Bell232

1. If I eat potato chips, potatoes, corn, soy, dairy I get so bloated it looks like I'm 9 months pregnant.  and I am a size 2.  I can't get into any of my pants or skirts for work and have to wear something baggy.  I also just noticed that when I drink flavored soda water I bloat up like a tick.  I have been gluten free for over 10 years and still have no relief unless I quit eating all together.  (I know this because I just had the flu for a week and felt great without eating).  I hate being cursed with Celiac!

I had silicone breast implants put in on Feb 27, 2006.  I developed Celiac Disease soon after and then developed Sjogrens Syndrome soon after that.  I decided to have them removed yesterday and it's a good thing I did as the surgeon discovered that one of the implants had ruptured, which I suspected about 3 years ago but didn't have them removed.  I'm at home recovering as I speak, but looking back I wish I never would have had them put in in the first place.  I'm still bandaged up, but know that I'll be back to my normal self soon.  I'm anxious to find out if I feel better (celiac) in the next month.  After implants I had no feeling in my breasts, couldn't lift weights like I used to before they were put in, and they were very lopsided.  I would be happy to talk to anyone to talk them out of it.  I was a 32 AA and after implants a 32 DD.  I'll keep you posted on my new look...I can't wait to see the results!

I found out that I am not only allergic to gluten but also to Soy and many vegetables and fruit.  My chiropractor did some testing on me and after she told me the things I should not be eating, I did my own little study.  She was correct on all of the vegetables and fruit that was on her list of things that I could not eat.  Something to think about.  Soy is in everything and makes me just as sick as gluten.  You could try avoiding it and see what happens. 

Okay, I love Ellen. Like LOVE LOVE her. And I know that we need to have a sense of humor about ourselves...but....

 

She had a segment about funny dating websites, and she started with the new gluten free dating site. And it made me kinda sad. Because while the idea of this site may seem like a little bit much, even for some people on this board, the fact is that dating and getting significant others on board and able to understand what we're going through is really difficult. I was talking to someone who runs a gluten-free bakery a few weeks ago, and she said that several of her gluten-free employees have had a very difficult time dating.

 

I understand on a personal level. I had an ex-boyfriend who would complain about my diet and not care if he got me sick. I went on a date with someone else, and before he knew about my gluten intolerance he went into a rant about how he hated dealing with his ex-girlfriend's peanut allergy. I've seen numerous online dating profiles that say he/she would not date someone with a food intolerance or someone who is a vegetarian. And that close-mindedness is sad. I am very lucky to have met a wonderful guy who is a gluten eater but is 100% supportive of my diet - it really means the world to me. But again, I feel like I got lucky. Many people are not tolerant of this lifestyle. 

 

The other dating sites she mentioned were for clowns and people with mullets. Neither of those have anything to do with someone's health or a medical condition. Now, I'm sure Ellen doesn't realize that this demographic of people with serious autoimmune diseases are trying to find people who understand and will be supportive of their lifestyle. But still it made me feel kinda down. I feel like gluten free has been the butt of a lot of jokes lately that undermine the seriousness of the disease and what it feels like emotionally. 

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Again, I know we should have a sense of humor about it all. I'm not outraged or anything. But still...did anyone else see this and feel the same?

I did see the show and at first I understood why she thought it was funny.  But it truly is a great idea for a dating website.  My ex-husband thinks I am making my Celiac Disease up.  He says "oh come on...you can have a piece of pizza or a bite of a sandwich".  It is very hard to explain to people how serious my reactions are to gluten.  If Ellen understood how serious it is and lived it she would understand too.  Right now I think that people think that this is a trend or something.  Like it's a choice.  In my house, my 4 kids understand the severity since they see what happens to me if I ingest any gluten or soy.  I am going to be on Ellen November 13th.  Maybe I can talk to her!!!!  Hahaha!

It's been a while since I have been on this website. But I recently went to a new chiropractor who tested me for some other foods and found out that along with being gluten free for 4 years, I now cannot have quinoa, buckwheat, soy, dairy, broccoli, cabbage, turnips(who cares), cauliflower, carrots(total bummer), celery, mushrooms, lettuce(what!), green olives, green peppers, spinach(my favorite) and onions. Wow! What an upsetting appointment that was. I am already gluten free, dairy free and a vegetarian and I also started buying gallons of bottled water. So now this. I am only in my 2 week of removing all of these foods from my diet so I have not seen a huge improvement on my lower abdominal pain. Anyone else have any of these issues? It makes me just hate food even more. Hopefully I feel better soon. This has been going on since I was a small child and now I am 42. I am quite tired of it.

