LauraTX

HI Celeste,

I know very much how at first a Celiac diagnosis is very overwhelming.  This site is a great reference, I was reading this forum for a long time before I actually joined and posted, but it really helped me through the initial start of my gluten-free diet.  I don't think you will need to change jobs.  Basically, if you are not putting it in your mouth, you are unlikely to react to it, but there are some people who say they have skin reactions to gluten-containing cosmetics and such.  I would say, focus on your nutrition and diet now, and after you start to feel better from that, then you can more easily evaluate what else sets off any sensitivities.

If you are still worried about exposure, you can pick up some gloves next time you are at the beauty supply store and maybe make a habit of wearing them when you are washing hair and such, and if your client questions you just tell them that shampoo makes your skin itch.  And close your mouth when you are spraying things.  But chances are, you will not have any problem with the products you use.

I am allergic to a lot of things(dye/fragrance/cocoa and shea butter) in topical/cosmetic products so every time I buy a new product, even if the ingredients look okay, I rub a little bit into my upper arm and let it sit for a few hours to see if I will react.  It saves me from full body rashes after using the wrong shampoo, etc.  Not pretty  So if you suspect you are sensitive to something you can try that as well

Good luck starting out, it gets better! Also cute kiddos!

Laura

If you have to order or buy a large container of gluten-free oats, they also freeze well.  I keep a big bag closed airtight in the freezer since I don't access it a lot, and they don't go stale.  Also for instant gluten-free oatmeal I LOVE bakery on main brand, they have different flavors that are all good. Priced about a dollar per serving.   Open Original Shared Link

I have tried it, twice already  It is better than any of the frozen crusts.  It is a bit sweet, but not overly sweet-however I can see this being good for a dessert pizza or another sweet use.  It spreads fairly easy and doesn't stick.  I would let it sit out a few minutes it makes it even easier to pat out into the pan.  I baked it a little longer than it said, which helped it not be as chewy as the first time I prepared it.  I have TMJ (jaw pain) problems so I am super sensitive to anything chewy, though.

I hope this stays on the market, I think it is going to be a permanent part of my recipe rotation.  With classico pizza sauce, mozzarella, a few pepperoni, and as many mushrooms as I can fit on top.  In fact, I think the sweetness of the dough makes it go REALLY well with classico sauce.  May be just me, though.

I take Mylan brand levothyroxine.  Some times people don't do well with a certain brand, but what matters is that you find one that works for you and stick with it.  If you change manufacturers, follow up with a blood test, since when things are measured in micrograms, the teeny differences in active ingredients between manufacturers can be enough to make you need a different strength.  A lot of physicians will write brand name Synthroid as medically necessary to avoid these problems.

I work in a hospital pharmacy, and we carry 4 different brands of levothyroxine, all strengths, plus the alternatives, and they try to keep the patient on the brand/manufacturer they were already on, or use the meds they bring from home, as to not adversely affect their blood levels. 

If you are nerdy like me and would like to read into this further, here is a good article from University of Illinois Pharmacy School:

Open Original Shared Link

I hope you have good luck settling into another brand.  Usually at a singular retail pharmacy, they will only carry one brand of generic levothyroxine as to not cause mix ups, but they can order your preferred brand as well.  That way you can keep all your medications safely filled at one place.  

I used Gluten-Free Connect, which is three times a year I think.  Got two of their mailings, then cancelled.  I think if you are new to the gluten-free diet it may be helpful with samples and coupons, but it mostly included samples of a lot of weird things that I wouldn't eat anyways, like raw food bars, artificial sweeteners, other nasty tasting processed "health" foods, etc.  Also a lot of oats.  A few things I liked I couldn't find in stores near me, so I would recommend taking the money you would spend on a subscription box and use it to try something you can actually get at your local store.  If you have more than one gluten-free person it may be more economical, though, and ordering the things you like online in bulk would be less of a hassle if you have a lot of people to eat it.

I have tried the yellow cake mix, it was pretty good and stayed fresh and moist (iced) at room temp until it was gone at day 4.  I also tried the brownie mix, which was good, but they got a little dry and stale at day 2.  Maybe I cooked them too long.  Id keep them in the fridge.

The "Whats for dinner" thread is right up my alley!  I grocery shop once a week (well usually I forget something and go back mid-week) and I plan the meals I am going to make, I am always looking to do something different.  

D, I bet you are proud of your daughter to be at a place like GIAL  

From what I have been told by my doctors, the Lupus, Celiac Disease, and CVID triad of diagnoses are not a surprise, because people with immunodeficiencies tend to develop autoimmune conditions (like your body freaks out and the immune system goes haywire-how my doc explained it), and a lot of autoimmune conditions are very similar and can come in groups.  You can have lupus without celiac and vice versa, but they seem to go together a lot and can mimic each others symptoms.  I see a GI, rheumatologist, and immunologist and I think I have lucked out that they all understand how the other stuff affects what they are treating me for.

All these diagnoses were within months of each other, early this year, and I am finally on the right treatment for everything, and slowly getting better  It is definitely important for me to take care of all the aspects, though, because they do affect each other.

Hi Everyone,

My Name is Laura and I live near Fort Worth, TX.  I was diagnosed with celiac via biopsy/blood draw in January 2013, been gluten-free ever since.  I have been reading this forum a lot so I figured I should finally sign up and join in on the fun.  I have a lot of other health problems, too- lupus and common variable immunodeficiency, that kind of limit what I can do some times.  I have a non-gluten-free husband and a cat who is like our child.  That's her in my pic  I am a big nerd and I love it.

I really enjoy cooking so maybe I will get around to posting some gluten-free recipes that I made for myself out of necessity, since you all know how eating out is.  If anyone is visiting the Dallas/Fort Worth area feel free to contact me and I will help you figure out where to eat. 

Its funny you mention the swapping spit thing, because my non-gluten-free husband will halt me from kissing him on the lips when he has eaten gluten recently.  I  suppose I have him well-trained