glutenfr3309

Check out the Gallery Place/Chinatown area, which isn't far from where you will be. It won't be hard to find places to eat!

Ella's Pizza

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Matchbox Pizza

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Chipotle

Red Velvet Cupcakes

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Capital Grille

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Check out the DC Metro Celiac Organization's website for a list of restaurants. Their list includes all of the DC area (VA/DC/MD) so you'll have to scroll through for DC specific restaurants.

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I think you two need to have a real heart-to-heart conversation about your diagnosis. This is lifelong for you and is not some phase. you need to explain this to him. it sounds like to me he just doesn't care. I understand this is overwhelming for you and him and it takes time to learn but it doesn't sound like he's trying to help you or understand. Unfortunately, being gluten free adds an extra "bump" in the world of dating (but it doesn't have to be! i.e. finding a place that has gluten-free pizza that you can eat).

I was in your situation in my last relationship. We dated for 1.5 years- only 5 of those months I was gluten free officially. He was around me when I was at my worst before diagnosis. When I was diagnosed he pretty much had an argument with me telling me I was being too paranoid and that I should "live" my life without restrictions. Not once did he try to read about celiac on his own or ask me questions about it to try to understand what I was going through. He didn't show me that he cared and I didn't trust him.

Now, I am in a relationship with a different person and it has been wonderful. From our first date I told him about being gluten free and we talk about it openly. He "gets" the whole food intolerance thing and I fully trust that he will always look out for me. He checks with me when he is unsure about an ingredient and he is fully willing to eat gluten free food when he is at my place. When we go out to eat we find a place that has options for me. From the beginning I have told him that I understand that it is difficult/a sacrifice for him as well and to let me know if something comes up that bothers him.

If you really like this guy then give him one more chance but honestly I would move on. Your health is your number one priority right now and you should not have to sacrifice this! This is the time that you need to focus on getting healthier and not be stressed out because he doesn't "get" it.

There is apparently a cupcake place near where the Capitals play that have amazing gluten free cupcakes. Someone was telling me about this recently and of course I forget the name of the place already.

It is called Red Velvet Cupcakery. Also, Cake Love, is another cupcake place that has gluten-free cupcakes. Cake Love's vegan cupcakes are also gluten-free (the icing part is vegan but the cake is gluten-free).

There is going to be a gluten-free bakery opening up in Alexandria (Del Ray). Open Original Shared Link

I don't think it has opened yet though.

maggiano's can definitely do gluten free but i'm not sure about the dairy free part. the chef comes out to your table so you'll be able to discuss everything with him/her.

everything the others have said...

also, the best thing that you can be eating now is whole foods that are naturally gluten free- fruits, veggies, meats . stay away from the processed gluten-free stuff for a while. even though they are gluten free you may still 'react' because your intestines aren't healed yet (i know i did).

i agree, it depends.

for me personally, i felt some relief in the first week or so. before going gluten-free i was so exhausted i couldn't do anything....this was the first thing that changed for me. after a few weeks the inflammation and soreness that i constantly felt in my intestines started to go away.

i would say i really finally felt like i was 'healed' maybe after 8 months or so. the bruising and some fatigue kept happening and i found out a couple of months ago that i needed to take iron supplements.

now a year out, i do feel like i've healed and have been verrrrry lucky (knock on wood). i have only had 'bad' reactions a couple of times since being diagnosed. i sometimes will feel nauseous and i think that might be one of my cross contamination symptoms. i'm still trying to figure all that out.

on a side note: my mom finally got a blood test done (she was negative- i didn't show up positive on any tests). my dad mentioned it to his doctor and the doc's response was 'oh she's young and you're older. you'd have vomiting if you had it'. i told my mom they needed to see a different doctor! this guy needs some NEWER education!

we know that kraft foods clearly mark their products. i found this on their site that shows an example of the labeling and thought it might be of use for people.

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muscle milk is gluten free.

i just bought some protein powder to make some shakes and haven't had a problems with it.

bare minerals make up is a little more expensive than cover girl, etc but they are gluten-free and they last quite a while. i have used their foundation, blush, eye liner, eye shadows and mascara without any problems.

