krystynycole

I am not diagnosed celiac but I do suffer all the typical symptoms when I consume gluten. A gluten intolerance can be just as severe as celiac.

Affecting your brain...TOTALLY! I get headaches/migraines, brain fog where I live in a haze and can't process things correctly--so bad my sentences get messed up.

As far as the mouth sores go I noticed that I went from having either a kaner sore or a cold sore three out of four weeks of a moth to not having one since about a month after I went gluten free. I don't think this is any coincidence! So your mouth sores could be part of it.

The menstrual cycle is definitely a possibility. I know mine was whacked out and my doctor actually did an endoscopy where she stuck 2 cameras inside of me and looked around for signs of endomitriosis because there was no other medical reason for my cycle to be so screwed up. However, nothing appeared to be wrong and I was a mystery to my OBGYN.

The only way to know for sure is to just cut it from your diet completely with no graham crackers or hot pockets It's hard at first, but when you feel so much better things are okay and your body starts to recover there was nothing worth eating to go back to that feeling. Just be sure that you get your tests done before you start going completely gluten-free. You need gluten in your system for awhile for the test to be run accurately.

I just read a book that said these foods may contain gluten and the author does not recommend them. Also she said to watch out for buckwheat and quinoa for cross contamination in processing? I'm so confused now. What do you think? I love millet bread.

I eat both of these without an issue. I can see there being a cc issue, but I can see this issue no matter what food you eat when it is processed in a factory that is not dedicated gluten-free.

I don't need a doctor to tell me to eat gluten free. It makes me free better so I do it. My blood work came back negative and my gi refused to do a biopsy because I recently (9 months previous) had a colonoscopy and it looked normal...but he NEVER did a biopsy so who knows for sure? Do not let anyone tell you what you can't eat.

It's too hard is a cop out. It's hard at first, but you get used to it because it is worth it you once you realize how amazing you feel. Go gluten free...what can it hurt?!

I haven't tried that one, but I've been using gluten-free Bisquick. They have a ton of recipes for pizza crust and stuff. My non gluten-free husband loves recipes I use with it!

Interesting. I have become stronger in my faith. I am a Christian born and raised in the Christian Reformed church. I think that I have become stronger in my faith because I am not so tired and in pain. I can devote more time into devotions and prayer. I also am able to do these things with more clarity and focus because I am not distracted by all my physical pain.

We all handle life changes differently...if we all reacted the same then this world would be perfect and I think we can all agree this world is not perfect! I hope I do not offend you in return, but I will be praying for you in a renewed faith.

I am living my dream job. I am teacher who teaches students with severe autism along with some level of cognitive delay. I teach students in 9th-12th grade. It's a challenge, but I love working with them and seeing that "light bulb" moment when they figure out how to communicate with me and my staff I don't teach typical subjects, just life skills essentials and how to cope in a world that will never understand them!

Agreed...Bananas help A LOT! I can tell when I don't have any in the house. I do not have caffeine as it plays opposite affects on me (sleepy and migraines!) so I know it has nothing to do with caffeine, but I would definitely try bananas...they go along way.

I take a vitamin B-Complex pill. It includes all B vitamins. They seem to give me a lot of energy. In fact I have to be careful not to take them to late into the afternoon because then I'm up all night with energy to burn

It's still quite hot here but not as bad as it was and I'm feeling better for the most part

I would LOVE to move out to the Pacific Northwest. My brother lives in Seattle and loves it. I can't leave the state of Illinois, though, because of pre-existing conditions and health insurance

I'm a little more north...a suburb southwest of Chicago and It's hot up here too with AC non stop! I've been glued to my water bottle being refilled and taking my B-Complex vitamin for energy. The vitamin seems to give energy and keeps me a little more up beat in this weather!

Something I learned to do is cook chicken in a plastic bag with any marinades or anything else to flavor. I put it a pot of boiling water. Make sure the top of the bag does not go into the water. Everything stays in the bag and I can cook something special for my husband once and awhile. He NEVER complains and is soooo caring about trying to help, but I know what he REALLY misses since we were married one and half years plus four years of dating before i went gluten-free. I feel this way there is no cc with the pots.

Aw, that's too bad. We've run into the much cheaper issue, but our whole foods was a pain in the butt to find gluten-free foods at. They have a gluten free section, but then they only put SOME of their gluten free foods there. The others are hidden around the store. And sometimes, I have no freaking clue why they picked the sections they picked for things. Like, gluten-free chocolate chips weren't in the gluten-free section OR with the other chocolate chips. They were with some peanut free stuff off by itself at the end of a row because they were also peanut free.

So far, I have yet to be to a whole foods that has a well organized gluten-free section, and I've been to whole foods in 7 different states....as of two days ago, LOL.

