landofoz

  On 5/10/2012 at 12:51 PM, Cara in Boston said:

Feeling worse at first is totally normal (and not very motivating). You are experiencing withdrawal.

I had all my usual symptoms plus a giant headache that simply wouldn't go away no matter what. After about a week, the headache stopped and I gradually started feeling better. By two weeks I was amazed at my energy level, stopped taking my ppi (2x a day) and my GERD was completely gone.

It gets better (much better) and the shopping and planning gets easier. Be sure to keep some snacks (nuts, Lara Bars, etc.) with you at all times for when you get caught out of the house with no healthy food choices. That was my problem. I would forget to bring something, then get delayed, get hungry and end up eating junk from 7-11 (snickers are gluten-free) for lunch.

I think you are smart to stick with natural, whole foods at first. Grilled vegetables over brown rice with tomato sauce and cheese is quick and easy. Trader Joe's frozen brown rice is handy. At first I was buying gluten-free pizza crusts and stuff, but now (a year later) I prefer "alternative" crusts (zucchini boats, portabella mushrooms, etc.) It tastes better and is much healthier.

For pasta, we like Ancient Grains Quinoa Pasta.

Quinoa is great too. I make a big batch of salad (just like pasta salad, but with cooked quinoa) and eat it for lunch for several days. (tomato, feta, cucumbers, red onion, olives, peppers, whatever . . .with oil and balsamic vinegar) You can add meat to it or not.

I've found lots of good recipes on sites for "paleo" cooking (I don't follow that diet, but everything is usually gluten free) and even some "low carb" diet sites.

Haven't mastered gluten-free baking yet, but there are good mixes available for brownies and cupcakes.

Hang in there. You can do this.

Cara

Thank you, Cara! You give me hope and inspiration. I came home from work today so foggy brained and tired, I just wanted to sleep. I had no idea I was being affected in this way. The only thing I can say has really improved is my GERD. I am down to an occasional Tum now, and I am so amazed at this. I did a step-down, if you will, from PPIs to H2 Blockers, to just Tums. The heartburn has been tremendous and nothing was helping till I went gluten-free.

Again thanks!

  On 5/10/2012 at 10:03 PM, IrishHeart said:

That's why we have the "truth in labeling" law, hon.

If it contains wheat, it has to say it on the package.

Ok, so I am learning. Good. I just am not sure of myself yet. I know it is other grains besides wheat so I was fearful they hid one of those in there somehow. Maybe in the seaonings or flavorings. I guess it's ok then, so thanks much for the info.

  On 5/10/2012 at 9:42 PM, IrishHeart said:

Does it say "contains WHEAT" anywhere on the label? They have to put that there if it does, hon.

No, it doesn't say wheat anywhere, but from my reading up on this, I thought they could hide anything under "Natural Flavorings?

Does anyone know if these chickens sold by Martins and Giant foods is gluten-free? I have tried to reach this company and they close their offices at 1p. Must be nice. I looked online for an answer but could only find info on Purdue. I lookd at the label and it says Native Corn Starch, whatever the heck Native means. But, it has the Natural Flavorings. I am a Newbie and am struggling with labeling. Thanks.

  On 5/10/2012 at 2:06 AM, kwylee said:

I personally think paying attention to personal care products is extremely important. It doesn't make any sense to remove every speck of gluten by merely paying close attention to your food. Many, many people get hit with cross contamination by shampoo, conditioner, lotions, etc. True it doesn't invade your gut via your skin, but the problem is very real that you may wind up with shampoo or conditioner in your mouth while showering, or touching the areas that come into contact with the gluten-laden lotion and mindlessly putting your hand or fingers where the stuff will make it's way to your mouth and then into your gut. It doesn't take much and impossible to keep track of.

I've read so many posts of those who were still getting sick even though they were doing everything right, only to find the cross contamination from these products a very real (and painful) issue for them. While you are developing new habits, I think this is an important one, not just with toothpaste and mouthwash. Do a search on this forum and you'll see many alternatives that work just fine, or if you have a favorite, contact the manufacturer to double check.

