luvs2eat

Before reading the whole post I found I wasn't surprised... till I found out you were in Japan. Seems that peeps in the U.S. are so danged litigious that being glutened at a restaurant could end up in a lawsuit... I wasn't surprised to hear a restaurant ushered you out rather than attempt to accommodate you! I'm a little surprised to hear that it was in a country outside the U.S. So sorry this is happening to you!

When I was diagnosed, my GI doc ordered blood work and scheduled a colonoscopy because I was 49... very close to the age they'd have scheduled an initial screening. The screening had nothing to do w/ damage caused by celiac as that would be seen in the small intestine anyhow.

He was also a GI doc who didn't believe in total sedation. I wasn't upset or nervous at all as I'd seen many "scopes" in my nurse's training. Actually, I was fascinated watching the whole thing and asking questions. I was completely awake and there was such mild discomfort... it just wasn't bad at all. As it turned out, having the colonoscopy had nothing to do w/ my being diagnosed (by bloodwork) w/ celiac disease.

Early detection is the key in colon issues. Please try not to be afraid... the prep is the worst part and that's just not so bad!

Portland is my favorite city!! There are so many gluten-free offerings and all restaurants seem so gluten aware! Last year I went w/ my daughter to a Mexican place and asked the owner if everything was gluten-free. He took me to the prep area and showed me the ONE thing to avoid... some meat thing.

The Whole Bowl is my fave!! I've just discovered a copycat recipe for the super-secret Tali Sauce and have been enjoying Whole Bowls at home (hold the cilantro, please!).

I'll find out the name of the place my other daughter took me ... where we had delicious shrimp tacos and an amazing roasted beet salad w/ candied pecans and beer in the bottle!! I could have gone there every day!!

I just spent 2 weeks visiting kids in Portland, OR. I went to the New Cascadia bakery THREE times while there. I don't know about opening up my own bakery, but I'd love to simply work at the New Cascadia!!

What a keeper!!

I'm constantly amazed at the kindness/concern of friends/neighbors. We have an incredibly "gruff" neighbor who now reads labels when he's buying ingredients for something he wants to cook so he'll be able to tell me if I can eat it or not. It really touches me!

Since baking bread was one of my favorite things to do... going gluten free was hard for me. I was diagnosed w/ celiac disease pretty quickly. When people asked me what the symptoms of celiac disease are, I told them that one of the more common ones is unexplained weight loss... then I'd look down at myself and say, "Um... I didn't get that one!"

I spent the better part of a year stuffing myself w/ gluten free food to make up for all the food I could no longer have and gained about 40 lbs!!

Last winter I was just about ready to go to my doctor to ask for some high-powered acid reducer, like Nexium, because I was having such terrible heartburn/acid reflux that...if I didn't know better I'd have thought I was having a heart attack!! I finally had to admit to my carb addiction... I'd literally wake up in the morning and think to myself, "What carb can I make today? Pasta? Rice? Bread?"

I cut out almost all carbs. I ate scrambled eggs for breakfast and, more often than not, ate veggies (cooked broccoli and carrots or zucchini) w/ a splash of ranch dressing for lunch... occasionally adding 1/2 cup cooked brown rice... and a lean protein w/ a salad and/or veggies for supper. The easy part was not having to "think" of what to cook cause I knew I was pretty much eating the same things every day!

Saturday night was my "cheat night" and I'd make a pizza or have some pasta.

I lost 20 lbs in several months and guess what?? No more heartburn!! I was not only eating too many carbs... I was simply eating too much at supper and going to bed w/ too full a tummy!!

The 20 lbs has been easy to keep off. I'd like to lose the next 20, but will be happy to lose at least another 10 using my same method. I've been slacking off on my eating plan lately. Time to jump back on the bandwagon!!

I bought it because I think the very best dumplings were always from Bisquick. I made waffles w/ it and wasn't AT ALL impressed. I much prefer Pamela's pancake/waffle mix. I sure hope it makes good dumplings for my beef stew!

