LauraBeth

Tortillas should definitely NOT be chewy. They should be nice and soft. I got some of those brown rice tortillas and was so disappointed when I tried to use one for a wrap, but found out quickly that they make wonderful pizza crusts. So that's what I buy them for, but they really aren't tortillas even though they say that on the package, as far as I'm concerned. I love corn tortillas, and fresh made are definitely the best.

I was really excited to find this at my local Safeway in my teeny little town. It's $5.19 a box which is outrageous for such a small amount, but I think it's pretty good. So far I've only made pancakes but they are yummy. I also made them with some dehydrated blueberries and a teaspoon of superfine sugar added- tasted like a hybrid between a pancake and a blueberry muffin and was really yummy! I want to try the garlic cheddar biscuits from the website, and I have my eye on a waffle press so I can try waffles.

Just as a side note though, there's a brand called Namaste Foods that makes a really yummy pancake mix and there's more in the bag for about the same price and the ingredients are better- has ground vanilla beans in it. So good. They also make really good cake mixes.

Do you bake the bread to dry it out? How long and at what temperature?

I cut it into cubes and toss in with olive oil, salt, and pepper and then bake it on a cookie sheet at about 375. I keep checking it but it doesn't take too long, maybe 10 minutes? Til golden brown. Then pull it out and let it cool. Mmmm.

I am going to make stuffing with Udi's whole grain bread! I have made croutons with it and they are amazing so I know the stuffing will be good too. So excited!

Good to know! Thank you!!

I know I need to eliminate dairy and soy and I just have not mustered the willpower to do this yet because I feel like I have already given up so many things. I need to seperate myself from the emotional side of food more. Anyway, does anyone know of a butter spread that is dairy and soy free? I don't know that there is such a thing. What about cream cheese? Basically I'm looking for baking (frosting, etc.) or to put on toast, bagels, etc. What about a sour cream and cream cheese alternative? If anyone has any tips, that would be amazing.

Oooh I might have to try that. Reminds of the old microwave cake in a mug.

I'm sorry if this is in the wrong section, I wasn't sure where to put it. I'll tell you, it really helped me cope! Not sure if we're supposed to post links but here's where I saw this:

Open Original Shared Link

Basically you cut your bagel in half (not to split it but actually in half down the middle), then stand it up on the flat side and open where the cut is. This is brilliant as far as I'm concerned! I really like the Ballpark Smoked White Turkey hot dogs and I miss eating them in a bun with all the usual toppings. I tried the Kinnickinnick buns and honestly couldn't even eat them they were so dry and hard and just yucky. Love the Udi's bagels though so this was a good solution. I hear rumours they have hamburger and hot dog buns in process. How cool would that be?

Next time, why not make a big batch of gluten free cupcakes/ muffins/ cookies or something along those lines to share with everyone? I've just started bringing something to share anytime I know I won't be able to have what's being eaten. When we go to dinner at my in-laws I bring a big yummy salad now just in case. I'm taking chocolate cupcakes to the office tomorrow because lots of times there are donuts Friday morning and I hate feeling left out of that stuff. I can still have my coffee and my treat on Fridays and if anyone wants to share what I'm having, great! Sorry that happened to you though, it sucks.

Mine are Rx through my regular pharmacy- my sister in law who is a nurse usually comes over and does them for me, or I can do them myself but I'd rather she does them! I get them every 3-4 weeks. The first one I got, I felt amazing! But now I don't notice any difference at all.

Or, like I am taking crack and sedatives simultaneously! Loads of fun.

It is so worth it if I can finally feel better, but I know it will be hard- especially at first. I'm noticing things that I didn't prior to going gluten-free. Basically it's been almost 6 weeks and my symptoms are not improving a whole lot (severe fatigue is my main one). I am noticing after eating lunch I feel horrendous- I have always felt my worst after eating and/ or in the afternoon but it is becoming more obvious now. I usually have just coffee with a bit of half and half in the morning with something small to eat (handful of gluten free crackers, a banana, or something else about that size). I usually feel decent in the morning (not great, but functioning).

Today at lunch I had a sandwich on Udi's bread with a slice of havarti cheese and a container of greek yogurt. It was about 15 minutes after lunch that I started feeling terrible. Headache-y/ weird heavy sensation in my head, bloated and rumbly tummy, acidic stomach, and the worst part- HORRIBLE bouts of hot flashes/ sweating/ racing heart. I know I didn't eat any gluten. Could this be a dairy and/ or soy reaction? I don't believe I ate any soy today. I see a GI on Friday so we'll see what she has to say about all this. I never would have suspected all of these issues with food even though I probably should have. My symptoms have always flared up after eating but I just never put two and two together. Just hoping to get everyone's thoughts on this. I swear I feel like I am always either on crack or sedatives, there is no in between! (Not that I know what taking crack feels like, but you know what I mean!)

