Jenn624

My 13 year old decided on his own to go off all gluten and it's been amazing! He focuses better in school and feels better. A few weeks ago he tried eating gluten and was absolutely miserable. He will never eat any again!

I've learned it's just better and easier to bring my own food and snacks and just enjoy the fellowship instead of focusing on the food. At my work's Friday meetings, I eat my banana and yogurt while the others munch on donuts and I don't feel deprived in any way. We laugh and talk and don't ever focus on the food. It's not always easy. When I went to a bridal shower a few weeks back, I almost cried at the menu. That was the turning point for me to realize I need to focus on other things besides food.

My rule is if I didn't make it and it doesn't have a label, I won't eat it.

Jenn

I am happier.

I feel so much better, that I smile more.

I don't run to the bathroom after a meal.

To me, it's all good!

Jenn

Today is day 3 without wheat for my son and he looks and feels great. He is more polite, and smiles all the time. He says he can't believe how great he feels!!!

Jenn

I convinced him to try it for at least a week. He's been having some stomach issues, is tired all the time, and has huge dark circles under his eyes. He was allergic to virtually everything when he was born, outgrew everything but peanuts, and then at 11 tested negative for peanuts too! He still avoids all peanuts, but he's found he hasn't been feeling well lately and thinks it could be food. I told him I would help him with whatever he wanted to try, so he decided to try going without gluten. I pray this helps him feel better and focus more clearly at school. He went from a straight A student to B's and C's this year. So unlike him...

Wish us luck!

Jenn

I wouldn't buy them for the longest time because I didn't see the gluten free in big letters on the top of the box. One day I picked up a box and found it written on the side panel. Just look over the boxes to see if you find the gluten free words. My kids have been eating the cocoa and fruity pebbles a lot. They don't like the pebbles cereal bars at all. Come to think of it they didn't like the prepackaged rice crispy bars (when they could eat them) either. They, and the pebbles bars, to me have a funny "wang" to them. I can't quite put my finger on it. When me make them from scratch they don't have that taste and are soooo good. I have looked at the cupcake pebbles and I have yet to find a box that has gluten free on it, so I won't buy those.

The Cupcake Pebbles are pretty gross anyway.

We had a potluck luncheon at the school where I teach today. Two of my coworkers made me gluten-free items. One made a ranch potato salad and brought in the labels so I could be sure it was safe. Another coworker made peanut butter fudge that was gluten-free and gave me the ingredients beforehand so I could double check that it was safe! I made some gluten-free Sausage and peppers. So combined with the fruit, veggies, and salad, I had a great lunch with fudge for dessert! Really made me feel good after how down I was feeling from the bridal shower!

I only had one kind of shock: a coworker I consider a friend and eat lunch with every day told me she didn't have time to check the labels for her taco dip. She told me what was in it, but I didn't risk it. I was surprised because I asked her earlier in the week if she would read the label on the beans to check for me, but she couldn't be bothered.

That's okay...I had plenty to eat!!!

Jenn

Suggestions anyone?

I don't cook, so making my own is not a good idea!

Thanks,

Jenn

I react very badly to high doses of Niacin. My arms start hurting so much I swear they are going to fall off. It could be you are getting too much B12. Especially since you are also taking B complexes.

My breakfast of choice is Rice Chex and a banana, but I've always been a cereal girl!

Well, I survived the bridal shower, but there wasn't much for me to eat. Luckily I took some advice and did eat a bowl of cereal before I went. There was fruit and cupcakes for dessert, so my friends took both and gave me the fruit. That's all I ate. I did have a moment when everyone was eating their meal that I felt tears well up in my eyes. I silently talked myself down by reminding myself it's only food. That was hard.

Jenn

Shortly after having my gallbladder removed last May, the gluten intolerance became apparent. Everyone blamed my intestinal and bowel issues on my lack of a gallbladder. Now that I am gluten-free, I don't have those issues at all.

"My motto is that if I didn't make it and I can't read a label for it, I can't have it."

Jenn......I really like this motto!

Thanks! It isn't easy, but after the chicken salad incident from last week, I am strictly living by it!

I agree about the thyroid. It made me have carpal tunnel like symptoms and I went through the painful testing just to find out it wasn't that. My thyroid and I are on relatively good terms now. I understand it and know when it is to blame for the way I feel!

If you haven't had yours checked, I suggest you do. Also know that even though the "normal" TSH levels go up to 5.5, most people feel best under 2.

Good Luck!

Jenn

I feel the exact same way, and the fact is people are insensitive, they don't care if they don't have to deal with it generally, but it helps weed out the baddies =D..least that's how I see it.. like... my aunts went way out of the way to prepare a totally gluten free meal for me just so I could eat out for once lol

ooh right forgot my point, no your not being over sensitive, you have to be hella paranoid, it's a way of life now, just be all like.. "Yeah I'm paranoid DEAL > *Rawr* ?helpfull? =o

That was really nice of your aunts!

I see you went gluten-free at Christmas. I did too!!! 12/26 to be exact!!!