My husband's experience was similar, in that after diagnosis and going gluten free to the extreme (we replaced all of our cookware, utensils and small appliances, the home and kitchen were rid of all glutens, any pre-packaged foods were prepared in a gluten free facility, he did not eat in any restaurants, all supplements and medications were clearly labeled gluten free, etc.) he felt better, but not completely well. After more than a year of him telling me that things like fresh corn that I was picking up at a local farm must be contaminated with gluten somehow, he had a comprehensive allergy panel, which included food and environmental allergens. It turned out that he had additional food allergies \ sensitivities that were preventing his gut from healing and also some environmental allergies (dogs, mold) and was reacting to them more severely because his immune and histamine systems were already aggravated and working overtime to combat the effects of all of this. Once he was able to eliminate the remaining food allergies from his diet and minimize his exposure to certain environmental allergens, he began to heal and feel much better.

Any allergist should be able to perform this test, which just requires one vial of blood and takes a couple of weeks for the results. If you aren't working with an allergist, places like Any Lab Test or RediClinic offer the test, as well. Your situation sounds pretty serious, so this may not solve the entire problem for you, but I would recommend having this test performed ASAP, if for no other reason than to rule out the possibility of other contaminants.

Also, look for possible sources of cross contamination in your own home or possible hidden gluten in what you are consuming. For example, some wineries use a flour-based "glue" to seal their barrels, as do some tea producers to seal their tea bags. Since this is packaging, it wouldn't be listed on the ingredient label. Your cosmetics and toiletries may also be a source of hidden gluten (lotions, lip balms, etc.), so don't forget to check them. And, you probably know that some meats (in particular poultry) are injected with broths, preserving agents and other things that may contain glutens or may be processed on a shared line with glutens, so check labels and contact producers for their allergen statements. If you are still handling glutens (I had a celiac friend who would sometimes make non-gluten-free cookies and other baked goods for her kids, but would get violently ill every time), you may be too sensitive to do so. And, the cookware, utensils, small appliances are another possible sources if you have not replaced them. This was probably the hardest part for us, as it's just so darn expensive to replace all of that stuff and you feel foolish getting rid of a perfectly good cutting board, pizza stone, wooden spoon, cast iron skillet, blender, cake pan, toaster and the like. But, this is a necessary step and can be done a little bit at a time.

I do hope you find some help and begin to feel better soon.

I quit drinking any hard liquor and just stuck to wine or gluten free beer, but they still make me so sick too. Severe lower right gut pain. It's a bummer.

I was unwell despite 3.5 yrs gluten-free, then found soy was causing most of it. But going soy-free for just a few days or a week didn't make it apparent. It took a 2 week trial. I was pretty pissed since I could've known years earlier, but those soy-free trials just weren't long enough.

Hope you find your answers.

I haven't tried going off of soy. I will try that starting today. Thanks so much!

If you're fructose intolerant, brown rice flour may be making you sick.

Not brown rice flour! I eat that daily. Maybe I will replace it with quinoa flour.

Sorry you still feel so bad.

You do not say, but is your HOME gluten free? Are you still serving gluten-filled foods to others?

Cross contamination and unsuspected/accidental gluten ingestion can cause lingering symptoms.

My home is not gluten free since there are 8 of us living here. I have my own toaster, make my own gluten free bread(which makes me sick), have my own utensils and pans, have my own peanut butter, etc...

Hi, My name is Dawn. I am a single mom with 4 kids and I have been gluten free for 4 years now and am still painfully sick. The sharp pains in my lower right abdomen have me doubled over from morning until night. I am bloated to the point where I look pregnant and have tried everything to feel better. I have had an MRI, CT, colonoscopy, numerous blood tests and have seen my Gastroenterologist more times than I would like to. They just tell me to go gluten free and I will feel better. I have done this for 4 years, and still feel way to much pain. When I lay on my back you can see my intestines moving like there is a baby kicking. It's the strangest thing I've ever seen. I am also a vegetarian and eat very little dairy. I make my own gluten free bread at home just to be sure. Can anyone help me to feel better? I have come to hate food and have also gained weight. Which is so strange since I don't eat very much. Any help out there? Thanks, Dawn