I know at least in California, you cannot be denied due to pre-existing conditions if you are applying on a group plan through your employer. Individual plans are a different story. As long as you don't have an "official" diagnosis, it shouldn't be a problem- honestly I don't think that's one of the things they're incredibly concerned about anyway. The main things are heart or liver problems, history of cancer, super high cholesterol, etc. etc.

I am exactly the same way, and I'm only 23 so I know it's not menopause! Could be hormonal though. I wonder if it's related to gluten at all.

All of my vitamins and minerals have been tested. I was low in iron, D, B12 & B2. I take an Rx vitamin D weekly, liquid iron daily, a B complex daily, and B12 shots monthly. My levels have been in the "normal" range for awhile now since I've been doing all of this but I think they are still too low. I think it will just take time to get everything on track.

Thanks for the reply! I haven't looked at all my skin/ face products yet- I know Vitamin E can come from wheat germ sometimes so I need to contact the companies to find out. Also, I'm in the process of finding out if my BC pills contain gluten, my pharmacist seems to be having trouble finding a definitive answer. My doctor ran blood tests for food allergies and none of them came back positive- I know that doesn't always mean anything, though.

Oh and just for the record, the title is supposed to say AS bad as ever, not AT bad! Oh well.

I am still not feeling better and I have been so careful. I have an appt. with a GI specialist on the 20th so I'm pretty curious what they will have to say. My question is regarding other sensitivities- I haven't cut out dairy or anything else yet. I'm seeing that lots of you have also cut out dairy, soy, corn, etc. etc. I know that dairy is the main one. My major symptom has always been (and still is!) debilitating fatigue that truly prevents me from functioning normally. It feels like I am taking sedatives, and it's always worse in the afternoon. I haven't done any kind of elimination diet and am wondering if this is something I should do. I don't think it could hurt, but I just have no idea how to go about doing something like that. Any suggestions would be tremendously helpful.

My knees are really achy, too. Do you think it's ok to keep using my old pans that have been scrubbed really well and ran through the dishwasher? I always put them through the dishwasher before re-using and now don't cook anything gluten-y at home (BF can go out for that stuff!). I'm hoping I don't have to buy all new pans and stuff. I did get a new toaster just for me.

I'm both ways. I'm almost always either too hot or too cold, I am never comfortable. I hope this starts to subside!

Thank you guys for all replying to me. It's good to know I am not just "over-reacting" or anything and there are others who feel like I do.

Here we are over 3 days later and I still feel horrendous! How long does this typically last for? I am so uncomfortable.

After my gluten-free steak came covered with deep-fried and breaded onion rings the waitress said "We'll take the onion rings off and put the steak on the grill to burn the gluten off"

That's is insane that anyone could think that! What did you say to her?

So I've been on the gluten free diet for a little over a month now. I'm still working on getting a solid diagnosis because some of my test results were skewed by mistake. Anyway, overall I feel like I haven't improved much but I must have been making some gradual improvement and just wasn't really aware because I woke up this morning feeling HORRIBLE! I had dinner at my parents house last night and knew the food was safe- my mom is 110% supportive of this with me and knows the ins and outs of my new diet so it really didn't occur to me what had happened. Anyway, I made it up and got to work anyway. My main symptom (even since starting the gluten free diet) is severe exhaustion which fluctuates from day to day- it must have been improving slightly though. I could barely move today I was tired. I came home at lunch and slept. By this afternoon I was feeling super bloated/ gassy/ intestinal cramping (which I only ever had issues with sometimes), extremely dizzy and lightheaded, headache, and the tips of my fingers were numb and tingly. I'm feeling itchy all over now, too.

I started to think about everything I ate at my mom's, listing ingredients in my head, and then it hit me. I put seasoning on my vegetables. I thought- there is no way the seasoning had gluten in it! Well I decided to call my mom and have her look at the ingredients for me and sure enough! Says "contains wheat gluten" in bold letters. I cannot believe I didn't read the ingredients! I don't normally put seasoning on things, but it was there in front of me I just sprinkled a bit on without thinking much of it. I have certainly learned my lesson, but honestly this really confirms things for me. I have my first appt. with a GI doctor in a couple of weeks- we'll see how that goes.

Anyway, just wanted to say thank you for this great board, it has been so much help to me! I know now to read every single label, every time, even on things that seem harmless. I hope this passes quickly so I can get back to feeling at least semi- okay by the time I have to go back to work tomorrow. It is nearly impossible to function when I feel this fatigued; I don't even feel safe driving.

Are listed as gluten free on their website! Open Original Shared Link

I tried one tonight for the first time (chicken) and it is actually really good! Didn't taste like fast food at all really and hasn't made me feel yucky yet. Normally I just get a side of rice. If I could get a couple of these and a side of rice I would feel so happy! Anyone else tried them yet?