Lisa

Some of you may recall my introductory post where I mentioned recently having multiple medical tests coming back with abnormal results.  I'd arranged for a visit with my doctor to go over those results, suspecting celiac.  

 

Well, I saw my primary care doctor today, and he agreed. He told me to stop eating gluten and gave me orders for a celiac blood test. He also said that the test would not be definitive. If it comes up positive, we have an answer but he said that there are many false negatives. I knew this, but was glad to hear him say it. He said that if I get a negative result I should stay on the diet for at least six to eight weeks before deciding if it's working for me or not. Of course, if it's positive, I stay on the diet for life.

 

I am relieved that I didn't have to argue with him to get this test.  He said he has many patients on a gluten free diet who are feeling better than they ever did with gluten in their systems.  What a relief to have that out of the way. 

Great!  But keep eating gluten until you have exausted all possible tests.

Well...I would think that it would be worth your time to revisit your gluten free diet and make 100% sure you are eating *clean* on the diet.  It took me several months to master the diet in 2005, so it's not so easy to begin and to learn all the ins and outs.

Begin simply with meats, fish, fresh veggies, eggs, rice and potatoes and fresh fruit.  Stay away from processed foods and be careful about shared equipment in your home.  Check you meds to make sure they are gluten free.  And make sure everything that can come into contact with your mouth, is gluten free.

Hope this helps.

As you ordered from the gluten free menu, it is possible that your chicken was fried or sauteed in Rice Flour.  P.F. Changs does the same using rice flour, and lightly dusts the chicken, for several of their gluten free dishes.

But, yes, sometimes... often times, things are just a mystery.

Pregancy can be a trigger for those who may be predisposed to Celiac.   Do  you have a family history (parents or other family members) of digestive issues, diabetes, thyroid or other autoimmune disorders?  Sometime, as my parents would say "a bad stomach" could be a genetic trait you may have inherited.

As mentioned, the Celiac Blood Panel would be less expensive than a colonoscopy/biopsy, but you must remain on a gluten free diet for the optimun accuracy.

The following are the celiac specific blood tests:

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgA
Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgG
Anti-Endomysial (EMA) IgA
Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) IgA
Deamidated Gliadin Peptide (DGP) IgA and IgG
Total Serum IgA

Or, you may choose to go TOTALLY gluten free and see how you feel.

Hope this helps. And Welcome!

Most social events, I do eat before I go...just in case.

I would include a personal note with your  reply card... " I am required to be on a medically prescribed diet.  May I be contact your caterer as to my selection of meals.  Thank you and we are looking forward......"?

Movie popcorn - gluten free.  Healthy to eat - probably no.  Cross contaminated - pretty doubtful.  Anything is possible but I think that we need to use our own good common sense here too and be careful of general blanket statements.   If in doubt about a product then contact the main company.   I figure that if I don't have time to read the ingredients or there are too many for me to decipher then I don't have the time to eat it. 

Well said. Thank you.

Hi Nancy and welcome as well. There are some pretty good pasta's out there now.  I like Sam Mill's or Hartland Pasta (Walmart).  I don't usually buy Ragu, but I do know that all Classico Pasta Sauces are gluten free.

Often times you can find your answer on line.  Google  *Ragu Pasta Sauce - Gluten free*

And, Ragu is owned by Unilever, whose policy is to list all possible gluten containing ingredients.  If you don't see wheat, barley, rye, malt...you're good to go.

What I'm trying to say to you, is that you cannot depend on other people to keep you healthy.  You need to depend on yourself. Educate yourself and choose wisely.   You can do this!

rene83, I would not leave my health to the knowledge to a concession attendant or movie manager.  Did you ask to read the ingredients on the oil that the popcorn is cooked in?  Or look at the ingredients in the salted butter, or butter oil? Did you see any gluten containing ingredience?

I don't mean to be bossy or insulting, but you can't depend on others for your health, especially people who's eyes cross when you say "gluten free".

I have asked my movie threater operator to see all his ingredients and he is more that happy to show me. Learning to read labels is the key to success and good health.

3. The movie theatre. Popcorn should be safe right? Guess what? NOT! Oy vey. I am dying here. At least I can bring in my own tasty popcorn that I pop at home and if they give me guff I can tell them to suck my mesocolon until they get gluten-free alternatives lol

 

In eight years, I have never experienced a Movie Theater Popcorn that containes gluten or any salts or butter salt.  Perhaps you should not make such generalizations, without documentation.   I am not familiar with your other claims.

Have you specifically contacted the restaurants that you have listed, to the contents of their products, or are your statements pure speculation?  It's pretty important around here to supply documentation, and we don't generally slam restaurants or products without cause.

Being diagnosed with Celiac Disease is truly a lifestyle change.  I fear, that this is a concept you have not quite accepted, yet.

Good luck.

