eeyor_fan

Is your dish soap, facial soap, lipstick etc gluten-free?? You could still be injesting gluten without knowing it.

I take the Olay Vitamins "Energy Pack" all Olay vitamins say gluten-free on the box/container but a lot of celiacs cannot digest the hard vitamins so they use the childrens "Gummy Vites" which are also labeled gluten-free. And Viactive Vitamin and Calcium chews are gluten-free. Hugs Bridget

Hey my friend. Maybe we will do lunch there one day. It was my first visit to Philly and I want to go back ( I even rode the ducks...lol).

My Hubby Richie and I took a day trip to Philly yesterday and like usual I packed a gluten-free lunch since it was a last minute trip and I hadn't done any research. We had a great time looking around the historic district, doing a tour of the area, and just seeing all the sites. For lunch Richie went to the "Old Tavern" where the very first 4th of July was celebrated. It is a historic site and on all the maps (if you go to Independance Visiters Center you can get a 2 for one meal coupon since it is a little pricy). Any way when we got there I had plans to just sit there and look at the scenery while Richie had lunch; but like always I thought I'd ask the greeter if their chef knew anything about "Gluten Free" and as I was doing my speach about Gluten and older man who worked there interupted saying "Oh you have Celiac?" He informed me that his name was Simon and he had Celiac too. He told me that the chef was well aware of Gluten Free cooking and then Simon went over the whole menue with me of what I could and couldn't have. I ended up having the prime rib but there was about a dozen other choices I could have. Even though Simon wasn't our waiter he still came and checked on me during the meal and was a God Send. While there is no desert there that is Gluten Free, I highly reccomend the "Old Tavern" on 2nd Street in the Historic District of Philly. You'll not only get a gluten-free meal but the resteraunt and everyone who works there still looks like it did 200 years ago when Ben Franklin would come by for a bite. Make sure you ask for Simon! Hugs Bridget

Some celiacs have trouble digesting soy and get stomach aches or sick in other ways (read the info on celiac at the celiac.com area). As far as labels go...I usually just call the company even if I don't think there is gluten in it. Soy has protein so it is good for the body, but some celiacs on here (won't mention a name) think soy is evil because some celiacs get sick from soy-- soy is like a lot of things; some celiacs can't tollerate it and some can. If you are one of the ones who can tollerate the gluten-free soy products out there then it is a good way to get protein if you don't eat a lot of maet, fish or eggs (like I do). I myself like the soy veggie cheese (says gluten-free on packet), and 8th continant soy milk says they are gluten-free when you call the company (I've never had a problem with 8th Continant). Hope this helps, Bridge

Jenny O Turkey Bacon is gluten-free, is lower in fat and better for you than real bacon. Hugs Bridge

I've been constipated for years and even had a prolapse beginning of this year and I'm celiac. One thing I've learned--- Celiacs all have different symptoms and we all come in different shaqpes and sizes. You don't have to have the runs (sorry) and weigh 90lbs to have Celiac. I've met a few other Celiacs and no 2 were the same. Hugs Bridget

Just do like I do and carry the travel size Purell Hand Sanitizer its gluten-free.

I believe in helping others with the info I use. Hugs B By the way---called yesterday zataran's microwave complete meals--- "the blackened chicken is completely gluten free but the sausage and beans Has gluten". Also I wrote these companies: 1) Turkey Hill Ice Cream--- all extracts and food starches are gluten free; they use corn and tapioca modified food starches. wheat is the only gluten that may be in their product and it will always be clearly listed in ingredients. 2) Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream-- Stay away. They change the recipes too often to gurentee gluten-free. 3) Breyers (also owns Good Humor, Klondike, and Popsicle)--- " If gluten is present, it is clearly listed in plain language on ingredients label (i.e. wheat flour, rye, barley, oats, malt). We do not publish a list of gluten free flavors. We work closely with ingredients and packaging suppliers to verify gluten in all ingredients including natural flavors, colors and splices. Some flavorings may contain ethyl alcohol. However, because the alcohol is distilled, they would not pose a threat to anyone who is gluten intolerant."

As I said, you were not even the one I was upset at, you just happened to be the one it came out at and again I'm sorry. I was just really hurt by what that other person posted and it's not the fist time she posted like that towards another celiac. I take responsability for lashing out and I'm so sorry. I was just so shocked, angry and hurt that someone would judge that way without even trying to understand the things I've been through...again I'm sorry! We all just have to remember that there are times that we are all angry about this disease but we are all in this together and by assuming others have it worse or better than us- assuming makes an ass out of U and Me! We are all fighting Celiac- maybe your path isn't the same as mine but that doesn't mean it is better or worse- just different! No matter how angry we get at this celiac we shouldn't judge each other because we are all each other has in this fight ! Hugs Bridget

Thanks for the advice. Those who know me know I’ll always come back. Actually the post I blew up about wasn't even the one that bothered me, it was the one posted a couple days before from Ms Sillyak Screwed that said “I was in denial too, thinking I could just go gluten-free & DF and it be a cake-walk through this illness. It was 5 years later I ended up with radiation treatments, thryoid problems and a list too long to post. I wish I was as lucky as you” that was the one that really upset me, honestly! That weighed on me so heavy for a couple days before it just burst to the surface. I couldn't even sleep at night because I couldn't even grasp that someone would say something like that! There are a lot of good on the forum but something like that just shocked me so deeply! I'm sorry if I acted badly. God Bless You All For This Is Every Single One Of Our Fights. Anyone who knows me, knows it has not been a cake walk, and if she wishes she were me, well then on friday when I'm at the hospital with instruments up my rectum to measure how bad my prolapse is-well I'll happily let her take my place...LOL As far as people attacking- I, like some others here, has seen it on occasion and that is what I was talking about (not harmless venting). I remember a couple times in November when Scott had to get involved because there were a few bad times with different people. Plus I remember once earlier this year one poster who had never posted or talked to another one before but left a message to the point that they hated the other person and would never read their posts again. That is the type of stuff I’m talking about. Hugs Bridge