CVS- Iron 65 USP MG (325 MG Ferrous Sulfate) tablets are safe.

On the label it says 'no yeast, wheat, gluten, milk or milk derivatives, lactose, sugar, preservatives, soy, artificial flavor, salt.

thanks for the responses. guess i'll be throwing out the last few i have. it's so hard for me to pinpoint what bothers me but i'm thinking it was those. i had one for dinner the other night and then lunch yesterday. i feel better today but i definitely had some of the intestinal symptoms that i used to get with gluten...a bad stomach ache where it feels like someone is squeezing my intestines nonstop. back to re-evaluating everything i eat!

Just curious- has anyone had a problem with Food for Life Brown Rice wraps?

I'm assuming they are made on shared equipment or the same facility based on all of their non-gluten free products...

something made me sick last night and these are the only questionable thing that can be causing it or dairy is becoming a problem for me (after 1 year gluten-free).

i posted the other week about constantly bruising and really sensitive thighs. i went back to the doctor last week and she tested my thyroid, v-d, v-b12, and iron levels. everything was normal except she wants me to start taking 325mg of ferrous sulfate. i need to call the office though because i'm not sure how long i'm supposed to take the supplements.

anyone know of brands that are gluten free?

also, i've been told constipation is a side effect- any suggestions for easing that?

thanks!

:wub: :wub:

My first since they've officially labeled the box gluten free.

:wub: :wub:

does the box say 'gluten free' on the front?

i looked at giant tonight but didn't see anything labeled. it actually said 'may contain wheat' so i'm assuming it was an old box still...

went to the doctor on tuesday and had some bloodwork done...results aren't in yet. she was really nice and took the time to understand my (and family) history and why i was there to see her.

she is running the iron tests, vitamin d, i think thyroid, and one other i can't remember. she also said that if tests come back normal for my iron that she may send me to a hematologist because i am contently bruising...i even have a bruise from where the needle was! i also have a LOT of blood clotting history in the family so she seemed extra sensitive to that. she thinks that it could also be that, even though i have had luck with my gluten-free diet relieving previous problems, that maybe i'm just not getting enough nutrients in general.

it dawned on me that maybe i'm still getting traces of gluten some how in products that are considered gluten-free OR i'm dealing with another intolerance (maybe dairy). i feel fatigued again and have been struggling to get out of bed during the week. my stomach overall feels fine, which was a problem before, but i'm starting to notice other symptoms that i never really took into account.

i have been trying to figure out how sensitive i am especially with cross contamination when eating out. i do know that when i eat at a restaurant that has specified gluten free meals i usually feel ok vs. no specified meals on the menu and they have to talk to the chef, etc. last night i ate out and the waitress asked the kitchen, etc. they have a bartender who eats gluten-free and she was telling me things that he regularly eats and has been ok.

afterwards, i had ice cream. major cramping in my ribs/stomach, thought i would have to go straight to the bathroom but i ended up not having to.

today, my entire body hurts. my thighs are super sensitive and every single joint in my body hurts, although my stomach feels fine. guess these are my cross contamination and/or possible new intolerance symptoms i'm dealing with now. i never imagined that i was THAT sensitive.

it amazes me how much has changed in the last year and how just the littlest things can trigger symptoms in my body!

This post may sound kind of trivial, but for some reason I feel the need to settle on a label for "this that has re-directed my path" through life.

How should I / how do you refer to your gluten problem?

Do you say (or think), "I have celiac disease" or "I am celiac" or "I am gluten intolerant"?

I have not had a biopsy, but positive tTG. From lots of reading, my understanding is that tTG is an autoimmune something-or-other (antibody?) produced in the small intestine that is a strong indicator (90-95%) of villi damage, i.e. "disease".

Do I have the "disease"? In the absence of a positive biopsy, am I more correctly "gluten intolerant"? I hate the word "disease", but if that's what it is, then so be it.

Although my symptoms are minimal, I have noticed some changes for the better after changing my diet. That, too, is part of the diagnosis.

Right now I just say that I can't eat gluten and that has been a sufficient explanation. But, for myself, I need to settle the question in my own head.

