lynnelise

I don't have much to update on at the moment but I saw the immunologist yesterday. He ordered tests for IgA, IgG, IgM, and IgE. He also tested pneumococcal immunization titers before giving me a vaccine and will test again next month to see if my immune system was responsive to the vaccination. He suggested I have my regular doctor re-run tests for autoimmune disorders and thyroid disorders even though these have previously been negative. I am having those tests run next Wednesday.

I don't want there to be anything wrong but at the same time I have felt so terrible for 2 years and that can't be normal. I'd really like some answers so I can at least have some sort of treatment plan or prognosis!

I hope you dodge this bullet! Babies + Gluten = Trouble! lol! My nephew has tried to shove waffles in my mouth while I was distracted with another task, threw a cookie in the middle of a gluten-free salad I bought specifically so I'd have safe food at a family dinner, and backwashed gluteny crumbs into my unsuspecting drinks. Ewww!

I haven't tried Rudi's sandwich bread but I have tried the hamburger and hot dog buns. The burger buns are good but they don't at all remind me of the "real" thing. They are very hearty and have millet, flax, and sunflower seeds. I think they make better buns for deli style sandwiches than for a traditional burger.

I didn't love the hotdog buns. They tasted the same as the burger ones but they weren't soft and you pretty much had to cut them in half to get the hotdog in and then toppings kept dropping out the bottom. I also thought the seeds were even more out of place with hotdogs but that is just me. I like my junk food to taste like junk food! lol

I would LOVE to try Udi's buns. They look much more like the real thing and I love, love, love their bread! Just have to wait for my store to stock them!

Whole Grain Corn, Sugar, Brown Sugar, Corn Meal, Chocolate Flavored Chips (Sugar, Wheat Starch, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Corn Starch, Yellow Corn Flour, Soybean Oil, Corn Syrup Solids, Salt, Dextrose, Baking Soda, Soy Lecithin, Distilled Monoglycerides, Chocolate Liquor, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Tricalcium Phosphate [Anticaking Agent]), Modified Corn Starch, Whole Grain Oats, Rice Bran and/or Canola Oil, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Salt, Fructose, Tricalcium Phosphate, Corn Syrup, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Trisodium Phosphate. Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols) and Bht Added to Preserve Freshness. Vitamins and Minerals: Calcium Carbonate, Zinc and Iron (Mineral Nutrients), Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbate), A B Vitamin (Niacinamide), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B1 (Thiamin Mononitrate), Vitamin A (Palmitate), A B Vitamin (Folic Acid), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D.

This is the ingredient list as it appears on Amazon. This shows wheat starch and oats so it wouldn't be gluten free unless this list is outdated.

I've been suffering extreme fatigue for a year and a half with no answers so far. Most doctors immediately suggest my thyroid so that is something you should look into. Secondary food intolerances are another possibility since you get tired after eating. B12 levels are something else to look into. Also are there any other symptoms? Could you have a virus like mono?

I started having trouble with coffee after going gluten free. At first I thought there was gluten in the coffee itself and tried dozens of different brands. Then I kept having issues plus I started having my mouth go all tingly when I drank it which does not happen with gluten for me. I had some allergy tests ran that showed a mild allergy to the coffee itself. I quit coffee all together for months and now I have it once or twice a weeek.

It's weird though, I can drink hot coffee with heavy cream, half and half, non-dairy creamer, or soy and be ok but if I use regular milk I have a reaction. Cold coffee I can tolerate with soy only or I will have a reaction.

I eat all non-gluten grains minus oats. So far I don't notice any reactions other than oats. The certified gluten-free oats just do not agree with me at all.

That's hilarious! I want one! lol! I'd probably only be brave enough to wear it around the house though. I'd feel like wearing to restaurants without gluten free options though!

I'm weird in that I don't really like many cold foods. So I guess I'd go with cereal and milk. Sushi. Salads w/ chicken, fruit, nuts, and cheese. Pear, pecan, and blue cheese is a good combo. I'm also a big fan of the fluffernutter sandwich. I know it's not healthy but you can't go wrong with peanut butter and marshmallow creme!

Edit to add Smoothies! Protein powder, frozen fruit, spinach (you can't taste it, especially if you add banana). Quick, filling, and cold!

I love the Udi's bread. It's the best I've tried so far. I guess I was lucky in a way that I always bought the Ezekiel bread before I was diagnosed so I was used to paying at least $4 for a loaf of bread! The way I make this work for my budget is to eat bread sparingly. Most of the time I eat burgers and such without bread. I might have sandwiches for dinner one night a week or so and on the weekends I may have a sandwich for lunch. The bread stays in the freezer so it usually lasts my family two weeks or so.

1. Corn...there is an organization called the Gluten Free Society that says you cannot have corn but I think for most people they are fine with it. I personally think if you react to corn that is a separate issue from celiac. I personally have no issues with corn and eat a decent amount of it.

2. Oats. Bob's Red Mill has certified gluten-free oats. Also for flavored oats I think Gluten Freeda makes some. I do seem to have slight reaction to oats, nothing like I see with gluten so I will eat them on occassion, but if you find you react try other hot cereals. Bob's Mighty Tasty hot cereal is really good. I've also tried Quinoa flakes which are similar to oats but a lighter texture.

As for the cost of gluten-free food try limiting processed stuff. Cookies can be made fast and easy with Pamela's gluten-free baking mix and you can make several batches for a lot less than buying a premade box. Though I've got to say the Udi's cookies are worth $5 for a tiny box. A lot of mainstream stuff is safe: Success (and most other brands) rice, Hormel lunch meat, Oretega taco kits, some Chex cereals, most pasta sauces, beans, veggies, fruits, Wishbone (and a lot of other brands) salad dressing, ect...just read labels. Kraft and ConAgra I know will always list on the label if something is from gluten (ex.if it says modified food starch then you will know it's not wheat unless it says so!). Seriously other than an occassional Udi's bread or bagel, gluten-free pasta, and gluten-free baking mix I'd say the check out people don't even notice I'm gluten free!