YOU KNOW WHAT.... NO!!!!! YOU WANT TO BE NEGATIVE, YOU WANT TO TWIST EVERYTHING I SAY>>>>FINE! YOU WIN. ALL I'VE EVER DONE WAS TRY TO HELP PEOPLE AND I"M SICK OF EVERYTHING ALWAYS BEING TWISTED! YOU GUYS WANT TO TEAR EACH OTHER APART---CHEERS! MY FIGHT IS TO EDUCATE OTHERS SO CELIAC BECOMES MAIN STREAM AND UNDERSTOOD LIKE IT IS IN ENGLAND! I QUIT! LIFE IS WAY TOO SHORT FOR NEGATIVITY, PEOPLE TWISTING THINGS YOU SAY, OR MAKING EXCUSES WHY IT'S OK FOR SOME HERE TO ATTACK OTHERS----I WAS ANGRY TOO IN THE BEGINNING BUT THERE IS A TIME TO MOVE ON AND ACCEPT IT: WE ALL ARE FIGHTING THE SAME WAR SO GET OFF THE SOAP BOX ON WHY IT IS OK TO STAY ON THE PITY POT! IT'S OK TO ATTACK PEOPLE , HUH! It's ok to twist things, huh? WELL THERE YA GO! I QUIT! IF YA BOTHERED TO READ MY PAST POSTS BEFORE JUDGING YOU"D KNOW HOW HARD I WORKED CONTACTING COMPANIES AND SHARING INFO, TRYING TO HELP OTHERS< AND HOW SICK I"VE BEEN MYSELF. CALL ME A POLLYANNA BUT AT LEAST I"M TRYING TO MAKE THE MOST OF WHAT EVER ROAD GOD GAVE ME! GOODBYE! I'm sorry for this ranting....I'm just tired of hearing how, because I'm trying to look on the bright side that I can't possably have had any complications. That I must have a "cake walk" with this disease. How I WILL get sick sooner or later! I'm judged and things are twisted before most of you who don't know me, even try to understand the things I've been through. I was just trying to show people that if you constantly dwell on the bad-life will be nothing but bad. God Bless!

THIS IS WHAT I"M TALKING ABOUT!!!! I was not commenting on people venting, being in a living hell, or being angry at the disease. I was talking about when people attack each other on these posts! I'm not trying to analyze- just point out that we are all fighting the same battle. I GIVE UP! IT WILL NEVER CHANGE!

I'm not in denial and believe me I'm not symptom free. I also have RA, FM, I had a intestinal disfunction in January and need surgery for it soon....have a horid test to see how far up it goes next Friday because the surgeon thinks my whole GI tract is damaged. Have one of the worst cases of Acid Reflux my GI has ever seen....was rushed into hospital twice in January because of it giving me severe chest pains and esaphagus lesions. I've also found I cannot tolerate things like gluten-free pasta or bread which makes life even harder for me. Whole milk almost kills me. I've got worsoning vision and I'm currently in the process of massive dental work due to the acid problems coming to $8,000. I lost my mom 3 weeks after my 11th birthday to liver cancer which was later traced back to undiagnosed celiac, as well as losing an uncle to stomach cancer. Don't you think I'm scared of that future too? I just choose not to let the fear rule the good things life has. Anyone who knows me, knows how sick I've been with complications since Christmas...anything but a cake walk! My point is EVERYONE has similar horror stories and you can either dwell on how bad it is, or help others and make life all it can be in what ever time any of us have on this earth. My choice is to not to say "WHY ME" but to enjoy the moments I'm not in pain and to have faith that everything happens for a reason in this world and to have faith. I used to be angry too and even questioned God on what I did to deserve this. Then I made a really good friend. He just turned 26 and was really starting to achieve his dreams. At the height of all his dreams becoming true and at an age where he should have his whole life to look forward to...well he has become a reality check for me. Matthew is fighting brain cancer. Rather than giving up, asking why or feeling sorry for himself he is doing anything he can to win this war he is fighting. The odds are really not that great for him to see 27 but he has not shown a moment of giving up or giving in. He hasn't gotten angry and through all the pain of chemo and radiation he has always stayed true that he will beat this..."NO DOUBT, because God is on his side!" He sees his illness as a test God has given him, and rather than just give up he is trying to help others; educating them, keeping a jounal so others can understand what he is going through, and even being there for other cancer sufferers. Sure sometimes I hurt so bad I cry from what I'm going through, but then I look at people like Matthew, or my mom, or people like my cousin Irene with ALS and it makes me see that we all could be a lot worse off and if these people are living life to the fullest...well what gives us the right to waste the time God has given us by dwelling in the bad. Sure I hurt , this illness sucks, and I'm scared of the future but TODAY, and helping others is all I chose to dwell on! Hugs Bridget Of course we will see each other, you were the one who helped me the most after diagnoses and your now one of my cherished friends. I'll email ya! Hugs B