Please remember that everything you eat, even though it's gluten free, will run through your body, until you heal.  When the gluten is removed, your intestines will heal. It takes time and dedication to heal.

Keep in mind that the goal is to be healthy and feel good.  And every step is working toward that. There are slow steps and we all make mistakes, because it's hard to learn everything all at once.  I had many meltdowns in the frozen asile.  I cried and then I got mad. 

I then decided, that if I wanted to regain my life, I had to learn everything I could about Celiac Disease.

I hung out here for  a while.  I learned a lot. Eight years later, I 'm still here, through many ups and downs.  There were some really cool people who held my hand as I recovered.

I live a very full, normal life.  It's within your reach.

...and that's why we are here to help!  Welcome   Now...take a deep breath.

I would not put such concern to cross contamination at this point.  Concentrate on your food, with a few precautions in the preparation.  Think of gluten as a "crumb".  It's not a germ or a virus.

Most cooking untensil and pots and pans can be cleaned well.  I would discard any scratched teflon pots and pans, but mostly because they are  scratched.   And I would suggest buying a toaster for your use only.

As you begin your diet, I would make sure any lotions, lipsticks/balms and shampoos are gluten free.  I use Lubriderm, Suave and Dove Shampoo and I buy Red Apple Lipstick on line.

You won't know your tolerance level for many months or even a year or two.  Concentrate on eating well and naturally and you will quicken your recovery.   

Also, I would recommend eliminating dairy products for a month or so.  With an unhealed intesting, dairy can mimick gluten symptoms. After some healing can take place, dairy can be reintroduced successfully.

One more thing, check anything that can happen to comes in conact with your mouth, med included.  Check out www.glutenfreedrugs.com.

The learning curve is pretty steep in the beginning, but after you start feeling better, you will find the journey is well worth the ups and downs.

If you have been a baker in the past, I would not jump into gluten free processed foods or baked goods.  Not sure you will like them.  It's an aquired taste .

Jessica, I would go for the follow up while you have insurance.

Does anyone have gluten-sensitive enteropathy? I have just found out today that I have been poisoning my body with this generic drug for Singulair ever since I was diagnosed with celiac in Oct. (8 mos. ago). I trusted my pharmacist because I could not find anywhere on line that listed whether or not it was gluten free. : ( 

Singulair is listed as gluten free on www.glutenfreedrugs.com.  What is the name of your generic version?

If the generic version is not safe, inform your phamacist that you have intolerant issues to the generic. If the ingredients are not safe for you, he/she can contact your doctor and re- prescribe a version that will be safe.

My CVS phamacists are great to check on any meds I may take. They are on the phone often on my behalf, checking my prescriptions. Actually, they have flagged my account and when I pick up something they tell me that it is gluten free (although I already knew that).  And as always, I am beyond gratefull and appreciative.  As busy as they are, they are good!

Oh....any excuse my manners.  WELCOME!

Make sure you are eating *certified* gluten free oats.  Others that are not, can be cross contiminated in the field and processing.

And things might settle down after your body has healed a bit.  All foods can be irritating.

Minus the Shrimp it sounds good Lisa!

Add whatever you like. or not.

Every time I go to Wally World, I stock up.  It's at the top of my list.

My favorite recipe is great and so simple:

Saute Shrimp in garlic and butter ( I like lots)

Throw in cherry tomatoes

Toss in cooked Penne Pasta

Toss in two large handfuls of fresh spinach

Salt and pepper and top with fresh shaved asiago cheese. 

Hello, I am a new member and this is my first post. About 2 months ago I started feeling really bad, muscle spasm, low energy, constipation, constant never ending hunger and frequent nausea along with many other things.

Now I have been trying to be Gluten-Free for about 2 to 3 weeks except occasional times, beer made from barley malt and a wheat wrap and even barley malt digestive enzymes.

I have been reading as much as I can and came to realize that even if I go 100% gluten free I might still suffer a lot because people with gluten-intolerance/celiac are usually affected by other food that are Gluten-Free.

My main concern for now is to make sure I eat the proper food but it feels as if just about any food makes me feel like crap.

If I don't eat after about 4 hours I'll get extremely hungry and get nausea, the nausea goes away when I eat, gluten or not.

This is what I eat.

Morning meal "Spaghetti sauce from tomatoes/beef/spices/peppers/garlic"

Then I'll have a ground coffee with white honey and coconut milk added with coconut oil.

Followed by either Yogurt usually fat free with frozen berries, cinnamon, sometime with whey protein and gluten free cereal from corn/amaranth/buckwheat/flax/quinoa with almonds and chia seed.

Later on I'll have Gluten Free bread made of Rice flour/tapioca ad corn starch with usually white honey

Then at night either rice noodles or brown rice or plain all natural peanut butter.

