroom,

So true. I wonder what is next. Soon they could just hand us a pill instead of us eating.

Soylent Green?!?!

I've always liked the South Beach diet. I used to think it was amazing how it cleared up my stomach issues, now I know why! lol! I've been indulging in a bit too many gluten-free goodies so I need to get back on board myself!

Ok...now I see where you said you don't want to cook a full meal for just yourself. I suggest cooking full meals and eating the leftovers for a couple of nights! Or throwing some quick stuff together:

Corn tortillas with cheese grilled til melted. Serve with cut up veggies or a can of gluten-free soup.

Baked potatoes with brocolli and cheese or chili and cheese.

Fruit and yogurt smoothies! Add protein powder or use greek yogurt for a more balanced meal! Throw spinach in there (you really can't taste it!).

Roll up lunch meat and cheese with some lettuce. Serve with gluten-free soup or cut veggies!

Gluten free specialty products aren't necessary! I mean they are good for an occassional treat but definately not required for the diet! Here are some examples of what I eat regularly:

Breakfast: yogurt and fruit. Homemade muffins. gluten-free oats or cream of rice cereal mixed with fruit, pumpkin, ect. Larabars.

Lunch: Dinner leftovers. gluten-free lunch meat on salad greens. Veggies and hummus. Rice and beans. Tuna and cottage cheese (not as gross as it sounds!). Noodle kits (A Taste of Thai makes some good ones).

Dinner: Chili, meatloaf (use gluten-free breadcrumbs or even crushed corn chips in the mix), whole roasted chicken (great leftovers!!!), Salmon with lemon juice and spices, shepherd's pie, gluten free pasta, tacos, enchiladas, ect...

Any type of treat such as muffins or cookies I've adapted just fine with Pamela's gluten free baking mix. I've also been successful with the new gluten-free Bisquick which is fairly inexpensive!