Thanks for any responses... and for all that I've learned reading posts!

i usually say i am gluten intolerant.

when i eat out in restaurants i say that i have a gluten allergy because i think if they hear the word 'allergy' they are more likely to take me seriously.

thanks everyone. maybe i'm still some how getting a little gluten although i am not getting the symptoms like i used to.

my thighs have been like that as long as i can remember. it's not the fronts but the sides.

i actually have been trying to convince my mom to get tested. she has always had stomach issues and always bruises (worse now on cumadin). she said my grandfather was the same way with bruising.

i looked up the lab work results from may. iron and B12 were the only obvious ones to me.

iron and TIBC:

iron bind.cap. (TIBC)

result= 348

ref interval= 250-450

UIBC

result=297

ref interval= 150-375

iron, serum

result= 51

ref interval= 35-155

iron saturation

result= 15

ref interval= 15-55

vitamin B12

result= 386

ref interval= 211-946

i am coming up on my 1 year gluten-free anniversary the beginning of april...yay!! i have seen a dramatic turn in my health since then and overall feel 110% better than i used to. i'm still trying to figure out how sensitive i really am and recognizing those symptoms (specifically with eating out and cross contamination- my kitchen at home is gluten-free).

i did have my vitamin levels check when i was first diagnosed and were considered 'normal'. (i had the start of inflammation no flattening damage yet)

before i went gluten-free my thighs were extremely sensitive to touch and i always bruised easily. i have noticed a little difference but they still really hurt and now my one thigh is covered in bruises from just scratching yesterday!

i have scheduled a doctor's appointment for next week to have my levels retested. i'm wondering that even though they were in the 'normal' range i could still be low on certain vitamins for my body. i'm not entirely sure how much knowledge the doctor will have on celiac/gluten intolerance and what is included in the regular testing. i plan on taking the copy of the previous results with me to the appointment.

any thoughts on which vitamins i should be sure they check?

trader joe's also carries it for $4.99!

Hi all~~~~~~

I am newly diagnosed with Celiac Disease (I actually go back to John Hopkin's next Wednesday to start new antibiotics, RX's and attain info on celiac disease) One of my many current dilemas is that I am a Social Worker working with Foster Children, which means I am on the road constantly and work extremely long hours.... (14 hour days at work are not unusual) Does anyone have a list of restaurants that offer gluten free menus? Or suggestions on how to go gluten free while on the road?

Thanks in advance!!! Any and all advice is welcome and extremely appreciated!!

WitchyWoman

most hotels will put a fridge and microwave in your room if you request it (and tell them you have dietary restrictions).

can you eat cooked veggies? if so, you could buy frozen veggies and frozen brown rice and heat it up in the hotel microwave.

also for snacks, i always buy the nature valley nut crunch bars to carry with me in my purse. i also have discovered the 'food should taste good brand.' they have 11 different kinds of chips and they are ALL gluten-free but i think they all have corn and soy...

Ladies,

Did your period change when you went gluten free? I used to have extremely heavy periods with lots of cramping. This is my second period on the diet and I'm barely having one!! No cramping and very little other. Is this common? It would be fantastic if it is since it's long been a problem. Or am I just wishful thinking? Lol

i used to have severe symptoms and went on BC pills. i'm not sure if my periods would change if i went off of it.

however, i used to suffer from chronic urinary tract infections. i recently had one but it had been over 2 years. before going gluten-free, i would have severe pain within hours, literally to the point of being in tears because i could feel it shooting through my body. with the most recent UTI, i went to the doctor only because my back felt weird and it was uncomfortable to sit in a chair. i thought maybe my body's symptoms could have changed so i went just to be sure. it was a UTI!! it amazes me how my my symptoms had changed over time.

I'm planning on getting a new non-stick pan for my gluten-free diet starting next week. Should I be sharing my pan with my roommates? I think I'm definately gonna say no pasta or wheat flour items in the pan, but what if its used to cook something with soy sauce - so a very small amount of wheat.

Also, is it necessary to wash gluten and non-gluten dishes/utensils separately? Or can I just rinse off my plates/utensils before I eat my food?