They look delicious!! All of your recipes look so yummy! Thanks so much for posting them!!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! I can't relate to that particular circumstance, but can completely agree that Celiac can be so humiliating sometimes!

I've learned how to flush the toilet at just the right moment (courtesy flush!) so people can't hear that I'm MURDERING the bathroom. I've also learned to lift the seat and make sure I've not left "evidence" of my crime before I leave the bathroom!

UGH!!!

Going gluten free wasn't too hard. Having to eliminate dairy was REALLY hard. I've learned to drink my coffee black. If I had to give up coffee... I think I'd really have to take the gas pipe!!

I put my coffee into a travel cup for a few weeks so I couldn't see it... that's how I went from coffee w/ milk to black coffee.

I'm so sorry you can't drink coffee. Maybe switching to tea might be better?

It was so long ago, I can't remember what I ate. I drank a lot of beer tho... THAT I remember.

Reading all these responses leave me flabbergasted! My doctor was SOOO nice and really well informed. My symptoms were unrelenting diarrhea and a hugely noisy tummy... I used to say it sounded like wolverines were fighting their way out!! I had no pain or any other symptoms.

He tested me for parasites, put me on a course of medicine for that, and scheduled blood work and a colonoscopy (cause I was 49 and it was a good time for an initial screening).

After the colonoscopy, he came to me w/ the bloodwork and said, "I have good news and bad news."

The good news was that he said he knew how to stop my diarrhea/tummy wolverines. The bad news was that I had celiac disease and could never eat wheat, etc. etc. again.

Done and Done. I consider myself so lucky!!

Youngest DD went to her GI w/ research she'd done in the internet... desparate to find an answer to her symptoms that being extremely carefully gluten-free weren't solving at all. He saw her papers and said, "Oh great... you've been on the internet. Why don't YOU tell ME what's wrong w/ you?"

DD burst into tears and told him she was just trying to find ANY answers for her debilitating symptoms.

She never saw him again and sent him a scathing letter about his crappy "bedside" manner!

Kirkland's smoked pulled pork at Costco is DELICIOUS!!!

I think they sound like they're trying to be accommodating and that's good. In fact, I'd RATHER take my own food/desserts so I won't get glutened w/ the best and most loving intentions. My incredibly sweet, late MIL bought me a loaf of gluten-free bread but it was disgusting tasting and I felt like I had to eat it because it was expensive and she went so far out of her way to find it. I'd rather bring my own bread!

I ask people never to cook to accommodate me because I don't trust that I won't get glutened! It's just easier... and safer... for me to bring stuff!

I mean no offense, but why would you consider putting anything other than pure maple syrup on pancakes??? It's naturally gluten-free and delicious!

Real french bread and crusty country loaves are what I miss... plus real chocolate chip cookies w/ lots of walnuts.

I'm used to gluten-free bread now and it's good, but it's not real french bread. And I've never had a chocolate chip cookie that can remotely compare to the real thing... so I don't bake 'em anymore.

I'd love a good old Big Mac too.

Wow... I'm all the way up at the top of Marion county! Wish you guys were closer! You sure have better shopping options down there, I'm betting!!

  On 8/24/2010 at 12:48 PM, Coyote80 said:

My story is strange, but I really need some advice and fear alleviation from it. My father passed away one year ago. He was having a renal biopsy and the doctor severed an artery which caused him to pass away within two weeks. The reason he was in the hospital in the first place is that for two years they could not understand his health problems. He has Systematic Lupus, Neuropathy, Dental Enamel Hypoplasia, Sjogren's Syndrome, and I believe an onset of Diabetes. He was also very thin most of his life and even before diagnosis it seemed like nerve problems were present. At this time I had no idea what Celiac disease was, but now there is no question that this is what caused it! I looked through all of his old papers and asked my family, because he never mentioned them testing him for Celiac, and I am certain he never had a bowel biopsy done. I never thought his team of doctors were up to par, hence him always ending up in the hospital. From what I have read I would have thought this was one of the first procedures they would have done!