Another way gluten-free can save you money is that you don't impulse buy as much! No throwing the new processed food nightmare into the cart like everyone else!

Is it near your ribcage? Could it be your gallbladder? I actually had my gallbladder removed but I will get pain there now if I am glutened.

As for the tattoos, mine occassionally raise up in the outlines/black parts. Sometimes for no real reason. No clue what that is about. I'd say anything that causes inflammation in the body could cause it.

I see that as more of a CYA statement. If you notice nothing on Chili's gluten-free menu is prepared in the fryer. Honestly anytime you eat in a restaurant you are taking a chance. When regular food is being prepared in the same kitchen CC is always going to be a factor. At least by offering the menu you have a better chance of getting something safe. My Chili's is typically very careful with gluten-free diners. The manager usually comes out to take your order and lets the kitchen know what is required.

My local Applebee's on the other hand is a disaster. They do have fried items on the menu listed as safe and then noted that they are fried with other things. I have never eaten at Applebee's and not gotten glutened. I'm pretty sure my one local Applebee's isn't representative of all of them, so hopefully safe meals can be had at other locations.

Here are my staples:

Milk

Yogurt

Cheese

Udi's Bread

Udi's pizza crust

Ancient Harvest (quinoa and corn pasta)

Corn tortillas

Rice

Meat

Hormel natural lunch meats

Fish

Veggies

Fruits

Tea

Larabars

Rice cakes

Peanut butter

Sauces (pasta, bbq)

Beans

Pamela's gluten-free baking mix

Betty Crocker gluten-free brownies

Chex or Envirokidz gluten-free cereal

Bob's Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal

Nuts

Pretty much the same things I bought before going gluten-free. I try to limit treats or just eat something naturally gluten free like chocolate or ice cream. Many regular brands are free of gluten ingredients. Just watch for reactions in case of CC. I usually don't have problems. I limit bread because it is expensive. I usually eat burgers and stuff without bread and it honestly doesn't bother me.

It's so hard to name just one! I'll have to name a few!

Udi's Bread

Udi's chocolate chip cookies

Pamela's Baking Mix

Betty Crocker gluten-free Brownies (better than regular!)

I wanted sooooo bad to go to Cheeseburger in Paradise while in Myrtle Beach over Memorial Day but unforeseen circumstances thwarted me. Now to wait patiently for my next trip! Wish there was one nearby!

Relatives are impossible! So many of my family members have symptoms...especially my mom. My mom is 70 and last time I was glutened she asked if I was sure I wasn't over reacting because "everyone has diarrhea after they eat!" I said actually no, everyone doesn't and the fact you think this is normal is kind of proving my point on why you need to investigate this!

Just wanted to check back in and thank everyone for their advice. I survived the trip thank goodness!!! The first night was bad as they were having a cookout. I checked all sauces and marinades and thought we were good to go...until they poured a beer on the grill right before they threw the food on it!!! I guess this is common but I've never seen or heard of it. I was appalled. Luckily they were really nice when I explained that I could no longer eat the food. After they got done cooking they took all the foil off the grill, scrubbed it, put new foil down and grilled me a fresh piece of chicken, a hamburger, and an ear of corn. No illness. The next day I ate my packed rice cakes and peanut butter for breakfast. Due to a poor nights sleep and my sister-in-law having a hard time in general she wanted a hotel which I gladly booked for us! I found a diner next door to eat at with a steak and blue cheese salad and no reaction. Breakfast was at the hotel, fruit and hardboiled eggs. Then it was packed snacks until time to fly home. While I did survive this trip in the future I will for sure have my own hotel and a rental car!!!

I agree with the other posters. No reason to panic. I think a lot of us were sick for so long and undiagnosed that constant gluten exposure caused other issues to set in. With you being diagnosed so soon I think you'll be just fine! I feel you though because I've always been panicky about my health too!

Eggs are a common denominator on a couple of days there. It could also be that you aren't 100% healed or have been recently glutened. I tend to have diarrhea off and on for a week or two after a glutening. Also coffee can sometimes trigger GI distress.

Try Jones soda. It's made with sugar instead of corn syrup and tastes much better!

Maybe he is one of the few doctors that know that you would have to return to a full gluten diet for quite awhile to get useful test results. If you are already reacting it may not be worth it to go through misery for a test that is often inconclusive.

I've already booked the flight. She's just been so miserable and I know this trip will cheer her up. I didn't really get the anxiety after the booking. Sometimes I forget I have restrictions now! Sadly I'm the only person in a position to go. Her mom is watching her kids, her closest friends all have little kids they can't leave, another friend has an autistic son she needs to be with, and the rest can't get off work or actually live in the area she is visiting.

I'm definately going to bring utinsels, bring what food I can, and tons of stomach meds. I'm considering taking Immodium as a precaution. I know I probably shouldn't take it unless I need it though...

I agree with the above, could she not have friend test her cakes and tell her how they compare to a gluten cake? I think other than the fact the she will react to the cake, whether she notices it or not her body will, if she does this then she may become dissatisfied with gluten-free treats. I remember when I first started the diet I thought all the breads were terrible, now I love Udi's and find the ones that grossed me out in the past to be very tolerable. I really think I needed to forget what "real" bread tasted like before I could appreciate gluten-free bread. If once a year I ate a slice of sourdough bread I be reminded of how different gluten-free is and wouldn't be satisfied. I think her experiment would just trigger her to sneak more and more treats in and eventually completely sabotage her health.