Also, is it necessary to clean the cabinets and the fridge for crumbs?

I originally was planning on being very careful about cross-contamination from the start, but I'm now reading that it might be better to not be super careful at first so I can figure out my degree of sensitivity? I am planning on cooking all my meals the first few months.

Thanks

no way! i would keep it for yourself only. like the post above said, you need to have your own items otherwise you run the risk of CC because it's tricky for other people to know what has gluten and what doesn't. it's your health and i personally would not trust someone else because no matter how hard they may try someone will forget what you have told them- you have to protect your health!

when i had a roommate we had our own pots and pans/dishes that we used but we shared pirex glass dishes, mixing bowls, silverware and drink glasses. i asked my roommate to ALWAYS put those items through the dishwasher and not to hand wash them. most of the time she ended up hand washing those things anyways so i would just put them back into the dishwasher- i didn't trust her washing!!

i had my own cooking utensils, plastic tupperware, and toaster. to try to make it easy for her i found green utensils or would mark 'gluten-free' on shared condiment containers.

i'm 10 months gluten-free and am still trying to figure out how sensitive i am and what 'new' symptoms i experience if i accidentally consume gluten.

i think this is the time to really be diligent about the CC especially because it can prevent you from fully healing. also, medications can have gluten so definitely check into that if you take any.

Hello All!

I feel like I am forever going through this cycle of "could it be a gluten intolerance", or not. I have had bloodwork done a few different times, but have never really gotten a positive reading. The closest my numbers came to being positive was having a TTG Iga of 16 when it said that weak positive/reference range was 20-30. My total IGA at the time was around 300, so I know I am not Iga deficient.

My symptoms are numerous, and I constantly wonder if my issue is gluten. I have been trying to continue eating gluten until someone is actually able to diagnose it as the problem. Six months ago, I tried a gluten free trial for 3-4 months. I had little improvement. It seems like bloating went away, but I was still having some issues. Could have been my lactose intolerance or another intolerance though since I was told I have many food allergies.It is just very difficult to stick with a gluten free diet without knowing if it is helping.

Recently, my main concern is a sharp right sided pain that has yet to be diagnosed. On 2/2/11, I got a sharp pain that wouldn't go away. It was knife-like. Sent me to the ER, and after a Cat Scan, bloodwork, and urine they sent me home saying I may have strained a muscle in my abdomen. fast forward almost a month later, I still have this sharp pain and swelling in my abdomen. They have ruled out gynecolocial problems such as a cyst by doing a pelvic ultrasound, They also did an abdominal wall ultrasound on that side, and found nothing. So....here I am, with a sharp pain and no explanation. It just feels as if something in there is inflamed or twisted or swollen. I cannot describe it any better than that.

My question, is can your intestines become so swollen and inflamed from an undiagnosed gluten intolerance that it would cause continued unrelenting pain? It is daily, and it does not go away. I called my Clevelend Clinic doc, and she ordered another round of celiac testing through QUEST, as long as a Vitamin B6, B12, and a Vitamin D. Ive never had vitamin levels checked, so maybe the celiac tests along with vitamin levels will help them see something??

I really do not hear complaints of knife-like side pain on here, so I just wondered if this was a possibility. I have had bloating, constipation, indigestion for about 5 years - they just say it is IBS. I can deal with that - just not the sharp stuff :/

i think i had this a couple of times, but now i don't remember. but i could FEEL the inflammation in my intestines. they were ALWAYS hurting. i didn't test positive medically but my doctor said he could see the inflammation damage. i have now been gluten-free for 10 months. after a week or two of following the diet i no longer could feel that inflammation.

that's interesting. i think this has happened to me, except when i would breathe in deeply it would hurt in my ribs. i'm wondering if when this happens to me if it's a glutening symptom. i'm 10 months gluten-free but am still trying to figure out my sensitivity and what my symptoms are if i've accidentally been glutened.

i definitely had majority of those symptoms you described, except for the twitching. the fatigue was one of the first things that went away for me- i am now almost 10 months gluten-free. i sometimes will still get restless at night as if my legs/body won't relax. for some reason when i drink water it helps- not sure why though.

good luck! in time things will get better!