Lisa

Yes, distilled vinegar is safe. It sounds like a CYA statement.

I have to agree with this, unless you are super sensitive to distilled grain based products. There is still a lot of old information out there that makes things very confusing. It wasn't too long ago that all vinegar was considered unsafe.

To all the mothers here celebrating Mother's Day, especially those who are raising children with Celiac Disease, may you ALL have a wonderful day!

My girls are home with me today. Life is good.

Looking for info on this one. Looks like they ought to be but the website I found says the chocolate covered ones aren't so it was unclear whether the regular ones are. Anyone ?

Ocean Spray Craisins are gluten free.

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I'm hoping someone can help me. Two years ago, with a tTg of 76, an endoscopy (which the gastroenterologist said looked like a "classic textbook case of celiac disease"), and a positive biopsy, I was diagnosed with celiac disease. I went on a gluten free diet; symptoms disappeared; life was good. Fast forward to today. My mom wanted to know if she had celiac disease, so she submitted a cheek sample to Kimball Labs. The results came back DQ2 positive. So she asks me if I will take the test because she wants to know if I'm DQ2 or DQ8. I send off my cheek sample, and it came back today negative for DQ2 and 8 with big writing that says, "It is highly unlikely that this patient has celiac disease."

So--could the gastroenterologist have been wrong? Is there some other condition that would explain a high tTg and positive biopsy? Help. Very confused.

A positive biopsy is a little hard to deny. But...I don't know too much about the gene testing and will leave that to others.

Yes, I can direct you to an internist with Celiac in the Memphis area. PM me and I will give you that information.

Dr. Peter Green's: Celiac Disease: a Hidden Epidemic, is a great source book, as is this site. You won't find better help.

If you post your son's lab results with the ranges, someone here can help you interpret the results. In the mean time, this might be helpful:

Open Original Shared Link

I've been at this a few months. I know my first month I wasn't totally gluten-free but now I feel confident I have been. I decided to eat wheat all day today and see what would happen. I mean, I ate bread, fried chicken, cupcakes, etc and not one reaction.

I didn't have to run to the bathroom, I didn't feel sick. The reason I did this was because I am speading extra money being gluten-free, I haven't noticed a huge difference. My anxiety is still up there. Just very small changes. I think even my IBS has been cut down due to my how I normally eat now- no friend foods, etc.

My question is, should I have been very ill eating all this wheat today? I had blood tests that had my IGA borderline and with all my stomach problems I went gluten-free. Any advice is appreciated.

Everyone is different. If it were me, I would have to consume gluten products for several days or more to create the damage where I would be symptomatic.

Sneeky indeed!!!! (watch out for those Wendy's fries too, Liz)

Michelle,

I am sorry that you lost your father. I know what that feels like. Please always remember that you have a place to come here. Many friendships have been made here, especially to those who have reached out. You are welcome anytime.

Rob,

I hope your answer is as easy as Celiac. Let us know.

Not sure if that title got the point of my post across, LOL.

Okay, so my son was diagnosed celiac recently after 3 years of me suspecting it. He had "classic" celiac symptoms, but they were relatively mild and many were the long term variety, ie. growth issues, etc.

So I've decided that we will get the whole family the blood work done at a minimum, given the prevalence of "silent" celiac. To my knowledge, neither my husband, me, or my other two children have shown classic celiac signs.

After reading here about celiac symptoms though, I'm really starting to wonder about myself though, and I'm trying to decide if my thought process is valid or if I'm just being one of those paranoid people that diagnoses themselves on the internet, LOL.

Among my "symptoms":

-I've always had a "nervous" stomach; gas, bloating, loose stools occasionally, acid reflux, general "uncomfortable" feeling after eating. It's come and gone over the years and I've always attributed it to stress, as have my doctors.

-I have a history of migraines and severe headaches, again, always attributed to stress.

-I definitely have tendencies of ADHD, my parents were even told by teachers that I was ADD as a child, but I've never been officially diagnosed, and I performed well in school, so my parents never made an issue of it

-I have really bad teeth despite brushing well and regularly and flossing. My teeth have always tended on the yellow side of shades with lots of white spots and I have more fillings than I can calculate right now.

-I have occasional rashes, and though they don't look like the DH in the pictures I've seen (my bumps don't usually blister), they itch like crazy and seem very random.

-I do have some signs of malnutrition despite eating a relatively healthy diet, I border on anemic, my finger and toe nails split and peel horribly.

Anyway, I'm not really sure if I'm looking for input, backup, or whatever, LOL. All of the above would work, or feel free to tell me that I may be overreacting, LOL. I actually had a blood draw today for the celiac panel, I should know something from that next week or so, and I'm thinking that even if the tests aren't negative, I may give gluten-free a try for myself. Heck, I'm already buying all the stuff, it really would just be a matter of cutting out a few of my "treats" and restaurant favorites at this point.

