lynnelise

are you all completely down for the count for this long or are you still making it to work during this time?

I work the whole time, but I have a sit down, low stress job and my own little office so I can look and feel terrible in solitude! lol!

I have GI issues and am achy all over...plus I break out in a rash. This part last about 2 days. Then I get super fatigued for the next 5 or 6 days.

I had a very good experience at a RR this weekend. The menu I was given stated that you should request no seasoning on the fries or burger. I got the chicken with guacamole and plain fries. It was great and I had no issues, which was a relief since I was in for a five hour car trip! lol!

I don't eat at my inlaws because they have no clue what gluten is. I've explained but they are the type that have selective ADD and they filter out anything not directly pertaining to them. I made fudge a few weeks ago and my mil went on and on about how you couldn't even tell it was gluten free, it tastes the same as her recipe. Ummm because it's naturally gluten free. Oh well. Thank goodness she's only a mile away so we never really have to eat there.

Your mother in law's behavior was way out of line! I don't know if I could've controlled myself I heard mine say something like that, to a waitress no less! I spend twice as much as you on groceries per week so I don't think you are overspending by any means, I think that lady is just crazy and wants to hold a grudge against you! Most the time dinner out costs us close to your weekly grocery budget so if anything dining out is the waste of money.

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that the early gluten is introduced the more likely a person is to develop a tolerance. Given the excema I would probably hold off if I were your daughter. It's not necessary for good health to eat gluten so I see no problem with waiting longer.

Is there an area restaurant you feel comfortable with? If so make sure to go there! Otherwise follow the above advice to check in ahead of time to see if they can accomodate you.

Have you told your date about having celiac disease? It's nothing to be ashamed of and beats canceling the date. Maybe she'd prefer to eat before seeing you and you could go to a movie or something.

I had shingles for the first time when I was 18. This past year at 31 I had 4 outbreaks of shingles. In fact that is how I figured out that gluten was a problem for me. The doctor told me that repeated outbreaks were probably due to cancer, AIDs, or Hepatitis. Needless to say I was in a terrible panic. I got tested for everything under the sun (except celiac). I was desperate so my cousin had the GI doc she works for review my medical records and he said to stop eating gluten and see what happens. I've not had another outbreak since. I would suspect that your immune system is just very low due to damage caused by gluten and your gallbladder issues. Try taking olive leaf extract. It helps fight the shingles virus.

I notice that I eat a lot less. When I track my calories I seem to hover around 1400-1500 when before I often went over 2000. Provided I get enough protein I'm not nearly as hungry either. I'm often able to skip snacks where as before I was counting down the minutes to break time!

It's good knowing other people are having ups and downs too. Sometimes I feel great and am thankful that my problems are such that a diet change can cure me and no medicine or surgery is required but other days I'll be doing something simple like watching the Travel Channel and seeing all the great food I'll never get to try and get really down. It's also hard because while my friends and family are very supportive they think problem solved, now let's get on with life and don't understand the healing time and grieving time involved. To my husband his sister saying "oh sorry, I forgot you can't eat this" is her being forgetful. To me it's a taunt!

I just try to focus on how it could be so much worse. I try to think of my best friend, she's in wheelchair due to spina bifida. When I think of all the things I'm able to do that she never can a silly thing like not being able to eat a croissant seems trivial. I guess I just have to put it in perspective for myself because I'm really good at throwing pity parties!

Having the child bring special food and a pan is a good idea. Otherwise I'd be tempted to thank them for the offer but explain that it would be way too hard on them to find cookware and utinsels that weren't previously contaminated.

Like the above poster I was sick all the time anyhow so I ate anything and everything. I loved to eat and was always trying a new cuisine or restaurant. Now honestly not much has changed. I have less restaurants to choose from and I cook more often but I'm always looking at recipes or menus and thinking about what I'll eat later. I love to have friends over and cook a big meal. I will say I don't crave things as badly now. Since each meal requires logistics I never just run out and grab things.

The three worst for me would be:

1. Enjoy Life bagels. Like eating a hockey puck for breakfast.

2. Rice pecan bread. I think it's by Food for Life. I threw the entire loaf away.

3. Whole Foods Almond scones. Honestly I don't know why but I ate one and liked it okay but then everytime I went to eat another I'd get grossed out and nauseated thinking about them.

My favorites would be:

1.Larabars! I don't know why everyone hates them!