I am terrified to have a biopsy done hence my father's story, but I know since it is highly hereditary I have a good chance of having Celiac. I know it is not the same type of biopsy, but it still scares me. I had blood work done and it came back negative, but I was sick at the time and had not eaten much of anything that week, so that is understandable. I have started the elimiation diet and have been gluten-free for two weeks now. Week one I was ok, but now I am constantly fatigued, I have a rash on my chest, I have been running a small fever for two days, my stools have turned from normal to very abnormal looking (and they are frequent), and I feel nauseated when I eat. Also I forgot to mention I keep getting a really sharp pain in my stomach. It is not unbearable but I have never had this feeling before.

Before I started being gluten-free I had frequent urination to the point I did not sleep well at night and even going for a long walk I would have to stop in a store to pee. Since I am still freqent but a little less, so I was wondering if that is a coincidence. Also a clue I had was beer. When I drink beer (and I don't mean obliterated drunk but just one or two) I pee so much I can barely sit down and half of the time my stomach hurts and I vomit soon after. I can have wine with dinner and this does not happen at all.

I had been given advice to try the elimination diet from a lady on another forum site, as her doctor's were convinced and even her biopsy came back negative so it was the only way she could tell. Is this a good way? Is what I am experiencing now signs of Celiac? I know a lot of people or most that read this have had a biopsy and could you tell me if this is a dangerous procedure. My heart races at the thought of having one, so if elimination diet is good enough please let me know. Also one more thing...I recently moved to France and for Celiacs they have a good system. You are reimbursed 75% for gluten-free foods. You just have to mail in the receipts and they send you a check. So is a biopsy the only way my doctor will say yes, you have Celiac?

I really appreciate any feedback!!!

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that no 2 celiacs have the same symptoms... so your symptoms could be celiac related.

The frequent urination is often experienced by people w/ diabetes... along with extreme thirst.

It sounds like a good work up is needed. The biopsy to confirm celiac diseasae is done by endoscopy. Don't be afraid of it... it's an easy procedure. They anesthetize you and pass a tube down your esophagus, thru your stomach to your small intestine. There's no pain and no real prep except not eating after midnight.

Good luck!

My daughter had a similar experience when she went back to the GI who diagnosed her celiac disease... she's since developed MANY food intolerances and pelvic pain and other symptoms. She'd been scouring the internet for answers and arrived at her doc's appt. w/ information she'd found. Her doctor said, "Oh great... you've been doing research. Why don't YOU tell ME what you have?"

She burst into tears and explained she's just desperate for ANY answers!! That was the last time she saw him and sent him a scathing letter about his "bedside manner" and compassion for his patients!

I hope you report your doctor!

I was gluten-free for about a year when I couldn't take baking awesome bread for others... and scarfed down a huge slice of homamade challah bread, slathered it w/ butter ... WITH NO REPURCUSSIONS!!

I had visions of scheduling a monthly "cheat" ... pizza one month and french bread the next.

I never got to test the theory. The next time I accidentally ingested gluten... I was sick as a dog. Those days of the idea of "scheduled cheats" are long gone. I've become very sensitive and would never purposely ingest gluten!!

I gained a good bit of weight after going gluten-free. I finally had to cut back on a lot of the breads/baked goods. Many have a higher glycemic index and more calories because of the flours we use (rice!). I lost 20 lbs. in about 4-5 months by eating mostly lean proteins and lots of fruits and veggies... I cut way back on the carbs.

I'm so sorry! I have no experience but wanted to wish you the best! Please keep us updated.

Mine came out of nowhere at age 48... no family history, no trauma or trigger that I know of... just BAM!

About 5 years later my middle kid was diagnosed at about age 25. My youngest daughter was diagnosed last year (and is having a real struggle w/ it... lots of food intolerances and abdominal/pelvic floor muscle involvement) and oldest daughter was just diagnosed 2 months ago.

Neither my brother nor my sister has it and none of our extended fam does either.

I'd never trust a prepared meal from an airline anyhow! Have lunchbox... will travel... w/ GOOD gluten-free food!!