EXACTLY! I had to hunt around for things. I litterally had to go up and down every asile which was a pain. The staff was helpful in finding things for me, but I can't give them a list of things for them to find if I don't know really know what it is they have in the first place. They do have a list of gluten-free stuff but it has a ton of naturally gluten-free stuff on it as well which makes the list 20 pages long and too much to sort through for me. I guess I'll just stick to good ole' run of the mill grocery store jewel osco (aka albertsons).

I just takes time to figure out what the heck you can eat and how to eat it. There is a section on here that has meal suggestions too which can be nice People post what they are eating for dinner for the day. Real life food ideas! Hang in there! It will get better I promise

I was finally able to go to whole foods. I was VERY disappointed! They didn't have much of what their list said they did besides the naturally gluten-free stuff The stuff they had in stock I can get at my local grocery store for much cheaper.

Oh, have fun! Around here Whole Foods has Glutino, Udi's, Rudi's, Kinnikinnick, Tinkyada, Mary's Gone Crackers plus all the (expensive) stuff from their own dedicated gluten-free bakery. They also have their own 365 Brand rice crackers that are cheap.

Some of my favorites are:

Glutino bagels (Udi's are good too)

Glutino cinnamon raisin bread

Rudi's whole grain bread

Whole Foods brand scones - they make cranberry and almond and usually have one or the other

Udi's cinnamon rolls

Udi's muffins (they are just like gluten muffins - sweet and huge!)

Kinnikinnick donuts - I like the chocolate covered

Glutino pretzels

Glutino table crackers (the little square boxes)

365 brand rice crackers

Tinkyada brown rice spinach pasta

I saw the cinnamon rolls on their web site and was hoping they tasted good because they sounded soooo good! Thanks for all the tips on the other ones

Any suggestions...venturing out to whole foods tonight for the first time. I really excited!

Made the Betty Crocker chocolate cupcakes replacing butter for veggie shortening...mmmmmmm! They were delicious!

However, I am curious to try this black bean recipe in the future when I have some time--whenever that is!

Love the chocolate cake mix and brownies. The yellow cake is not really worth it and the cookies I don't even buy! I have never been able to make the cookies right. My mom and husband have all tried as well. I stick to making homemade peanut butter cookies. 1 egg, 1 cup pb, 1 cup brown sugar. Roll into balls and add chocolate on top I loved these before going gluten-free!

Most places you can get a salad with chicken and your fav add ons!

-I love being able to stay out as long as I choose with my friends. It is now my husband saying he wants to go not me

-Being able to shop with my mom without running to the bathroom in the middle of the store and then having to call her and figure out where the heck she is! Even more being able to shop Black Friday Sales!!!

-Being able to go on vacation and not worry about bathroom locations while riding in the car or if I will be able to go to the bathroom on the plane in a seconds notice without worrying about them being in-use or too much turbulence and the stewardess gets mad when a grown woman says she can't hold it.

-Finding new delicious recipes...I found a great mango peach salsa that my non-gluten free husband loves and asks for all the time. We would have never known otherwise.

-I am able to take long walks with my husband at night in the cool breeze of the summer nights

So many more things but there is not enough space to write them all!

I, too, love much of the gluten-free baking I make but am still trying to nail down good croissants, eclairs, English muffins, fresh pasta and of course fab bread.

Am I weird? I've tried the Kinnikinnick doughnuts and was incredibly disappointed but then I was used to the puffy yeast doughnuts as opposed to the cake doughnuts. Perhaps it is a regional/national thing. But then I dislike all their products including their cardboardish pizza crusts when you can make them sooooo much better. I just refuse to settle for second best!

I long for a soft plump yeast doughnut! And I have to disagree that after awhile I will forget. When baking/cooking is your life it is a very difficult thing to forget, unfortunately. No offense or anything - just an opinion of someone whose passion is food.

I totally agree!

Thanks all! I'm off to bake

Just found out Betty Crocker has a page devoted to making their gluten free mixes into dairy free mixes as well! I'm excited!!! Now to try them dairy free...

Jello is safe, but I was thinking more of a dessert like a gluten-free/df cupcake because he couldn't eat the cake. I know how to make good gluten-free cupcakes, but unsure how to make them dairy free.

12 days isn't necessarily long enough to know. It make take a bit for you to really feel a dramatic difference since gluten has been consumed for a long time. It may take longer for your body to feel a striking difference. I know thats how it was for me. After a month or so I could feel a dramatic difference after eating gluten, but it took that whole month for me to feel it.

I have to say I disagree with the others....one of my students came up to me who I have only hear literally 3 words said from him hold up a cookie and said Kristin eat cookie? I was so overjoyed to hear him speak a whole sentence on his own that I ate the cookie without thinking. Though I was sick for days, I admit it was delicious!! I actually wanted to eat another one, but restrained myself!!

On the other hand, I am not tempted to eat them that much because I have been without them for so long that it makes me feel so much better without them and I just have to think about how it makes me feel and that is enough to keep me away. I woke up Christmas morning puking in my bed...that was enough to stop me from eating gluten again!!