luvs2eat

I'm just jealous that you HAVE a Costco nearby. The ONLY thing around here is Sam's Club (Sam's from AR after all) and the closest one is 2 hours away!!

LOVE Costco!!

It takes a while, but you really do get to the place where you can either recreate whatever you want to eat w/ gluten free stuff... or you do w/out.

I keep saying ... in the scheme of things and the awful things that can happen to people ... not eating gluten is NOTHING. I just had to learn to cook differently.

But, like I said ... it takes a while.

I do let the place know if I have symptoms of being glutened after eating at their place of business. They need to know for the next gluten free person.

Very good point and idea!!

We eat out pretty infrequently, partly because there are few restaurants where we live and partly cause we're cheap... and like to cook. We tend to go to casual places w/ gluten-free menus (Chilis, Outback, and the fanciest, PF Chang once in a blue moon) and literally pat the seat and tell the server to take a load off for a min. I tell them I can't eat gluten... many have at least heard of it... and then I tell them it's serious and if the salad comes w/ croutons, I'll have no choice but to ask that another salad to be made... or another burger if it comes on the roll. In reality... if/when it DOES happen? I don't think I'll ask for another and just won't eat... I've worked in restaurant kitchens... 'nuff said.

We're friendly and tip well... we've never/very rarely had a problem.

I was the ONLY one in my family and extended family to be diagnosed about 9-10 years ago. Only one of my kids would consider being tested and the bloodwork was inconclusive. The others said, "WHY would I want to know if I'm not having symptoms??"

Middle daughter (the one who was tested) was formally diagnosed a few years later and youngest daughter was diagnosed last fall... and is having a TERRIBLE time. She's got other health stuff going on and doesn't eat things w/ high levels of oxilates. She's still on a quest to figure out exactly WHAT she can eat w/o feeling bad.

Oldest daughter hasn't been tested, but has just gone thru 6 months of chemo for breast cancer. Her doctor told her to watch out for celiac as the trauma of cancer and chemo may just act as a trigger. She certainly knows the symptoms!! But she's enjoying gluten for as long as she can!!

My brother's not been tested but my sister, who has many, many food intolerances was. She had to demand the test (she's in France) because her docs told her it was so rare. Bloodwork was negative... so she's happily eating the best bread in the world.

I was just diagnoised with celiac disease 2 weeks ago. I haven't started a gluten free diet yet because I am still have to get the endoscopy biopsy( this Friday)

I normaly have 34 days between my periods so even by my standards I am a little late.

I just don't know if I am having. celiac disease or prego syptoms.

Because I am in treated i always feel tired. I am starting to feel nausious after meals but I know that could be celiac disease

I am having cramps like I am about to get my period that are a little stronger when I streatch or sneeze.

I have never been pregnant before and I looked online at the symptoms and I feel like I could have all that from the celiac disease.

( late period, nausious, tired ect) the only reason why I think I am is my breast are very tender.

Is there anyway to tell the diffrence between celiac disease and prego symptoms?

Thanks in advance. Sorry I am new to all this!

Well there's a super easy way to find out... you may have to wait for the endo this weekend, but you can pee on a stick today!!

Here's the crockpot rotisserie chicken recipe that's been all the rage at my other fave chat room... copykat.com:

Crockpot Rotisserie Chicken

1 Whole Chicken (I cooked a 6 pounder)

Olive Oil Cooking Spray

Lawry's Seasoned Salt (no substitutes)

Aluminum foil

Clean chicken inside and out. Spray with olive oil spray.

Sprinkle inside and out with Lawry's.

Spray inside of crock with cooking spray. Note: Do not put any water in the crockpot.

Roll some wads of aluminum foil into balls and put them in the bottom of the crock. The chicken is going to sit on these.

Put chicken back side down in crock on top of aluminum balls.

Cook on High (will not come out the same on low), 4-6 hours

I also use some fresh herbs (sprig of rosemary, sage) laying on top. I put 1/2 lemon & 1/2 onion in cavity. I use the rest of the lemon and squeeze the juice on the chicken before I spray it.

Note: I've not used Lawry's seasoning... I've just dumped tons of seasonings of my own on there... but it comes out very moist.

I'd love it if you did... and if you lived in north-central Arkansas! I'd come and be your "go-fer" or assistant or clean-up person or garbage collector or anything you wanted!

I've not had really good luck w/ my baking efforts and have pretty much abandoned baking altogether. I use Pamela's bread mix and love it... but some of the bread I purchased from Wegman's (frozen) was so delicious... a french baguette that was light and airy... that I'm thinking it's not only the recipe/ingredients, but the machines they're using that I don't have access to.