Hi Amy,

Celiac, as you may know, can be an inherited disease. You may not have full symptomatic celiac, but celiac just the same or at least a gluten intolerance. You certainly have many of the 200 symptoms and I don't think, as you describe, your symptoms are silent and all can be attribuited to Celiac.

Many, many of us have been wrongly diagnosed over decades only to settle on Celiac. And, on the gluten free diet, other symptoms have cleared. I, as well as others, have been diagnosed with cronic colitis and IBS over thirty years.

I think that you are wise to be tested. But, please do not go gluten free until you choose no further testing.

Welcome,

You don't have to spend a lot of money at health food stores. The key to all of this is learning to read labels. Here is a listing of companies who will clearly list all forms of gluten:

Open Original Shared Link

...all you have to do is look for wheat, barley, malt and rye.

I am in my second week and I have some odd things happening. I had my hair dyed the other day and I felt very effected by the chemicals. This had happened years agao but has been gone for a while. Can withdrawal cause you to be extra sensitive to other chemicals? I have also been having some depression, anxiety and sleeping issues with nightmares. Has anyone else gone through this?

I would check into the ingredients of your hair dye.

I know that the digestive issues clear up faster than the neurological ones. I would revisit anything that can get into your mouth and cross contamination just to insure that you are not getting any gluten. It's very hard to be totally 100% gluten free when beginning the diets because there is just way tooooo much to learn.

Yes, there is such a things as gluten withdrawal. It takes a while for your body to adjust.

Ive been diagnosed w/ Hashimoto's Thyroiditis a while back and Ive just come upon more than a couple reports that there is a strong link between Hashi's and Celiac's when researching some meds. Ive thought for over more than a year that I have Celiacs (mild symptoms), so I think its a good time to get tested now.

So, which specific tests should I request from my Doc. I go in this afternoon....

Thanks!

-Rob

Here are the blood tests to order, all of them to be complete. Good luck and let us know.

Anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) both IgA and IgG

Anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA) - IgA

Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTG) - IgA

Total IgA level.

Open Original Shared Link may be a more up to date alternative.

I have the 2006-07 version and I have used it quite a bit. I plan on getting the latest addition and I highly recommend it.

Vet who treats Stepford cats. Although, after S-oozie's stories about the Stepford dog, maybe the vet I saw just indulges in absinthe after work and hallucinates those cats that calmly let you chuck a pill down their throats.

(I really just needed a reason to be able to write S-oozie )

Here are some instructions on giving a cat a pill. Hope it helps Jess.

Open Original Shared Link

I recently started taking a COQ10 supplement and although I love the extra energy and focus it is providing, I also noticed I'm having very mild celiac symptoms. Today I put it together, wondering if the COQ10 might be at fault. The ingredients listed for the softgels include gelatin and glycerin, in addition to soy lecithin. I couldn't find on my lists of unsafe ingredients either gelatin or glycerin. Are they no-nos? If not, perhaps its the soy I'm reacting to. Appreciate any thoughts.

Sue

Hey Sue,

The gelatin and glycerin should not be a gluten issue. Perhaps, the soy.

Hi Walt and Welcome this site.

Celiac is an inherited disease. Your daughter got it from somewhere, you or your wife.

Blood work can be highly unreliable and it always would depend on how long you have been consuming gluten. And endoscopy/biopsy can also be unreliable. These tests can rule Celiac in, but the cannot rule it out.

Positive dietary response is also a diagnosis. But, if you are the doubting Thomas type (and there are many here) you can have some gene testing if you do not want to pursue the endoscopy (which would mean that you would have to consume gluten again and create additional damage should you have Celiac).

Many, many people here are self diagnosed and quite please with their decision. I have found that those who would like a defined answer, also have grave misgivings about giving up gluten for the rest of their lives. Once you learn to master the diet, it really is no big deal and quite easily adjusted to as time goes on.

Wendy's Gluten Free Listings:

Open Original Shared Link

McDonald's Gluten Free Listings:

Open Original Shared Link

Taco Bell Gluten Free Listings:

Open Original Shared Link

Way to go Jack! Bet he'll have a fan club in no time Emily.

Jack gets the Advocacy Award for the Month. (bronze chin socks) . Congratulations.

Here are some main stream products:

Open Original Shared Link

**Please note the disclaimer at the end of this listing.

YUP #1 Rule: Always read the labels.

I do suspect that the new gluten free Rice Chex have not hit your market as of yet. I have seen some older boxes (not gluten free) still on some shelves.

Thank you for the reminder.