2.Lundberg brown rice cakes. So yummy with peanut butter!

3. French Meadow bread. My Krogers had it once, I fell in love, and it's never been back!

I'm so glad you confronted her! What she did was sick!

This is wrong because your intestines are being destroyed which will eventually lead to severe illness and death.

Applebee's is a terrible place for gluten free dining. The manager at my local Applebee's said the ground beef is the ONLY fresh option available. All the meats are glazed and/or marinated in gluten, the potatoes are subject to cross contamination from the butter and sour cream. Basically nothing is safe there. As I don't find an unseasoned hunk of ground beef with no sides a desireable dinner out I avoid the place. I'm sorry you had to go through that and are in so much pain! In the future I'd call the restaurant and ask before hand.

I watched a program on how colon cleansing is 100% unnecessary and potential dangerous because it disrupts the balance of bacteria in your intestines. Since being celiac you are already compromised I would think the risk would be even worse for you. I agree with the previous post just eat whole, unprocessed foods and start healing! For breakfast I like yogurt with berries and a rice cake with peanut butter. Kind bars and Larabars are both gluten free on the go options as well.

I had mono last summer and things got really bad afterward. I'd always had a lot of stomach problems but they got worse and I started having constant aches, rashes, and fatigue. My immune system practically shut down and I was caught everything! Then I started having vitamin deficiencies. I've been gluten free for almost 4 months and I feel so much better. I definately think mono made existing gluten issues worse in my case.

On Thursday I was told to go back to eating gluten in order to get an accurate biopsy. Since Thursday at the doctor's office, I have gained 10 pounds! My face looks swollen, my stomach is bloated as bad as ever, and I spent the evening vomiting. I need to wait an entire month for the biopsy. I am afraid I will look like a blimp by the time I get there. Why would I gain weight that quickly? Any ideas?

Water retention/bloating.

I would just come out and say that you've been researching your symptoms and that you'd like to be tested for celiac disease. Be aware that the blood tests may not be accurate and sometime even the EGD isn't. If you get a negative result I'd try the gluten-free diet anyhow. My blood tested negative but 90% of my symptoms have cleared up on the diet...especially my stomach symptoms. I'd say 99% of the GI related symptoms have cleared up. It's really amazing.

I used to be one of those people who ate the cookies and cakes being offered on holidays at the office even if I didn't like them (I hate store bought baked goods)because I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. Now that I can't have gluten I can just say "thanks for the thought but I can't eat that"! No one is offended or pressures me because it's a medical issue!

Another benefit is eating healthier when dining out. I used to love whatever was carby and cheesy but not anymore! Plus saving calories on the bread basket and dessert menu.

Not to mention that I've not had to take Immodium in months. I used to have Immodium, pepto, phenegran, and Kapidex on hand at all times because I never knew what my stomach would do!

Do you eat lunch at the same place as breakfast and dinner? I know I eat lunch at work and use the dishes here at the office so if that's also the case with you could it be a contaminated kitchen?

I like Envirokidz, all flavors. Nature's Path Crunchy Maple Sunrise. Rice and Corn Chex. Trader Joe's gluten-free granola is good too.

I had gallbladder attacks for years but no gallstones. They just kept doing ultrasounds over and over. Then finally a new doctor did a HIDA scan that showed my gallbladder had quit functioning. I had it taken out 4 years ago and experienced some relief. I still had the nagging side pain almost all the time (the pain between the shoulder blades went away though). I also had D almost all the time after eating. This year a gluten-free diet was recommended because of various ailments. For the first time in years I don't have the side pain and I don't have D!!! I do believe my gallbladder need removed because it was swollen and adhered to my liver with scar tissue due to chronic inflammation but I didn't see 100% relief until going gluten-free.

I tend to spend way to much at the store but I have recently started doing a couple of things that are healthier plus save money!

First up every week I buy a roasting chicken. The night I roast it we eat chicken with baked potatoes and a salad. Then I take the rest of the meat from the bones and use it to make casseroles, soups, or chicken salad. This usually gives us two dinners and two lunches per week.

I also love fruity yogurt but don't want a lot of sugar or chemicals. Each week I buy one big container of organic plain yogurt and one bag of frozen raspberries. Mix a bit together each day for fruity yogurt with breakfast! I can usually spread it over 5 days! I think it's sweet enough, but if it's too tart you could add honey.

I'm loving the other tips because I waste a lot of money at the store!