I had a gluten free cupcake w/ mocha cream frosting and a layer of chocolate ganache on top of that in Philadelphia recently. The cupcake was so moist and tasted like cupcakes-of-old... I've never been able to reproduce that kind of moisture or taste in a gluten free cake/cupcakes.

I've come to accept/embrace almost all the things I can cook... you really can't tell it's gluten free... except for baking. I guess I still remember the tastes/textures of gluten baking and haven't been able to embrace the differences in gluten free baking.

I went to a Salt Creek Grille in Princeton, NJ, last week. The menu had several entrees w/ (g) listed next to it... GLUTEN FREE!! One of the entrees was BBQ ribs w/ garlic fries. I asked the server if the fries were fried in a dedicated fryer... i.e., in a fryer w/ nothing that's breaded. She went to inquire and came back to tell me that calamari was also fried in there and the establishment suggested that I not order anything "fried." I ordered quinoa and lump crabmeat (it was delicious) ... but emailed the company as soon as I got home and told them that garlic fries and probably the house potato chips are NOT gluten free and they needed to take the (g) designation off the menu immediately because serving those items to people w/ gluten intolerances was tatamount to feeding them poison!!

I'll hold my breath for a reply, but will post if I get one!

Good to know! I just read yesterday that black licorice is a natural remedy for diahrrhea!

Okay... I'm changing my response. The lobster shell incident is a deal breaker for me. Reminds me of the recent thread about the woman's relative who assured her that the meal she served was gluten-free and after everyone had eaten, she told the celiac that there was wheat in the dish and she'd just proved the celiac was exaggerating and didn't have gluten issues because she wasn't instantly sick!

Your MIL attempted to poison you. POISON you. I'd never eat anything she cooked again... oh wait... she doesn't cook. I would never allow my kids to be alone w/ her... EVER. I don't know if she's crazy or not... but she certainly is dangerous.

Would she begrudge you spending money on insulin if you were a diabetic? Or paying the cost of a really expensive prescription if your doctor said it would save your life? You're buying FOOD that happens to be the ONLY treatment for the condition you have! It doesn't matter WHAT it costs if it keeps you healthy and happy!

I think the best advice you've received here is to tell her that you will take your doctor's and dietician's advice, but I'd be sorely tempted to tell her exactly what she can do w/ HERS.

I survived a MIL from hell... even dead, she continues to affect my kids. Good luck w/ yours... her name doesn't happen to be Joni, does it??

Hi all -

I just need a place/moment to vent because I'm at my wit's end. My 9 month old spits up like CRAZY and I feel like I'm going crazy. I went through 3 receiving blankets within about 20 minutes because of all his spitting and then yesterday when I fed him bananas (one of the very few solid foods that he seems to tolerate okay) he spit up just about the whole jar. I had given him a new food (apples and blueberries) in the morning and I can't figure out if it's a delayed reaction to the apples and blueberries or if he's all of a sudden not handling the bananas very well. And then today he's just cried and cried and spit up and he hasn't pooed since about Friday. Ugh --- I just want to know how to help my little guy so that he feels well. He's such a happy baby when his tummy isn't upset, but I feel like he has to start eating solids at some point here!!! He's my 4th child, but I feel like I don't have a clue.

Plus, I'm going around in circles between my doctor, the insurance co., and the local lab, with getting what I need to have genetic testing done for me and to have it covered by our provider. This has been going on for 3 weeks and I just want to get the test done already. I need a healthy dose of some patience I think

Sounds like you need a vacation more than patience! I guess it'd be silly to ask if you can keep him sitting up and not lying down for a few hours after eating? That's my first thought. I've been having a lot of reflux/heartburn lately and had to start eating supper (and less of it!) earlier so I can have a few hours to digest before I lie down to sleep.

They're calling me tomorrow to conduct the survey. They ask a bunch of questions before they set up for a survey call... when you were diagnosed, by what sort of doctor, your symptoms when glutened, your diligence in keeping gluten-free. They're doing research on a gluten-free product or treatment or something. Pretty cool. They're also calling my daughter tomorrow!

when I was diagnosed, I told my 3 daughters that they should be tested. I think one had blood work and it was inconclusive. She ended up w/ symptoms a few years later and was formally diagnosed. Youngest daughter started having symptoms last year and was formally diagnosed. Oldest daughter is happily eating gluten and doesn't want to know anything until/unless she starts having symptoms.

My sister, who's had many allergies for her whole life, had to demand blood work from her doctor (in France) and it was negative. My brother hasn't been tested, but has noticed that when he has occasional eczema on his hands... it goes away if he even cuts back on his wheat consumption.