Yes, I am agreeing with what you said. I wasn't clear in my post. I am a Newbie and overwhelmed, so another poster had said to get my diet straight first, and then, move to the personal care products. I want to get every speck of gluten out of my diet, but you have to start somewhere...you can't do everything at once. I plan on checking everything within time, but diet for me is my primary concern right now, and I will fit in the other items as I can.

  On 5/10/2012 at 12:26 AM, birdie22 said:

Welcome! You've found a great place for advise and commiseration. I've been gluten-free for 6 mos. I've been where you are. All I can say is take a deep breath and repeat after me, "this will get easier, this will get easier, this will get easier!"

The main celiac.com page has a lot of helpful information about shopping and foods/products to avoid. You are doing the right thing for your gut by sticking to meat, veggies, fruit. Shop the "outside" of the grocery store. This keeps the guess work to a minimum. Then start to discover that the inside aisles hold a lot of naturally gluten-free products (many of the chex cereals, many chips, corn chips, a lot of mexican and some asian foods especially thai (beware of soy sauce!). Then find and celebrate some of your favorites that you can still have (for me that's wine, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, my fave mint chip ice cream that was already labeled gluten-free, and fritos).

Unless you have DH then I would worry about personal care products later after you get the dietary issues in order.

It will get easier, I promise!

Thank you! I was really worried about the personal care products. I wondered though, they don't go in your gut, so maybe not worry so much about them now. I did check my toothpaste and motuhwash. I guess my concern is removing every speck of gluten from my diet, and see if the health problems I have suffered from for 58 years get any better.

  On 5/10/2012 at 12:36 AM, Darn210 said:

It gets a lot easier. When I first started, I would go to the grocery store. Spend easily 1 1/2 hours there, getting so side-tracked reading labels of stuff I wasn't even there for. I'd get home and my husband would come to help me unload the groceries and I'd say "Nope, I got it. It's just this one bag."

First order of business is to get yourself a couple of staple meals and build from there. For us, it was pasta and tacos. . . Tinkyada pasta and Ortega brand taco stuff.

You said you weren't meat and potatoes before . . . what were you? We'll steer you in the right direction for the equivalent (and hopefully mainstream) products that are gluten free.

Well, before I would say I was a big pasta, bread, pizza, summer veggies, fruits eater. I never seemed to have much meat, eggs, cheese, milk, etc. Now, I am so unsure of everything the easiest for me is to stick with grilled meat and veggies.

I feel like now,I am into way too much animal products. I am probably not making much sense, but I am unsure of myself. I have had massive GERD/heartburn issues recently which PPI's, H2 blockers, and everything else you can think of, were not solving the issue. So that limits me food-wise also. But strangely, in the 5 days I have been gluten-free that seems to be easing somewhat, and I was on that crappy Prilosec for 10 years. I hope I am healing the damage I have done to my gut by staying on that crap. In the 5 days I have been gluten-free, I have had a headache every day, fatigue, brain fog, feel like crap. Could all this be withdrawal? I just don't have the energy right now to put into diet, so I stick with meat and potatoes. I have spent too much in the health food store, for gluten-free foods, and then throw them out because they don't taste any good. I guess I need my energy back.

Hi everyone! I am new to these boards so I hope I am posting to the correct board. I am so overwhelmed with trying to convert my life to the gluten-free lifestyle. I am only 5 days into this, and I am tired, cranky, headachy, hungry, scared, etc. The only thing that seems to be a bit better, actually alot better, is my heartburn/GERD issues. I have been reading and doing quite a bit of research, but I have been so darned tired, I barely have the energy to hit the grocery store. I have been sticking to a meat and potatoes diet, and that is not me. I am not big on animal protein, but for now, it seems to be the only thing I can be sure of. I feel like I go to the kitchen, stop, and run to the Internet, or phone for information, before I can use even everyday items. Does this ever get any easier?? I miss eating out. I miss so much at this point. I didn't even want to try baking yet, so I went out and bought some gluten-free cookies, just to have that sweet taste. Oh, man am I overwhelmed and frustrated. If it was just a matter of taking the grains out of my diet, that would be one thing, but gluten is everywhere, and these products seem to change daily. I haven't even gotten to bath and body products, but I have at least gotten through meds. Can anyone offer some advice for this transition. Thanks so much!