Jenn

I may just be oversensitive, but I feel like people get annoyed by me needing to know ingredients and not going out to eat at certain places.

I have a bridal shower to go to and just messaged the bride to ask about the menu. I can feel her rolling her eyes.

I am overreacting. I know that. I already told my husband I am worried about Easter dinner at my in-laws. He insists it will be okay and I just have to tell them what I can eat. I know differently. She couldn't understand at New Year's why I couldn't have the corn casserole when it only had ONE TABLESPOON on flour. I tried to remind my husband how his mom cooks...it will be things with tons of ingredients and I will end up sick. He naively disagrees.

We are having a luncheon at the school where I teach and it's a covered dish. I looked at the menu and it's going to be slim pickings for me once again.

I never realized how much our world revolves around food...

Jenn

Screaming is a good place to start, because I understand how overwhelmed you are.

My first piece of advice is to make sure you are taking a gluten-free vitamin supplement. One that is high in Vitamin D3. I am also Vitamin D deficient, so I have to make sure to take it every single day.

Second, I have found it is so much easier to just tell everyone about it. It has been a really good experience. I have had 4 people come to me and tell me they think they are too or ask for advice on things to eat. Since Celiac is a better known disease today than it was 10 years ago, most people have at least heard of it.

I don't feel bad packing my own food. My motto is that if I didn't make it and I can't read a label for it, I can't have it. It's what I taught my son when he was little with his peanut allergy and it always worked. He was reading labels when he was 6!

Third, remember this is a process. Inevitably you will get accidentally glutened. That will be a good indicator on how you body handles it.

I bet your psoriasis gets better after time on the gluten-free diet. At least I hope it does!!!

Hang in there! This is a great place and there are lots of experienced people here to help you. I just went gluten free 3 months ago, and it's been lifechanging in a very good way!!!

Jenn

How long has she been gluten free now? I will tell you, about 2 weeks into it, I decided to cheat. I wanted pizza and I was going to have it. I ate a couple slices, threw up and spent the evening running to the bathroom. I got a painful rash on my backside. The symptoms lasted a couple days. That was my wake up call. I will never knowingly do that to myself again.

So while I don't think she should eat gluten, maybe it would be a wake up call for her as well.

Then again, that could really backfire!!! Sorry I am not really of help. She's got to want to get well herself, but you can definitely not be an active partner in her cheating on the gluten-free lifestyle!

GOOD LUCK!

Jenn

It's difficult to try to explain to my students about gluten intolerance. Every time a student tries to give me a birthday treat or cookie, I tell them I can't have it because I am allergic to it.

Do you think that is a wrong approach? Should I educate them on the basics of the disease? When I tell them I am allergic to wheat and it makes me sick, is that really true? It's not necessarily an allergy, is it?

I've been upfront and straight forward with the adults in my life, but I am mostly surrounded by 10 year olds all day. I don't know how to explain my disease to them!!!

They are *very* good! I just don't enjoy a hamburger w/o the bun and these do it for me.

Good to know! I will check it out. I tried a couple other brands but didn't like them at all!

Thank you for all the responses. Im starting to become very skeptical of Celiac's Disease and whether or not she has been misdiagnosed. Her Symptoms are basically IBS and from reading about many people symptoms she is either in the early stages or she is very lucky not to have many of the other symptoms. I think its time to get a second opinion and perhaps go for a biopsy instead of just trusting the blood test.

My symptoms are basically IBS as well, and I feel 100% better on gluten-free. It can't ever hurt to try the gluten-free. It's not that hard of a lifestyle change. When I have gluten, I live in the bathroom for 3 days. It's been fabulous not to have to worry about that. As with anything new, you need to learn about it, be diligent, and try it. It seems like you are trying to find loopholes to get out of making a change, when the change might be the best thing that has ever happened to your wife. I know it has been for me!

Jenn

Do you have any tips that help you get past any cravings you might have?

I have one: When people are talking about cake or cupcakes, and I don't have time to bake gluten-free, I have a can of gluten-free frosting in the fridge and I have a spoonful. It takes the craving right away for me!

I still crave a hamburger bun when I have a hamburger. I haven't found one that I like.

Otherwise, I find I have very few cravings. I've gotten pretty good doctoring up rice crust pizza. The rice pasta is fine. The longer I am gluten free, the less cravings I have!

Jenn

If I have a fever, it is usually some kind of stomach bug. I've never had a fever when glutened. That's just me, but it might be something you could use too.

There is a stomach bug going around.

Jenn

I completely understand. I was doing fine until my friends all ordered out from Mr. Hero. I ended up with a McDonald's Salad. I got so sick from that salad that I just started crying. I mean, if I was just going to get sick, I could have had the Mr. Hero. But I think I've gotten to the point now that I know how bad I feel when I get accidentally glutened, that I would never intentionally do that to myself. That doesn't mean that I don't still get weepy about it sometimes...

Jenn

Thanks so much! I am starting to feel better, thankfully!

Jenn