I've had it now twice. My healthfood store just started carrying it. I've had no problems at all and it's my new fave find! I'm sorry it's causing you problems!

I just found Namaste crust in my health food store (really the only place I can find gluten-free stuff ... they've just enlarged their store AND their gluten-free offerings!). I spread it out on parchment paper on top of the pizza stone we have and it yielded a really delicious thin, crispy crust! I don't eat pizza often, so it's my new fave find!!

You and my daughter (princesshungry on here) may run into each other sometime! I think she goes to see her today!! Thanks again!!

My daughter lives in Portland. She was diagnosed w/ celiac disease last fall... and since then her symptoms have escalated to the point where they've investigated interstitial cystitis and other crazy things. I think it was "celiac mommy" who recommended Dr. Char Glenn in Portland... an internist who specializes in celiac disease. Daughter has seen her and is also seeing a naturopath who says Dr. Glenn is the best. She's having more testing done (she had bloodwork and an eodoscopy to diagnose celiac disease) to see what the heck is going on... but she LOVES Dr. Glenn!

Thank you celiac mom for recommending her!!

Fad diet or not (it's not for me!) ... if not eating gluten has made all the symptoms you listed GO AWAY... why on earth wouldn't anyone support your decision to go gluten free... w/ or w/o a diagnosis??

Others are correct in that this forum is the most supportive place to be. There is not ONE question you can ask here where SOMEONE doesn't have the answer... or can tell you where to go to find the answer.

Good luck! Sounds like you're doing great!!

I've told my tale of weight woe before, but I was diagnosed very quickly... after only a few months of symptoms. In the next year, I put on about 30 lbs... happily filling up on all the foods I COULD have to make up for the foods I could no longer have.

I do know that a lot of gluten free foods (rice pastas, breads) have a higher glycemic index and often more calories per serving that a lot of gluten foods. And there are no "diet" breads, etc. for us.

I've had to cut way back on obvious carbs... breads and pastas... and I eat mostly lean meats, veggies, fruits... low fat too. I've lost almost 20 lbs. in about 3 months w/ another 20 or so to go!

I feel your frustration! I once begged off dinner out w/ friends because I knew there was nothing I'd be able to eat... except salad. My "friend" said, "Can't you have a salad w/ grilled chicken??" I asker her, "What if EVERY TIME you went out to eat... the ONLY option was a salad w/ grilled chicken??" It got so boring so fast... I stopped going out to eat!!

I've had to cut way back on carbs for 2 reasons... 1. I love them too much... I ate a sandwich every day for lunch and rice or potatoes or pasta at supper... and 2. It seemed my digestive system was revolting at my carb addiction.

So, now I only eat bread, etc. twice a week. On Tuesdays, we make burgers and oven baked fries to eat while we're watching LOST (ha ha) and Saturday is my diet "cheat" day.

I've lost 20 lbs... only another 15 to go!

I'm not a huge breakfast fan and will often combine breakfast and lunch. Here are some of the things I eat:

Stoneyfield vanilla yogurt w/ fresh and frozen fruit and chopped nuts on top.

Scrambled eggs w/ crumbled turkey sausage mixed in

Lettuce wraps... thinly sliced ham or turkey w/ a teeny bit of cheese

About 1/2 cup already cooked brown rice w/ lots of baby carrots and fresh broccoli nuked together and mixed up w/ a little ranch dressing and a little sliced ham or turkey. This one is my "go-to" lunch/brunch

Supper is whatever meat we decide to cook/grill... chicken or flank steak or pork tenderloin... and roasted veggies... broccoli, carrots, asparagus, etc. If I haven't had brown rice at lunch, I might have it for supper.

Unfortunately, my digestive system seems to be unhappy when I drink alcohol... so I'm cutting that out too.

So... today is "cheat" day and I'm making a killer (TINY) macaroni and cheese. Hubby will eat the remaining pasta... as I can't even have it in the HOUSE. I'm terrible in the willpower department!

Why would you risk it at all? Especially when you're talking about reactions that affect your breathing and having to carry Benedryl?? I don't know... but I'm thinking your god would understand your very SERIOUS issues and not expect you to put yourself in danger!!

I completely understand how you feel. I've had to tell people who look at me w/ that furrowed brow "OH YOU POOR THING" look and say, "Ya know what?? Compared to the awful things that happen to people... this is NOTHING. I just had to learn to cook differently." I bring food w/ me and tell people (w/ a smile), "If I don't prepare it, I just can't eat it."

Your positive attitide is really great! And people will respond to that.

With regard to your family... they'll get it too... someday. Just keep on doing what you're doing!!