It seems as if whatever I eat will give me cramps or I'll feel bloated. I am wondering if this is either something in the food or just because my intestines are still fragile or cross contamination? I also wonder how bad I gotta be about this, seems as if I could go all Gluten-Free and still get no healing whatso ever period untill I figure out something was cross contamined which seems to possible affect any ingredients, gluten freen nuts? gluten free spies? gluteen free water? Seems overkill.

It seems weird because 3 months ago I was literally fine and now it got bad very quick, I used to eat gluten in anything before though, noodles,bread and cereal a lot for my whole life.

Should i try cutting out some foods as I know many people cant tolerate nuts rice or corn or just wait and give it some more time to see how I heal? I also smoke marijuana every day and I tried to find informations about it and people say it helped them cope with the negatives effects of gluten but I feel it might make my cramps worse due to the hunger.

 

Thank you for the help, I don't plan on having cheat days or anything but more worried about how crazy I have to go about it.

I'll do everything needed to get my health back.

 

Hello and Welcome!

But you have not been gluten free by having wheat wraps and barley enzymes, etc.

You might start by having three balances meals a day. And not worry about other food intolerances, at this time.  And you might want to cut out the weed.  It might increase your resolve toward good health.

If you need help with specifics....that's why we are here!

Great suggestions preceded me in posting.

Well....I would think, until your gut heals a bit, it would be wise to lay off the alcohol for a while.  Maybe in a month or so, you may be able to tolerate moderate amounts of gluten free alcohol.

Hey guys,  got the word on Friday that I am definitively celiac.  

 

Questions:  I've been seeing alot about the gluten "threshold" which makes me freak out, considering that from what I understand gluten free is supposed to mean GLUTEN FREE and my test came back very reactive.  I don't want to expose myself at all at the very beginning.

 

I'm going on 48 hours in and my stomach is already a little different.  Not as churny, not as gassy.  Is this normal, or should it take more time?

 

I feel stupid for asking these questions, but c'est la vie!  If you never ask, you never know, right?

Hello and Welcome!

There are no stupid questions here.

Begin your diet simply.  Shop on the outside of the grocery story and buy fresh veggies and fruits, meats, seafood, rice and potatoes, eggs.  Keep aways (for the time being) from any processed foods.  And avoid dairy products for a while. (Once you do some healing, they can be reintroduced)

Limit your spices to salt and pepper for several weeks.  And as you body does some healing, you can add other options into your diet.

Don't bother with gluten free breads or pasta.  You probably won't like them initially.

And regards to feeling better... it depends on your level of damage to you system.  For some it may take several days and for many others, it may take years.

If you take any medicine, call the manufacturer or check on line for their gluten (free) status.  Shampoos, could contain gluten and get into your mouth.  I generally use Suave or Dove.  Lipsticks?  I order online Red Apple Lipstick and some of Burt's Bee's glosses are gluten free.

Well...there is also a Newbie Thread, that I'm sure that someone will post for you.

It IS overwhelming.  But, rest assured, it will get better and soon you will be a pro!

I have to say that over the counter, or drug store lipstick has always been a problem for me.  You need a microscope to read the ingedience and a chemistry degree to decipher the "language".

And I love my lipstick. I'm a Red Apple Fan....I have no association with the company, other than I wish I was a founder.

I guard my Red Apple Lips pretty chose to me. 

The last time I looked, Lipton Dry Onion Soup Mix had malt in it. I found Kroger Dry Onion Soup Mix does not have malt.

This is true, although the amount of barley is barely detectable and and well below the level considered safe for people with Celiac Disease to consume.  I have had extensive conversations with the company. It is in keeping with Unilevers full disclosure policy.

None of the other Lipton Dry Mixes are gluten free - only the Onion.

Taken from the Journal of Gluten Sensitivity winter 2013 issue:

 

Wine that is aged in oak

barrels contains less gluten than we

are currently capable of testing for,

whether hydrolyzed or not.

At this point, a lot of people will

begin to shake their heads: “If wine

is gluten-free, then why do I get sick

when I drink __________ wine?” The

likely answer is that you are reacting

to something else! Many winemakers

use egg whites as a clarifying agent.

The amount of egg used is far more

substantial than any wheat paste that

might have leaked into the wine, so if

you know eggs are a problem, this is

likely what you are reacting to.

 

 

Wine is safe.  If you are drinking coolers check the ingredients!

Thank you for sharing this.   This is a recurring question/concern.  C heers!

Hi folks,

 

I'm preparing to do a liver flush, and it requires taking epsom salts orally. I've done several of these and it really made a huge difference to my health, but I'm having trouble finding gluten free epsom salts. Publix supermarket makes one, but we've checked all the stores around me and no one is carrying them. Does anyone know of other brands that are gluten free?

 

And this may be a weird question, but wouldn't we want our epsom salt to be gluten free even if using it in a bath?

 

Thanks! 

What in the world  would make you do such a thing.

If you are having problems, PLEASE contact a doctor.